A very bold and stupid statement that is cost this man dearly. No wonder apartheid as we know is still rife and no wonder it will never be a thing of the past if we all carry on thinking like this. :confused:

'Corruption is in their genes'

February 13 2005 at 11:52AM

A white Western Cape judge allegedly told his black colleagues in Cape Town that black people had corruption in their genes, the Sunday newspaper City Press reported.

The allegation is contained in a report on racism in the Cape Provincial Division compiled by the division's judge president, John Hlophe.

The report has been handed to Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla.

According to the report, the judge, who is not named in the report, was commenting two years ago on allegations of corruption relating to Deputy President Jacob Zuma.

City Press said Hlophe wrote in the report: "Last year (2003) when the deputy president saga hit the headlines, one colleague commented that 'corruption (with reference to blacks) is in their genes'.

"The colleague asked another colleague to apologise on his behalf, and later came to my chambers to apologise himself. Of course, as expected, he did not admit racism - instead he said that he was misunderstood.

"However, he was visibly shaken and worried about the fact that I was going to report him to the Judicial Services Commission, as I had threatened to do so."

City Press said the allegation is one of a series of racist incidents that Hlophe lists in the 43-page report, triggered by last year's racial tension in the Cape Provincial Division over rumours that white judges and advocates were undermining the skills and abilities of black judges. - Sapa