Ukhozi FM DJ Ngizwe Mchunu's discrimination claim was dealt a heavy blow yesterday when the Durban Equality Court released King Shaka International Airport, SARS's customs department and customs official Mark Meintjies from a R10-million civil suit.
Magistrate John Sanders dismissed Mchunu's claim against them.
But the claim against the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries official Thalamothalo Phaka stands .
In court papers lodged last year, Mchunu said Phaka had threatened to destroy his traditional shield (ihawu) because it was "infested with foot-and-mouth disease".
The incident occurred on May 8, when he went to the airport to fetch the shield, which he had forgotten in the baggage area after returning from a tourism event in Dubai in April.
Mchunu said the airport, SARS, Meintjies and Phaka had discriminated against him and his culture as a Zulu man.
However, SARS and Meintjies argued that Mchunu had instituted the proceedings without serving notice within six months.
Despite yesterday's ruling, Mchunu was confident that he would be victorious in court.
"This case is far from over. There are very few people who pride themselves on their culture so much that they can go to court to defend it," Mchunu told his supporters outside court yesterday.
"I am very proud of my culture and that is why I took a decision to approach the court because I feel that my being as a Zulu man was tarnished."
Among his supporters in court were young bare-breasted women, and men who carried traditional shields.
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