Anger over anti-Indian hate speech and lyrics

Two incidents of anti-Indian hate speech - a Facebook posting and a song by a hip-hop band caused a public outcry.

In the first, messages posted on a Facebook page called UKZN Confessions angered many social network users.

The comments were posted by someone who uses the name Skhanyiso Edgar Khanyile and claims to be a third-year law student.

The university's Lesiba Seshoka denied that " Khanyile" was a student there .

One of the messages read: "Indians should go back to India, which is in Asia, not Africa. And take your disabled Gods back with you. Who in their right mind would worship a disabled creature? Indians don't know s***." Another message read "kill the Indian, the charou".

The public responded angrily. Sinqobile Khumalo replied: "Dude, really? In the year 2014, you still possess this disgraceful mindset. What a shame!"

Sunil Hansjee requested that the community respond by forwarding their complaints to the South African Hindu Maha Sabha.

"This guy claims to be an LLB law student and possibly a future lawyer, who is meant to be the guardian of our law, but he is a blatant racist advocating discrimination."

A list of the posts has been compiled and circulated as a chain e-mail.

"The university supports the individual's right to freedom of expression as enshrined in our constitution, but strongly condemns irresponsible statements or behaviour that incites racial hatred and violence," said Seshoka. "The Facebook page in question is not owned by the university, nor is it administered by us," he said.

The university has asked Facebook administrators to have the page deactivated.

The Maha Sabha's Kribbs Naidu said the organisation had received numerous complaints and was investigating.

In the second incident, KwaMashu hip-hop band AmaCde's song Umhlab' Uzobuya (The land will return) has caused anger with its lyrics disparaging Indians.

Reminiscent of Mbongeni Ngema's AmaNdiya song, which was banned in 2002 for hate speech, the lyrics of this song have provoked fury.

The leader of the three-man band, Mnqobi Ndlovu, said the lyrics were based on real-life experiences but were not aimed at all Indians.

"They are talking to certain employers who are exploiting African people."

Ndlovu said the song was aimed at "creating awareness of the issue of certain Indian employers who exploit, abuse and mistreat their African employees".

"Mbongeni Ngema once made a song and so did Phuzekhemisi, raising the very same issues, so we felt obliged to raise it as sharply and frankly as it is felt by the people.

"Every time issues are raised by Africans, it is labelled hate speech and racism. However, the issues are real.

"We cannot allow Africans to be told how they should raise issues."

Ndlovu, who said AmaCde were linked to the Mazibuye Forum - which last year made several slurs against Indians in South Africa - denied that the song was hate speech or that it was written to generate publicity for the group.

Mazibuye Forum founder Zweli Sangweni said he was concerned by the calls he received about the song and by the fact that the members of the group said they belong to the forum.

"I can't just criticise them or express an opinion. I have nothing to do with the song. We at the forum have never suggested Indians must go back to India.

"I interact with Indians, I have Indian friends. There are many who are helpful to me. We need one another.

"I am not an artist and I never commissioned them."