The City of Cape Town’s (COCT) Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, has been scrutinized for the comments he made at an event on Wednesday, September 8.
A video circulating on social media shows Smith making a very uncomfortable comment about the pronunciation of the surname of the master of ceremony, Abongile Nzelenzele, where he was hosting the event on behalf of the COCT film industry.
“To our MC Abongile, I’m not even going to try that surname, dude… it’s too many vowels too awkwardly placed. You need to have a short compact name, like me, Smith… it also ensures anonymity, nobody can find you in the old phone books,” Smith said.
Black DA members will defend this JP Smith dude. They will say he was joking and did not mean to harm.
Akere blacks in DA are taught to laugh at jokes meant to demean their dignity and violate their human rights.
They are taught they are “not the same as others” pic.twitter.com/gSC2VxCAj5
— Thulani Manqele (@ThulaniManqele1) September 8, 2021
However, the COCT was quick to extinguish the flame after several social media users clapped back at Smith for the comments he made.
Good day,
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith has called and spoken with Mr. Nzelenzele. He confirms that he took no offence at the remark, nor did Mr. Nzelenzele think there was any ill intent.
Thank you.
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) September 8, 2021
According to News 24, Smith mentioned that he has already addressed the issue with Nzelenzele and was told that the comment didn’t offend him.
“This is a remark taken well out of context and the MC did not see any offence in the remark. He had previously made jokes about his own surname,” Smith was quoted as saying.
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Picture: Cape {town} etc gallery