Off the wire
• Kenya's Kiplagat steps down as federation boss  • DPRK's FM visits India  • U.S. stocks slightly higher ahead of earning reports  • Officials told not to meddle in judicial enforcement  • EU's economy improves but challenges remain: quarterly review  • Anti-nuclear demonstration launched in western Scotland  • ATP Monte Carlo Masters results (updated)  • Roundup: Extreme leftwing rebels kill 5 men of police, security forces in India  • EU gives green light to creation of joint venture by Bilfinger, G.L. Swarovski  • Iran says Russia ties important for protecting global security  
You are here: 　 Home

Suspect appears in court for defacing Ghandi's statue in S. Africa

Xinhua, April 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

A suspect appeared in South Africa's Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Monday for defacing the statue of Mahatma Ghandi.

Molefe Maila, 21, faces charges of malicious damage to property, police spokesperson Kay Makhubele said.

The court granted Maila 500-rand (about 42 U.S. dollars) bail.

Maila was arrested on Saturday in connection with defacing the Ghandi statue at Gandhi square in Central Johannesburg.

The man reportedly covered the statue plaques with white paint and was making his way up the body of the statue when police apprehended him.

He was allegedly supported by a group of men wearing African National Congress (ANC) caps.

ANC spokesman Keith Khoza said on Sunday night that the party condemned the attack and did not believe members of the party would partake in such an act.

This followed the defacing and vandalizing of several statues of apartheid era figures.

"Recent events have shown that the debate around South Africa's history and heritage is taking place in a leadership vacuum, and has been hijacked by minorities on the left and the right fringes of the political spectrum," the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng said.

"The DA calls on the leadership of political parties and civil society to enter into a comprehensive dialogue on South Africa's past and preserving our shared heritage," DA Gauteng party leader John Moodey said in a statement.

The Gandhi Development Trust (GDT) also voices concern over the defacing of Ghandi's statue.

GDT spokesperson Satish Dhupelia said Gandhi's life must be viewed by people in totality rather than focus on his arrival in the country as a barrister.

He said the situation is sad, as many of South African youngsters do not have legitimate reasons to back up their actions.

"We hope that people would examine history properly rather than focus on isolated incidents of a persons life."

Gandhi fought racial discrimination in South Africa before leading India to its independence.

South Africa's Parliament issued a statement, calling on all South Africans to follow the example set by the country's leadership under the late President Nelson Mandela, and find political solutions, in dealing with sensitive and emotive issues such as the country's statues and other symbols of the country's past.

"All of us have a duty to work expeditiously to correct all past injustices and acknowledge the pain of our people. While doing so we also have a duty to uphold the laws of our country and work towards social cohesion and avoid counterproductive actions that could polarize our society," the statement said. Endi