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Khoza apologises for K-word
05/03/2008 15:18 - (SA)
Johannesburg - South Africa's 2010 soccer chief Irvin Khoza apologised unreservedly in a statement on Wednesday for using the word 'kaffir" towards a black journalist.
In a formal statement issued through the Human Rights Commission (HRC), following a meeting with that body's chairperson, Jody Kollapen, Khoza - chairperson of the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee - said he had decided on this action after seeing the University of Free State racist video on the news.
Khoza had a week to formally apologise for using the word, or the matter would have been taken the Equality Court.
During a conference, Khoza told a journalist: "Stop thinking like a kaffir because you are contriving and misleading about something that is not there."
Kollapen said the HRC, which had received a complaint on Khoza, accepted the apology and regarded the matter as closed.
"I humbly submit to all South Africans that at no stage did I intend to open the wounds and hurt our people suffered from racism," Khoza said.
"Whereas it was never my intention to use the K-word to demean or impair anyone's dignity - but to shock a brother to his senses - the revelation of the racist video in Bloemfontein has led me to view my use of the K-word in a different light.
"I do not want to present an opportunity to those whose intention it is to perpetuate racism, the convenience of quoting me when they do so.
"I therefore unreservedly and without qualification, repeat my apology for using the K-word," Khoza said.
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