– Neeshan Balton, executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, said the woman’s remarks were “vile, dehumanising, and completely unacceptable”.

He said her remarks repeat harmful stereotypes that have long been used to justify exclusion and humiliation, and they directly undermined South Africa’s constitutional commitment to dignity, equality, and non-racialism.

“The recent and troubling spike in racial insults and attacks directed at South Africans of Indian descent is dangerous and deeply irresponsible. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has consistently warned against this.