The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation strongly condemns the vile racial and Islamophobic assault targeted at Johannesburg content creator Abdur Rahamaan in Norwood on Monday, 21 September 2026.
The incident —where a motorist cornered Mr Rahamaan, threatened his life and family, weaponised the ongoing Gaza genocide, and deployed deeply painful anti-black and anti-Muslim slurs — is not a simple case of road rage. It is a naked manifestation of hate speech, bigotry, and structural racism that directly undermines South Africa’s constitutional
democracy.
While we welcome the swift and unequivocal condemnation issued by the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) and the leadership of the Chabad of Norwood, the Foundation remains deeply alarmed by the growing confidence and brazenness with which racists operate publicly without apparent fear of reprisal.
The Global Nexus: The Trump Administration’s Rhetoric and Domestic Audacity
This audacity does not exist in a vacuum. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation views this surge in public bigotry as directly linked to a broader, global emboldening of right-wing populism—most notably fuelled by the hostile utterances and punitive actions of US President Donald Trump’s administration against South Africa.
Over the past year, the Trump administration has sustained an aggressive campaign of diplomatic and economic intimidation against our nation. This includes:
- Fabricating Narrative Frameworks: Propagating thoroughly debunked and dangerous myths of “white genocide” and “persecution of Afrikaners” to justify hostile foreign policy.
- Imposing Sanctions and Curbs: Implementing targeted visa restrictions against South Africans and cutting vital foreign aid.
- Geopolitical Retaliation: Unjustly punishing South Africa for its principled, non-aligned stance and its historic human rights case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
- Racialised Asylum Engineering: The recent, highly politicised announcement to cap US refugee admissions specifically to “primarily” white Afrikaners, signaling global alignment with racialised grievances.
When a global superpower validates right-wing anxiety and penalises a sovereign African state for championing international law, it sends a dangerous signal to local bigots. It translates divisive foreign political rhetoric into the physical intimidation of black and Muslim South Africans on the streets of Johannesburg. It gives domestic racists a false sense of backing.
A Call to Defend Non-Racialism
Uncle Kathy spent 26 years on Robben Island fighting for a democratic state where all who live in it are equal. We will not sit idly by while divisive global political trends breathe new life into the dying embers of apartheid-era supremacy.
The Foundation fully supports Mr Rahamaan’s decision to open a hate crime case at the Norwood SAPS and lodge a formal complaint with the. South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) We call on law enforcement to act swiftly to ensure there are severe legal consequences for this behaviour. The Foundation hopes that should the SAJBD be called upon to repeat their condemnation at any of these processes that they will do so without hesitation.
Racism is not an opinion; it is a crime against our collective dignity. We urge all South Africans to reject both local bigotry and the external political manoeuvres designed to fracture our diverse society.
For Media Enquiries:
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation
Phone: +27 (0)11 854 0082
Email: media@kathradafoundation.org
Website: www.kathradafoundation.org
