A WAR of words has erupted between two senior Tzaneen magistrate's court officials over a parking space.

This after a senior official at the court accused a white colleague, Gerald Stoltz, of practising racism by allegedly treating black colleagues differently from white officials.

Stoltz, who has been deployed to Tzaneen by the provincial department of justice in Polokwane as representative of the employer, allegedly pushed a vehicle belonging to the court manager Ngwako Makgoba out of the parking bay on Wednesday.

He allegedly said he did so to create parking space for white senior prosecutor Riaan du Plessis.

It is alleged that Stoltz also placed a note on the driver's window and windscreen of Makgoba vehicle. They said: "This parking space was not allowed to you."

Makgoba said his ordeal started after he was suspended on allegations of financial mismanagement.

This after he allegedly used state money to buy what some of his white colleagues referred to as "unnecessary furniture" for the magistrate's court.

His relationship with white colleagues started to sour after he had spent more than R200000 to buy office furniture to give the magistrate's offices a face-lift.

Among other things Makgoba bought six chairs for the interpreters for R16500, new window blinds for the entire magistrate's office block for R69000, repaired the sewerage system for R4511,50, bought conference chairs worth R86640, and also bought furniture such as chairs and tables valued at R106162.

"I was suspended by the department of justice because of the influence of some white officials, who still believed that a black person cannot lead them," Makgoba claimed.

He said that his car was moved from the parking bay on Wednesday while he was called to a disciplinary hearing at the offices.

Several attempts to get comment from Stoltz were unsuccessful since his phones were not answered.

National Department of Justice spokesperson Poppy Mahlangu said she could not comment until she had received information on the matter.