JUSTICE Minister Jeff Radebe and the National Prosecuting Authority are facing a multi-million rand lawsuit for allegedly failing to protect a senior prosecutor from repeated racial abuse.
Though the NPA set up a team to investigate claims of widespread racism within its ranks in 2009, and roped in the SA Human Rights Commission after receiving complaints, Ravana Sewsunker Jacobs claims little is being done to eradicate the problem from the courts.
In papers filed in the Pretoria High Court on April 5, Jacobs - who was a senior prosecutor at the Klerksdorp Magistrate's Court at the time of the alleged abuse but has since been promoted to magistrate - claims that she suffered years of torment, primarily at the hands of a white senior public prosecutor, Jacques Swanepoel.
Swanepoel was axed last year after a disciplinary hearing - four years after racism allegations were brought against him.
In her court papers, Jacobs, 38, alleges that Swanepoel and others told her and other black prosecutors at the Klerksdorp Magistrate's Court that they were inferior to their white counterparts and should not be assigned complex cases.
Jacobs has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is on prescribed medication.
She is demanding R9.21-million for past and future medical expenses and loss of earnings while being booked off, and for degradation of dignity and the loss of the amenities of life.
NPA communications manager Bulelwa Makeke has, however, refuted Jacobs' claims saying the NPA takes "allegations of racism within its ranks very seriously and displays its commitment to take harsh action where there is proof of such misconduct".
Radebe sued for millions
JUSTICE Minister Jeff Radebe and the National Prosecuting Authority are facing a multi-million rand lawsuit for allegedly failing to protect a senior prosecutor from repeated racial abuse.
Though the NPA set up a team to investigate claims of widespread racism within its ranks in 2009, and roped in the SA Human Rights Commission after receiving complaints, Ravana Sewsunker Jacobs claims little is being done to eradicate the problem from the courts.
In papers filed in the Pretoria High Court on April 5, Jacobs - who was a senior prosecutor at the Klerksdorp Magistrate's Court at the time of the alleged abuse but has since been promoted to magistrate - claims that she suffered years of torment, primarily at the hands of a white senior public prosecutor, Jacques Swanepoel.
Swanepoel was axed last year after a disciplinary hearing - four years after racism allegations were brought against him.
In her court papers, Jacobs, 38, alleges that Swanepoel and others told her and other black prosecutors at the Klerksdorp Magistrate's Court that they were inferior to their white counterparts and should not be assigned complex cases.
Jacobs has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is on prescribed medication.
She is demanding R9.21-million for past and future medical expenses and loss of earnings while being booked off, and for degradation of dignity and the loss of the amenities of life.
NPA communications manager Bulelwa Makeke has, however, refuted Jacobs' claims saying the NPA takes "allegations of racism within its ranks very seriously and displays its commitment to take harsh action where there is proof of such misconduct".
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