A Norwood man filmed verbally abusing a Muslim motorist outside a Johannesburg synagogue on Yom Kippur has apologised, admitting he brought up the Israel war because it was the thing he knew would hurt most.
Rodney Plett said his lawyers had formally approached the attorneys of content creator Abdur Rahamaan with a proposal for an apology and a settlement, but had not yet received a response.
He made the admission in a personal statement dated Friday and posted on Facebook, in which he apologised to Rahamaan, to the Muslim community and to Norwood.
“I have asked myself many times since Monday why I brought the war into it. I do not have a good answer,” Plett said.
“I was angry, and I reached for the thing I knew would hurt most. Mr Rahamaan had done nothing to deserve that.
“I took that pain and threw it at a stranger in the street as if it were a weapon.”
Plett said he would welcome the chance to apologise to Rahamaan in person, whenever and wherever he was willing.
The confrontation happened on Monday in the final hours of Yom Kippur, and Rahamaan recorded a video of it that spread widely on social media.
The war began on October 7 2023, when Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures, and Israel responded with a military offensive in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, and destroyed much of the territory.
Rahamaan, 35, a content creator formerly of Estcourt who now lives in Johannesburg, said he released the video to expose the racism and Islamophobia he had faced.
He told The Post the trouble started as he was driving home and signalling to turn into his road, and that things changed once he opened his car window in his driveway.
Rahamaan alleged that Plett called him the K-word and threatened his family before driving away, after which he followed Plett to Chabad of Norwood and filmed him there.
The footage showed Plett aiming racist abuse at Rahamaan and referring to people being killed in Gaza.
Plett said in his statement that he had been fasting for about 23 hours, had not taken his medication because it was a fast day, and was rushing to shul for security duty.
He said he was on Scholtz Road, indicating to turn right into Algernon Road, when a bakkie coming the other way braked sharply and turned left into the same road without indicating.
Plett said he believed he had nearly collided with it, became angry and chose to confront the driver.
“That was a serious error of judgement on my part. None of those circumstances excuses what followed,” he said.
“On that day of all days, I swore at Mr Abdur Rahamaan and insulted him, and then I made a remark about Israel and Muslims that was hurtful and wrong.
“I have watched the video. I am ashamed of what I see, and I am truly sorry.”
Rahamaan opened a crimen injuria case at Norwood police station and lodged a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission.
Chabad of Norwood condemned the language and identified Plett as a member of its congregation.
The SA Jewish Board of Deputies described his conduct as offensive and unacceptable, the SA Jewish Report reported.
Plett also apologised to his own community, naming Rabbi and Mrs Rodal and the Chabad of Norwood congregation.
Plett said Judaism taught that when one Jew behaved badly in public, people saw all Jews rather than one man, and the name of God was shamed with him.
“We call this a chillul Hashem, and on Yom Kippur, of all days, that is what I caused,” he said.
“Thousands of Jewish South Africans who have spent their lives building friendships with their Muslim neighbours, and who had nothing to do with what I said, have been judged by it.”
Plett said he would not comment further on the events of that afternoon, or give interviews, because of the police investigation.
“I ask only that no one harass or threaten Mr Rahamaan or his family, and that no one uses what I did to set the communities of Norwood against each other,” he said.
“Norwood has always been a place where families of all different faiths and backgrounds live side by side. I ask everyone, whatever they now think of me, not to let what I did divide this community.”
IOL
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now.
