'Anti-poor' DA councillor gets 'slap on the wrist'

Ramsay reportedly pleaded guilty at a disciplinary committee. A report from the committee will be discussed at a full council meeting on Wednesday.

It was reported that the committee had unanimously accepted Ramsay’s guilty plea.

Ramsay last year took to Facebook, slamming homeless people and, placed a condition on tolerating them in Sea Point stating that “they would have to behave in a manner which is acceptable to other residents”.

Ramsay also called on her followers to stop giving to “beggars, street people and car guards” — a move she claimed would force them “to move elsewhere”.

She announced a planned march “against grime” scheduled for December 6, which was later called off after a social media backlash.

Nehemiah Call Initiative, representing street people around the city, said days after Ramsay made these “racist anti-poor statements”, it had visited the area for week and talked to people who expressed their anger to the Cape Times.

“At the time they expressed their own disgust with Ramsay for saying whatever she wanted and towards the Sea Point Improvement District for what it was doing with objective to get them out of Sea Point because ‘you don’t belong here; get back to where you come from’,” said the initiative’s head, Dean Ramjoomia.

“Nehemiah Call Initiative welcomes action from the DA notwithstanding that’s it a slap on wrist. However we insist on a public apology directly to the people. Nehemiah will be happy to arrange this on her behalf,” he said.

But when approached for comment, Ramsay said: “I have already apologised unreservedly to anyone who found my comments hurtful.”

She would not say whether she had paid the fine that was imposed on her, only saying it will be approved in council on Wednesday.

DA chief whip in the city Shaun August could not be reached for comment.

The ANC said the fine was not enough.

“This is a slap on the wrist. She will make that money fast while the pain she caused will forever be there."

“This shows the character of the party she comes from. This is a party that is characterised by racism even with its members,” ANC chief whip in the city Xolani Sotashe said.

Sotashe said the party was concerned that the DA failed to take stern action against Ramsay.

“This is a person who was supposed to protect all citizens as a public representative, a councillor. Her conduct is not of a public representative,” he said.