Community rejects racist abuse by shul-goer

A road-rage incident in Norwood, Johannesburg has sparked outrage after an elderly Jewish man hurled racist abuse at a Muslim motorist.

The confrontation took place on Monday, 21 September, in the final hours of Yom Kippur, and involved Abdur Rahmaan Aziz and Rodney Plett, a businessman and founding member of Chabad of Norwood.

A video Aziz recorded and circulated widely on social media shows Plett directing deeply offensive language at him outside the synagogue. The footage has shocked members of the Jewish community, with Chabad of Norwood describing the language as “appalling” and the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) calling Plett’s behaviour “offensive and unacceptable”.

Yet when the SA Jewish Report spoke to Plett and asked how he was doing, his response was emphatic, “I’m fine. I’m feeling perfect.”

“I’m used to dealing with impossible people like this in business every day,” he added.

His response stands in stark contrast to the dismay expressed by communal leaders, who have stressed that his conduct represents him alone and doesn’t reflect the values or attitudes of the Jewish community.

What happened before the camera started rolling is fiercely disputed, with both motorists resolute in their versions of events and both consulting lawyers following the confrontation.

Aziz has alleged that Plett drove aggressively towards him, in a “threatening and intimidating manner”, almost touching his bumper and colliding into him. He said he was followed by Plett who then hurled “racial and religious abuse” at him including the K-word. Those alleged threats aren’t captured in the footage and have not been independently verified. Aziz says this altercation prompted him to follow Plett to his destination and capture him on video.

Plett gave the SA Jewish Report his account of how the confrontation began. He said he was driving to Chabad of Norwood, where he was due to stand security outside the synagogue, shortly before 17:00. He had been fasting for almost 24 hours and had a “splitting headache”.

According to Plett, he was travelling along Scholtz Road towards Norwood and intended turning right into Algernon Road. “Aziz was travelling in the opposite direction, going at speed,” he said.

“I had indicated that I was turning,” Plett said. He alleged that when Aziz reached Algernon Road, Aziz suddenly turned in front of him, causing a near collision.

“I nearly smashed into him,” Plett said.

Plett acknowledged that he had then pursued Aziz. “I chased him and I caught up with him to ask him how he could turn without indicating,” he said.

He said he had confronted Aziz about allegedly turning without indicating and that the exchange “ended up in words”.

Plett emphatically denied Aziz’s allegation that he had used the K-word during this initial, unrecorded confrontation.

“I never ever used the K-word. Never,” he said.

Plett said Aziz subsequently followed him. He rejected suggestions that he had been trying to escape from Aziz. “He thought I was running away, which is rubbish. I needed to be at the shul, and that’s where I was going.”

The confrontation continued outside Chabad of Norwood, where Aziz filmed Plett using racist, abusive language.

Plett expressed regret that the synagogue had been drawn into the controversy.

“I regret that the shul has been put in the spotlight,” he said.

He indicated that he would be prepared to discuss an apology, “to put the matter behind him”.

Aziz has laid charges against Plett.

Norwood and its surrounding neighbourhoods are home to sizeable Jewish and Muslim communities who live, work, shop, and worship alongside one another. Synagogues, mosques, and businesses serving both communities form part of the fabric of the area.

Rabbi Mordechai Rodal of Chabad of Norwood told the SA Jewish Report that the reaction from within the Jewish community was one of disgust and embarrassment.

Rodal had phoned Aziz while he was at the Norwood Police Station laying charges against Plett.

“I reached out to Aziz and told him that what was said is completely not representative of Jewish people’s views and attitudes,” Rodal said. “Quite the contrary. Everybody who has reached out to me was disgusted and embarrassed. We found it abhorrent.”

Rodal invited Aziz to meet with him, hoping they could turn an ugly incident into an opportunity for reconciliation.

“I expressed a desire to meet him for coffee the following day so that we could turn a negative into a positive and use this to build bridges between our community,” he said.

According to Rodal, Aziz responded positively and said he was interested in building unity. They agreed to meet the following day.

Rodal said the meeting didn’t take place and that his subsequent attempts to contact Aziz had gone unanswered.

“I’m hoping he’ll change his mind,” he said.

Rodal said he had also been in contact with a number of Muslim people over the incident, including those who knew the synagogue as a place of tolerance and community building.

He was unequivocal that no matter what had happened on the road it couldn’t justify Plett’s subsequent behaviour.

Rodal said Plett had attended Kol Nidre the previous evening and Yizkor on Yom Kippur, but that he hadn’t seen him during the day before the incident. He had first became aware of what had happened after Havdalah.

Plett, he said, has been involved with Chabad of Norwood for many years. Rodal described him as being “in a bad space” following the incident.

Chabad of Norwood issued a strongly worded statement saying it was “deeply upset and saddened” by the incident involving a member of its congregation.

“We are appalled by the racist language that was used and particularly distressed that some of these comments were made outside our synagogue,” Rabbi Mordechai and Sara Rodal said.

“There is simply no place for racism, prejudice, or demeaning language in our community, and we unequivocally condemn such behaviour.”

Chabad appealed to Norwood’s communities not to allow the incident to divide them.

“The words and actions of one individual do not define the values of our congregation or the community we strive to be,” the statement said. “Instead, we hope that we can use this painful incident as an opportunity to build bridges, strengthen relationships, and deepen our understanding and respect for one another.”

The SAJBD was equally emphatic that Plett’s behaviour was unacceptable, saying the outrage generated by the footage was “mirrored by our community”.

“What happened represents the individual alone,” the SAJBD said.

The Board said it was particularly unfortunate that the confrontation ended outside a Jewish place of worship, “as this behaviour is the antithesis of what places of worship represent”.

It pointed to Norwood’s multicultural character, and called for de-escalation and “a spirit of respectful co-existence”.

“The SAJBD remains committed to building a South African society based on the constitutional values of dignity, equality, and respect for all,” it said.

Alana Pugh-Jones Baranov, a member of the executive committee of Religions for Peace South Africa and the KwaZulu-Natal Interreligious Council, as well as the Africa Women of Faith Network, said there had to be “zero tolerance for racist language and hateful speech of any kind in our society”.

“I can attest to the tireless efforts of members across various religious groups, including the Muslim and Jewish communities, in building bridges of friendship and connection in South Africa,” she said.

“Horrible racist incidences can damage relationships between our communities, but instead of allowing it to further division and mistrust, my hope is that we can use this as a catalyst not only to address prejudice within our own community but to increase our outreach and engagement with others.”

For Rodal, the challenge now is to prevent the ugly confrontation becoming something that drives communities apart.

“I’m really trying to figure out why this had to happen, what we can learn from this, and what the silver lining is here,” he said.

SAJBD National Director Wendy Kahn stressed, “We have received numerous responses from members of our community making it clear that they are appalled by these racist comments. It is evident these views do not reflect the attitudes and values of our community.

“There is positive interaction between the Jewish and Muslim communities in various spheres, including business, the professions, and interfaith work. Despite tensions, we continue to endeavour to improve relations with our fellow communities, including the Muslim community.

“Unfortunately, the situation in the Middle East often causes tension between the two communities, especially over the past three years. We continue to call for foreign conflicts not to be imported onto the streets of Norwood and South Africa, where they cause unnecessary hatred between fellow citizens.”