Metro FM public relations and communications manager Happy Ngidi on Monday appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court to face a man against whom she laid charges after he verbally abused her earlier this year.
Ngidi was left gobsmacked back in July when Simon Philips peppered her with aggressive verbal abuse and racial slurs outside the Virgin Active gym in Constantia Kloof, Johannesburg, allegedly because she was moving too slow for his liking.
She at the time told the Sowetan: “I went to Constantia Kloof gym on Tuesday morning and after finishing my work-out, I walked to my car.
"While reversing, I was confronted by an angry white male. He shouted, 'what the f**k is your problem b***h! What is your problem? You bloody k****r.’
Say NO to racism! pic.twitter.com/o11LdTzkPg
— HappymaKhumalo Ngidi (@ngi_happy) November 26, 2013
“ ‘You baboon! I will f**k you up. Who do you think you are dealing with? What the f**k are you looking at?’.”
Ngidi called the police, who later escorted her into the gym where she identified her abuser, but this allegedly didn’t stop the man who continued his offensive ranting in their presence.
She subsequently laid a case of crimen injuria against the man, who has since been identified as Simon Philips, and who has been banned from all Virgin active gyms for life.
The court case has been postponed until next Monday, and Ngidi afterwards told the Daily Sun that Philips’ behaviour in court was arrogant and that he has opted to not have legal representation because he is of the opinion he hasn’t done anything wrong.
“I have a responsibility to teach him that it is not okay to call black people k****rs,” she added.
“Black people must learn to say ‘no’ to racism and know that there are legal ways to fight these things.”
Teamtalk