Norwood Man Apologises After Racist And Islamophobic Confrontation Outside Synagogue

A Norwood man filmed verbally abusing a Muslim motorist outside a Johannesburg synagogue during Yom Kippur has issued an apology, saying he deliberately referred to the Israel-Gaza war because he knew it would cause pain. Rodney Plett said he regretted the confrontation with content creator Abdur Rahamaan and acknowledged that his comments were wrong.

In a personal statement posted on Facebook on Friday, Plett said his lawyers had approached Rahamaan’s attorneys with a proposal for an apology and settlement. He said he had not yet received a response but would welcome an opportunity to apologise to Rahamaan personally.

“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.”

Norwood Man Apologises After Yom Kippur Confrontation

Plett said the incident began after he became angry during a traffic-related encounter while he was travelling to a synagogue for security duty. He said he had been fasting for approximately 23 hours and had not taken his medication because it was a fast day.

According to Plett, he was travelling along Scholtz Road and indicating that he intended to turn into Algernon Road when a bakkie approaching from the opposite direction braked sharply before turning into the same road without indicating. He said he believed the vehicles had almost collided and decided to confront the driver.

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“That was a serious error of judgement on my part. None of those circumstances excuses what followed,” Plett said.

Plett acknowledged that he swore at Rahamaan and insulted him before making comments about Israel and Muslims. “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,” he said.

“I have watched the video. I am ashamed of what I see, and I am truly sorry.”

Abdur Rahamaan Files Crimen Injuria Case

Rahamaan, 35, filmed the confrontation and subsequently shared the footage on social media, saying he wanted to highlight what he described as racism and Islamophobia directed towards him. He said the dispute began while he was driving home and signalling to turn into his road.

Rahamaan alleged that Plett used the K-word against him and threatened his family before driving away. He said he followed Plett to Chabad of Norwood, where he recorded the confrontation.

The footage showed Plett directing racist abuse towards Rahamaan and making references to people being killed in Gaza. Rahamaan subsequently opened a crimen injuria case at Norwood police station and lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission.

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Chabad of Norwood condemned the language used during the confrontation and identified Plett as a member of its congregation. The South African Jewish Board of Deputies also described the conduct as offensive and unacceptable.

Norwood Community Urged Not To Be Divided

Plett also addressed his apology to his own Jewish community, specifically naming Rabbi and Mrs Rodal and the Chabad of Norwood congregation. He said he believed his conduct had brought shame to others within the Jewish community.

Plett referred to the Jewish concept of chillul Hashem, which he said reflected the idea that the actions of one person could affect how an entire community was perceived. “We call this a chillul Hashem, and on Yom Kippur, of all days, that is what I caused,” he said.

He also acknowledged that Jewish South Africans who had built relationships with Muslim neighbours could be affected by the incident. “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.

Plett said he would not discuss the incident further or give interviews while the police investigation continued. He also appealed for Rahamaan and his family not to be targeted and urged people not to use the incident to create tension between communities in Norwood.

“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.”