[Image: Facebook]
Former SABC employee Nobuntu “Nobs” Mkhize caused quite a stir after a video of her disrupting a FlySafair flight and making racially insensitive remarks went viral.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Mkhize explained that the December 26th altercation began when she requested a lighter wine than the Merlot offered by the flight attendant. The flight attendant allegedly refused to serve her the wine she wanted and then the situation intensified when the flight attendant returned with another crew member.
Footage shows Mkhize throwing a can at the flight attendant, followed by a scuffle with the crew and passengers who attempted to restrain her.
But the real heat came after Mkhize was filmed labelling women from Mitchell’s Plain as uneducated and unable to drive or own motor vehicles. She is also accused of saying coloured women are only good for “spreading their legs”.
“You’re a coloured from Mitchells Plain, all these gold rings but no degree. Right now when we land, I’m going to take an Uber home. You don’t even have a [driver’s] licence. You don’t even have a car,” she said at the time, per TimesLIVE.
During the interview, Mkhize clarified that she was not intoxicated during the altercation, acknowledging that she had consumed one or two drinks in the airport’s Slow Lounge before boarding but was not drunk.
She described her reaction as an “out-of-body experience,” stating she entered “animal mode” as the situation escalated.
The comments by Mkhize prompted a number of organisations to speak up against her actions, with the South African Human Rights Commission lodging an investigation into her comments and the Patriotic Alliance, along with the DA, lodging further complaints against her. The flight attendant also reportedly lodged a criminal complaint against her at Bishop Lavis Police Station.
In the various videos shared on social media at the time, Mkhize used threatening language, saying she would ensure the incident was aired on the SABC, how she was an ANC b*tch, and asking the airline employees if they knew who her father was.
Her late father is Khaba Mkhize, who was an anti-apartheid stalwart. The ANC and the SABC condemned Mkhize’s actions at the time, distancing themselves from her. In fact, the SABC had fired her, which Mkhize said was without hearing her side of the story. She said she would be taking the public broadcaster to the labour court.
“They have fired me without an investigation or calling me in to state my case. How dare they do something so unethical and against the labour relations law? Their actions are appalling. They call themselves impartial, but they fuelled the situation.”
FlySafair also condemned Mkhize’s behaviour, per IOL, emphasising that cabin crew are licensed safety officers and that interfering with their duties is a criminal offense.
The airline also announced that Mkhize would be placed on their no-fly list, effectively banning her from future flights with them.
Mkhize did apologise for her remarks towards people of colour during the incident.
“I would like to apologise to the coloured community. That’s not who I am. I wasn’t raised that way. I don’t believe in what I said. I sincerely apologise for whatever was said … I have coloured friends, I’m not racist.”
Reflecting on the events, Mkhize admitted, “I could have handled it better”. Jirre, but what a mess.
[Sources: IOL & TimesLIVE]
