Joyful as we are that the racists who set their dogs on African Immigrants from Mozambique have been found guilty, the South African Council of Churches will be waiting with keen interest whether the sentence these racists get will be consistent with the crime perpetrated on the victims.

In a statement released today by the General Secretary of the SACC, Rev. Dr Molefe Tsele, the ecumenical movement leader said: "As the SACC we hope that these racists who continue to abuse others purely because they are either blacks or non-South African blacks, will get the maximum sentence for the dastardly crime they committed on innocent black people. We are watching with interest if the sentence on them will match their heinous crime."

Dr Tsele said it must be the duty of "all of us" to ensure that racists of any ilk have no place to hide in this country. "We must hunt them down, and expose them to the light of day," Dr Tsele said in a statement.

"All the racists must begin to mend their ways, and know that South Africa is a home for all people who populate this country. Just because you are black, and a foreigner, should not mean you should be treated as a sub-human being."

"We must commend Judge Dion Basson for convicting Nicolaas Kenneth Loubster and Dino Guiotto, for the role they played in setting their dogs on black people during the so-called training exercise five years ago

For further information, contact Head: Communications, Fr Joe Mdhlela at 083 641 1281