[LISTEN] Richard Baird recounts the night Judge Motata smashed into his wall

Richard Baird describes how Judge Nkola Motata hurled racial insults at him and it has had a detrimental effect on his life.

The owner of the Hurlingham house in Johannesburg, which retired Judge Nkola Motata crashed into a decade ago, tells Eusebius McKaiser it has taken a long time for action to be taken against the judge.

Motata hurled racist remarks at him on the night, which were recorded.

He was found guilty of drunk driven and was fined R20 000.

Now, a judicial tribunal investigating retired Judge Motata's conduct at the scene on 7 January 2007, has made damning findings that may see him being removed as a judge.

The tribunal has concluded that his actions were racist and unbecoming of his office.

Baird explains that his exposing of Motata's behaviour at the time had nothing to do with race, but were about actions unbecoming of the office of a judge.

Judge Motata picked me out from the scene - obviously as a homeowner but also as a white person. He had not regarded that I was helping and looking after my staff and taking them to private hospitals.

Richard Baird

Baird says the defamatory effect of the insults made towards him had a detrimental effect on his life and he lost a great deal.

I was wiped out completely. I lost my farm, I lost my car, lost my wife...The defamation of the false racism allegations is devastating on a professional person such as myself.

Richard Baird

READ: 'The truth has many sides, beware of the single story'

Baird describes the details of that night and says he could see how drunk Motata was.

My tenants took his keys because he tried to to do a hit and run.

Richard Baird

Baird says judging someone because of skin colour without knowing anything about them as a person is wrong. he is pleased with the outcome of the tribunal.

Listen to more of Baird's recount of the night:

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