Takura Donald Makoni (48) woke up on Sunday morning to find the words ‘Taura not welcome’ spray painted on the walls of his home in the Finaghy area.
Police are treating the criminal damage as a hate crime and believe that it occurred some time between 2am and 4am.
“It’s something that I don’t welcome, but I understand the behaviour – so to speak – from working in the public sector,” said Mr Makoni, who works with the African & Caribbean Support Organisation in Northern Ireland.
“The person tried to write my name and even the wording that was used – the last time I spoke out, it was about people not being welcome in this area – so for me, it feels like I’m being personally targeted.”
The father-of-four openly condemned racist posters that popped up on lampposts in the area last month, which were calling for the Housing Executive to “stop housing illegal immigrants”.
The placards stated: “We have had enough of undesirables and immigrants being placed into our community.”
Similar signs were also seen in west Belfast, Belvoir and Newtownards.
Mr Makoni had reported the signs to police and had then said that he did not believe they expressed the views of the majority of people in Finaghy, and he reiterated that point again following the recent vandalism to his home.
“Since I’ve spoken out about this, I’ve received overwhelming support from people within this area of south Belfast, including messages from my children’s school teachers, local politicians, local shop owners and neighbours,” he told The Belfast Telegraph.
“It [the graffiti] really came as a surprise because I’ve received overwhelming support.
“For me, it doesn’t represent what people in this neighbourhood think of us or people like us; it represents the thoughts of probably an individual.”
Mr Makoni added that he has already received calls of support from Claire Hanna MP, Kate Nicholl MLA, and the PSNI Chief Inspector for Belfast, further noting that the police have checked in on him several times.
“I don’t feel in any way intimidated or afraid. My main concern, which is also why I spoke out a month ago, is for members of the community who don’t have the voice to speak out, who are afraid to speak out, or who may not have contacts like I do,” he said.
“My intention by speaking out is to bring attention to these issues so that people understand, there are probably 28 hate crimes that have happened today, and I’m just one of them.
“The other 20-odd may have gone unreported… Really, coming out and speaking out is not for my personal sake, it’s for members of the community who don’t get to voice their concerns, as well as those who don’t get to have their concerns resolved.”
Alliance’s Kate Nicholl described the incident as “an appalling and sinister attack which was designed to threaten Takura for speaking out”.
“Those behind it do not represent South Belfast which is a community of compassionate, kind and welcoming people,” she continued.
“However, that does not diminish its impact on those people who are being targeted. It creates fear and it is completely unacceptable.
“I have reported this graffiti to the PSNI and I would urge anyone with any information to contact them urgently.
“It’s time for all parties to come together and condemn racism. It is always left to the same people to speak out and if we’re serious about tackling this we need to do so together. Our next meeting of the Assembly’s All-Party Group on Ethnic Minority Communities will be with key representatives to discuss how we can shut this down.”
Chief Inspector Mark Conway said: “We are treating this as a hate-motivated crime and our enquiries are ongoing.
“The sentiment expressed is unacceptable and I am appealing to anyone with information that could assist enquiries to get on touch on 101 quoting reference 498 07/04/24.”