Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has demanded that the matter involving the white men attacking black boys at a swimming pool at a resort in the Free State be dealt with urgently. Two teenage boys 13 and 18 experienced an unpleasant Christmas day when a video of them, being shoved and choked by three white men, circulated on social media.The incident happened in Maselspoort Resort outside Bloemfontein.

LAW ENFORCEMENT MUST DEAL WITH THIS MATTER DECISIVELY

In the video the a white man identified as Minus Klaasen is seen slapping a 13-year old boy and pushing him back inside the pool when he tried to get out. Another man pulled him by the hair. Thereafter when the 18-year old tried to intervene he was chocked and then there was a scuffle. Minister Sisulu said such incidents have a negative impact on the tourism sector that is still in a process of recovering after being hit by Covid-19. "I noted the incident with utter disgust and call on law-enforcement agencies to deal with this matter decisively and ensure that perpetrators are brought to book to send an eloquent message that incidents of racism have no place in our democracy," the minister said."

SEGREGATION IN 2022

On Monday afternoon EFF members went to the resort played on the swings and some swam in the pool. EFF Free sSate Chairperson Mapheule Liphoko said the behaviour of the white men was unacceptable and no one should be subjected to that kind of abuse in this day and age. "We want to condemn in the strongest point as possible, it cannot be that a black man still has no-go areas, this time and day. And we met with the provincial commissioner of the police, he promised us he's dealing with the matter and we're here to supervise. We still have to meet with the management. We're told that some of them are enablers of racism and that's why there are segregated pools for certain people and not black people. So, we're supervising, at best take a swim."

ENABLING BEHAVIOUR

They blamed the resorts managent for enabling such behaviour. Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said police were called out on Sunday afternoon to attend to a fighting incident. "On arrival members found the groups already dispersed and were approached by a parent of one of the victims who alleged that his two teenage boys, aged 18 and 13, were assaulted by a group of white males over the usage of a swimming pool," said Makhele. He said police were  investigating a case of common assault, against the three suspects and the docket will be taken to court for decision."The suspects, who are all white males as seen on the video circulating, were warned to appear in court on a date to be set by the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court," Makhele added.