FREE STATE Premier Sisi Ntombela has condemned an alleged racial incident that happened on Christmas Day at Maselspoort Resort in Free State.
This comes after a video was circulated on social media, showing a group of men attacking two boys.
The author of the video, who posted it on Twitter @Tumii_Fros said: “Family came to spend the day at Maselspoort Resort & Conference Centre in Free State. My brothers were attacked by these grown men because they are apparently not allowed in the pool as it's reserved for the "white people" here.”
According to one of the boy’s father, the men refused to let the boys who are aged 14 and 18 swim in a pool at the resort.
He said they were in their rooms when the boys came to them and asked that they intervene as they were being prevented to swim by a group of adult men.
He said the boys told them that the pool was reserved for them because they are booked there.
“We came in and explained to the men and they said there was a miscommunication because they didn’t know that the boys were also booked there.”
“After we left a scuffle broke, and the men started shouting at the boys, telling them that they didn’t belong there,” he said.
The father said a case of common assault has been opened and two men have allegedly been charged.
Responding to the video Ntombela said she has instructed the MEC for the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Makalo Mohale to deal with the matter with the urgency it deserves and engage law enforcement agencies.
She said racism and such barbaric actions have no place in her province.
“The province will make a pronouncement on the way forward as soon as the engagements have been concluded,” she said.
MEC Mohale also condemned the incident and said he has a planned meeting with the management of the resort.
“I condemn these senseless acts of racism at all costs. This unwanted behaviour should never be entertained in whatever form but to be treated as a matter of urgency.”
"Thus far, the incident has been identified as one element that remain a threat to the revival of the Tourism sector, therefore, we urge our communities to report any incident of racism to law enforcement agencies and continue to play a role in assisting the police to ensure that perpetrators are brought to books", he said.
Mohale encouraged both domestic and international tourists to continue visiting the Free State as their preferred destination of choice.
EFF members in Free State invaded the resort on Monday, 26 December chanting struggle songs and playing on the swings some also swimming inside the pool.
EFF provincial chairman Coach Liphoko said they condemn racism in the strongest word possible.
He said after seeing the video they came straight to the pool and swam.
“There is no way that we can allow racism to rear its ugly head under our watch as EFF," Liphoko said.
Free State Police have confirmed that they are investigating an alleged assault of two teenage boys who have been assaulted by a group of males while at a resort in Bloemfontein on Christmas Day.
According to Police spokesman Brigadier Motantsi Makhele on 25 December 2022 at about 15:03, Glen SAPS members were called to a fighting incident taking place at a holiday resort in Bloemfontein.
Makhele said 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.
"Glen police are investigating a case of assault common and the docket will be taken to court for a 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, " said Makhele.
Makhele added that the incident will receive proper attention from the investigating team assigned and they further condemn the behaviour as reflected in the video.
