A video of two teenage boys being attacked by a white old man at the Masselport Resort and Conference Centre in Free State has been trending on social media. It is alleged that the boys were swimming in one of the pool at the resort when the white man pulled them out in an unpleasant manner claiming that the pool was reserved for “Whites only”.
This racist act has reached so many social media platforms and international blogs, people have been sharing their sentiments towards the issue shocked that South Africa is still dealing with this level of racism in 2022.
The Economic Freedom Fighters attended to the matter after the sister of the victim shared the video. On Monday 26 December 2022, the EFF released a statement in response to the incident, stating that white people should unlearn the logic they have the exclusive treatment they claim they are entitled to.
“We blame Masselport management for enabling such actions by having a whites-only pool that made those whites racists think that’s the space for white people only. We are further disappointed in the failure of the Management of Masselport to correctly deal with this racism in their facilities. White people need to unlearn the logic that they deserve their own space, this is the highest form of nonsense that has been tolerated for the longest of times”
The white man has allegedly been identified as Kobus Klassen, the man who is seen strangling and fighting the teenage boy in the pool, in the video circulating.
Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Sisulu has noted “with utter disgust” reports on the incident. She has responded and said that reports on racism at tourism facilities negatively impact the industry.
“I call on law-enforcement agencies to deal with this matter decisively and ensure that perpetrators are brought to book and to send an eloquent message that incidents of racism have no place in our democracy,” said Sisulu.
