Police in the Free State are investigating an alleged assault case following an alleged racist incident at a resort where white adult males tried to prevent black teenagers from using the swimming pool on Christmas day.
The adult males are seen ordering the teens out of the swimming pool at the Maselspoort Resort and Conference Centre, which is located on the banks of the Modder River about 23 kilometres outside of Bloemfontein.
The incident is then seen escalating further as the white men are seen grabbing one of the boys by the throat and pulling his hair. Before the video ends, the other boy is seen being thrown into the pool, where there is an alleged attempt to drown him.
Family came to spend the day @ 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.
The Oranje-Vrystraat we love ??
Merry Christmas pic.twitter.com/ac4UPZ05ey
— TWIN FL?ME (@Tumii_Frost) December 25, 2022
Father speaks on ‘racist’ Incident
The father of the boys, Brian Nakeng, speaking with SABC News, revealed that they were traumatised by the incident because one of them could have drowned. Nakeng further revealed that there were other people shouting that they didn’t belong there.
“As we were relaxing, the boys came and told us that they were being prevented from using the pool by a group of white adult males.” They said they were told by the men that the pool is only reserved for people who are booked here [at the resort]. We then went to the pool to intervene and told the gentlemen that we were also booked here and were not day visitors. “So we thought the issue was resolved, but we were shocked to hear that they were attacked after we left,” he said.
Premier Sisi Ntombela “noted with disgust” what had transpired and said “racism and such barbaric actions have no place in our province.”
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42O2vf6dlAE[/embedyt]
Economic, small business development, tourism, and environmental affairs (DESTEA) MEC Makalo Mohale is expected to meet with the management of the resort to “gather all the relevant facts” and contact the victims.
According to police spokesperson Brig Makhele Motantsi, Glen police officers responded to an incident at a Bloemfontein holiday resort shortly after 3 p.m. on Sunday and discovered that the group had already dispersed.
A case of common assault has since been opened and is being investigated.
