Mountain racism row worsens
12 01 2010
2010-01-08 14:20
Source: News24
Cape Town – AfriForum on Friday accused SA National Parks of trying to wriggle out of allegations of racism by casting doubt on the integrity of white hikers who say they were turned away from a hut on Table Mountain.
“It is a pity that SANParks, instead of apologising to the students and making it clear that all accommodation on Table Mountain is accessible to people of all races, now appear to cast doubt on the complainants personally,” AfriForum said in a statement.
The civil rights group lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission after being informed that two students, Etienne and Stiaan Terblanche, were turned away from the People’s Trail Hut because they were white.
SANParks surprised
Earlier this week SANParks spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli said he was surprised when he learnt of the case in the media as the two brothers had never made a formal complaint to the conservation body.
He said SANParks was nonetheless trying to probe the incident but suggested the Terblanche family was not being helpful and had failed to provide proof that they had called the People’s Trail Hut.
This also drew an angry response from Stef Terblanche, the hikers’ father, who said he personally informed SANParks area manager Gavin Bell of the incident.
He claims Bell acknowledged that a mountain trail brochure mistakenly presents the People’s Trail Hut as being reserved for “previously disadvantaged groups” and said it would be replaced.
“Why does Reynold Thakhuli… now try to make us out to be liars and cast doubt on us?”
AfriForum has said the students’ complaint has led to more hikers coming forward with claims that they too were turned away from the hut on racial grounds.
- SAPA
Source: News24
Interesting – we’re 16 years out after the end of apartheid and we still have racists in SA – just the other way around. When will SA stop looking at colour.
What is up with SANParks? Sounds like they are trying to create confusion over the real reason… And what would the Terblanch gain from this story??? it’s not like they got accommodation or would ever use that accommodation again.
shocking
This is really so disappointing …. And not even a omment or an official apology from SANParks.,,
Agreed and disappointing
This is horrid, but I believe is not only S.A it’s the entire world. Racism is a major problem
Totally agree with you ‘safari packages’ it seems to be everywhere in the world. But non-the-less is a shocking story!
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