Family to hold counseling after teenagers were traumatized by alleged racist attack at Bloemfontein swimming pool

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EFF supporters paid a visit to the Maselspoort Resort and Conference Center outside Bloemfontein after the incident. Photo: EFF Free State

NEWS

The family of two teenagers who were assaulted at the Maselspoort Resort and Conference Center outside Bloemfontein, in the Free State, on Christmas Day for swimming in a pool allegedly for ‘whites’ only, say the boys were deeply traumatized by the incident.

Speaking to City Press on Tuesday, Brian Nakedi, father of one of the boys, said the family realized the trauma was deeper than they had anticipated.

The boys don’t make it at all and they are traumatized by the whole incident. It’s even worse that they keep seeing the video on social media. However, we organize them with some tips.

A video posted by Tumi Frost on Twitter shows a group of young boys being pushed around by white men who also tried to drown another boy.

The 58-year-old father said their family reunion was ruined by the acts of racism.

What happened is most unfortunate as we had gathered here to have fun with our families who are from Tshwane and Soweto in Johannesburg. This was going to be our first meeting after the Covid-19 pandemic. The boy they tried to drown is my 18 year old nephew from Soweto and the other is my 15 year old boy from Bloemfontein.

He added that the family had also appointed well-known lawyer Zola Majavu to take over their case.

“We arrived on Christmas Eve, and as we were trying to celebrate, this thing happened. The two boys came to tell us that there was a group of white people who didn’t want them to use the pool We immediately took care of the issue and thought it was sorted, however when the boys later entered the pool a fight broke out,” he said.

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He explained that at the station there was a side for the caravan park, which happened to be used mainly by white people, and then there were chalets which were used by everyone. On the side of the caravan park, there is a small pool in which the boys were trying to swim.

I am deeply disappointed and shocked to the point of being stunned by the incident. It’s not the first time we’ve experienced something like this here, but it hasn’t gotten worse at this level. However today we are leaving the resort as we believe the only good thing about the management called the police.

The Free State MEC for Economy, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Makalo Mohale condemned the incident and also instructed the station management to ensure that the three alleged perpetrators leave. places with immediate effect.

Mohale said there was no place for racists in the Free State and that the constitutional rights of young South Africans had been violated.

The case cannot be treated as if nothing had happened. The department will travel this trip with the family to ensure the perpetrators face the consequences of their actions.

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Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said he had noted with “utter disgust the reports of a racist attack by a group of white men on black children”.

She added that reports of racism in tourist facilities were having a negative impact on the tourism sector, which was recovering well after being hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I call on law enforcement to deal decisively with this case and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice to send a strong message that racist incidents have no place in our democracy,” said Sisulu.

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