South Africa Race Row Erupts as Black People 'Cleared from Beach' in Cape Town
A RACE-ROW has erupted in South Africa following reports security officials forced black residents to leave a popular tourist beach.
By LUKE HAWKER
Express, UK
15:46, Sat, Dec 29, 2018
The incident on the Clifton 4th beach in Cape Town caused widespread disruption and anger amongst those at the attraction on December 23. One activist accused the private security firm of racism stating they had been “briefed to not allow black people” on the beach - something they have denied. Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato said the firm "had no authority to ask anyone to leave Clifton beach".
In a statement he said: "We will not allow any private organisations to limit access to our public spaces.”
Mayor Plato also said the guards had "asked people of all races to leave" and had not targeted black people specifically.
Despite this protesters have since held a demonstration called "Reclaim the beach" to voice their frustrations.
South Africa has a long history of racial inspired violence and this beach was segregated during the apartheid era.
Fearing a return to the dark days local activist Chumani Maxwele told the News 24 website: "These private security guards... are actually briefed to not allow black people who appear to look like they are from the townships on to the beach.”
Mr Maxwele, who instigated a social media protest also planned the controversial slaughter of a sheep, to help “cleanse” the beach of “evil spirits” and to put an end to racism in South Africa.
Following the incident deputy Police Minister Bongani Mkongi vowed to "go hard on the security company".
Mr Mkongi said: "This is a property of the state, property of the people and therefore we don't need security companies here.”
Meanwhile Alwyn Landman, chief executive of the PPA security firm, denied that the company had closed the beach at all.
Mr Landman told News 24 it was “absolute mayhem” and themselves and the police were “doing a great job to stabilise the situation”.
By LUKE HAWKER
Express, UK
15:46, Sat, Dec 29, 2018
The incident on the Clifton 4th beach in Cape Town caused widespread disruption and anger amongst those at the attraction on December 23. One activist accused the private security firm of racism stating they had been “briefed to not allow black people” on the beach - something they have denied. Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato said the firm "had no authority to ask anyone to leave Clifton beach".
In a statement he said: "We will not allow any private organisations to limit access to our public spaces.”
Mayor Plato also said the guards had "asked people of all races to leave" and had not targeted black people specifically.
Despite this protesters have since held a demonstration called "Reclaim the beach" to voice their frustrations.
South Africa has a long history of racial inspired violence and this beach was segregated during the apartheid era.
Fearing a return to the dark days local activist Chumani Maxwele told the News 24 website: "These private security guards... are actually briefed to not allow black people who appear to look like they are from the townships on to the beach.”
Mr Maxwele, who instigated a social media protest also planned the controversial slaughter of a sheep, to help “cleanse” the beach of “evil spirits” and to put an end to racism in South Africa.
Following the incident deputy Police Minister Bongani Mkongi vowed to "go hard on the security company".
Mr Mkongi said: "This is a property of the state, property of the people and therefore we don't need security companies here.”
Meanwhile Alwyn Landman, chief executive of the PPA security firm, denied that the company had closed the beach at all.
Mr Landman told News 24 it was “absolute mayhem” and themselves and the police were “doing a great job to stabilise the situation”.
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