Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane says Sodwana Bay Guest House owner Andre Slade called him a “beast” and a “little bastard“.
Maimane recalled this incident on Thursday after Slade received backlash and calls to shut down his KwaZulu-Natal guest house following a racist response the lodge had sent to a black person who wanted to book the venue‚ saying they are “don’t accommodate black people and government employees any longer“.
The DA leader called Slade a racist and urged the South African Human Rights Commission to fast-track an investigation into the establishment’s conduct.
’’This matter is also personal to me‚ as the perpetrator has previously referred to me as a ‘beast’ and ‘little bastard’ in his online blog‚ revealing his racism in no uncertain terms‚” Maimane said.
“We thus welcome the decision by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate this case of overt racism‚ and we urge the SAHRC to act expeditiously in this matter in order to send a clear message to racists and those who engage in racist behaviour.”
When contacted by TMG Digital‚ Slade stood by the email saying it was written in the Bible that black and white people should be segregated.
Maimane said: “I wish to use this opportunity to state again that racism‚ and its bedfellows – homophobia‚ sexism and religious intolerance – have no place in our democratic society. These incidents undermine and derail the difficult yet necessary project of building a fair and reconciled South Africa.”
