WHAT was supposed to be a birthday getaway with friends to a Mpumalanga lodge turned into a racial row when a Johannesburg woman was told her booking would be cancelled because she is black.
Siphokazi Nonyongo had made an Internet booking to go and stay at the Lion's Head Lodge and Caravan Park in White River next month, but got the shock of her life when she was sent an email and told the lodge was for "whites only".
Two weeks ago, Nonyongo had called the lodge to enquire about room availability for her and her three friends to celebrate her birthday, which was on the 10th.
"The (lodge) owner's wife, Gail, told me I needed to go on to the website to make a booking, and I did that."
Nonyongo said she received an email from the lodge the following day, which read: "Sorry, whites only as per owner Mark Spence".
Nonyongo said she was shocked, and decided to call the owners to confront them because she felt she was racially discriminated against. She said the owners eventually responded to her and apologised after she had approached a local newspaper.
Yesterday, Spence distanced himself from the email and claimed that it was sent by a disgruntled staff member who was dismissed earlier this month.
"I come from Zimbabwe and I went to school with black people ... I would never do something like this."
HERE'S THE EXTRA DETAILS READERS HAVE ASKED FOR: From Avusa Media Group News
Spence distanced himself from the e-mail, and claimed that a disgruntled staff member had sent the offending message to Nonyongo to vent his frustration after he was dismissed earlier this month for neglecting his duties.
"I hired him a year -and -a- half ago to get our website up and running and also to manage our internet bookings because I don't know how to operate a website.
"I gave him notice prior to this incident and told him that I was letting him go because he was not doing his job," he said.
"I am not sure why he [the staff member] would behave like this, but he might have a problem with black people because the man is an old, white South African who was involved with the military during the old South African government."
The staff member could not be reached for comment.
Spence said he had since apologised to Nonyongo and had offered her free accommodation.
Nonyongo said she could not accept the offer because she did not believe Spence's version of events.
Nonyongo's colleague, Yassi Tamdji, from New York, who was due to accompany her on the trip, was appalled by the e-mail.
"I was appalled at such blatant and unabashed discrimination. I know that South Africa is an adolescent democracy, but the country has made strides towards creating a non-racist society.
"The e-mail my friend received from the lodge served as a reminder that South Africa still has a [long] way to go in reshaping the minds of those who hold onto prejudices and continue to react in such a manner," she said.
Woman says 'whites only' lodge spurned her
WHAT was supposed to be a birthday getaway with friends to a Mpumalanga lodge turned into a racial row when a Johannesburg woman was told her booking would be cancelled because she is black.
Siphokazi Nonyongo had made an Internet booking to go and stay at the Lion's Head Lodge and Caravan Park in White River next month, but got the shock of her life when she was sent an email and told the lodge was for "whites only".
Two weeks ago, Nonyongo had called the lodge to enquire about room availability for her and her three friends to celebrate her birthday, which was on the 10th.
"The (lodge) owner's wife, Gail, told me I needed to go on to the website to make a booking, and I did that."
Nonyongo said she received an email from the lodge the following day, which read: "Sorry, whites only as per owner Mark Spence".
Nonyongo said she was shocked, and decided to call the owners to confront them because she felt she was racially discriminated against. She said the owners eventually responded to her and apologised after she had approached a local newspaper.
Yesterday, Spence distanced himself from the email and claimed that it was sent by a disgruntled staff member who was dismissed earlier this month.
"I come from Zimbabwe and I went to school with black people ... I would never do something like this."
HERE'S THE EXTRA DETAILS READERS HAVE ASKED FOR: From Avusa Media Group News
Spence distanced himself from the e-mail, and claimed that a disgruntled staff member had sent the offending message to Nonyongo to vent his frustration after he was dismissed earlier this month for neglecting his duties.
"I hired him a year -and -a- half ago to get our website up and running and also to manage our internet bookings because I don't know how to operate a website.
"I gave him notice prior to this incident and told him that I was letting him go because he was not doing his job," he said.
"I am not sure why he [the staff member] would behave like this, but he might have a problem with black people because the man is an old, white South African who was involved with the military during the old South African government."
The staff member could not be reached for comment.
Spence said he had since apologised to Nonyongo and had offered her free accommodation.
Nonyongo said she could not accept the offer because she did not believe Spence's version of events.
Nonyongo's colleague, Yassi Tamdji, from New York, who was due to accompany her on the trip, was appalled by the e-mail.
"I was appalled at such blatant and unabashed discrimination. I know that South Africa is an adolescent democracy, but the country has made strides towards creating a non-racist society.
"The e-mail my friend received from the lodge served as a reminder that South Africa still has a [long] way to go in reshaping the minds of those who hold onto prejudices and continue to react in such a manner," she said.
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