News / Africa
White man calls a black security guard a baboon: SA
31 Oct 2011 at 09:21hrs | Views
A South African security guard, Elias Moja claims a white man called him a baboon. Moja intends to open a case against the man, the Sowetan reported.
The incident allegedly happened on Wednesday afternoon when the same man referred to the victim as a "bobejaan" - the Afrikaans name for baboon.
This also allegedly happened despite the fact that the white man had apologised to the victim.
Elias Moja, who works for Urban Security Services in Polokwane, said the first incident happened on September 13.
Moja's company is employed to guard an alcohol distribution depot in Ladanna.
According to Moja, 32, he had caught the alleged culprit loading liquor on his bakkie, which had been brought into the premises through a back door.
"After I caught him and reported the matter to his managers, the man made me his target. I would be taken through all sorts of insults," Moja said yesterday.
He said he complained to the company's management and the man, whose name is known to Sowetan, had apologised to him "verbally and in writing".
He also showed this reporter a copy of the apology letter.
"It came as a surprise when the same man interfered in a conversation between me and another employee on Wednesday. When we told him he had no business to interfere, he referred to me as a bobejaan. I now want him to be taken to task," he said.
Moja said he would not accept any further apology from the same man "because he is doing all this intentionally".
"He told me I'm a little baboon like Julius Malema - the ANC Youth League president," he said.
"The new South Africa does not need people like him who still practise racism. We should learn to treat each other as equals."
The security company's general manager, Pierre Bantjes, advised Moja to consult the (company's) lawyers to find a solution to the matter.
"Moja and the lawyers should decide whether they want to sit around the table with the culprit to resolve the matter or whether they will pursue the matter through legal means," he said.
A manager at the liquor distribution company, identified as Adriaan Lucas, said he would advise his employee to sue Sowetan if the newspaper ran the story.
The incident allegedly happened on Wednesday afternoon when the same man referred to the victim as a "bobejaan" - the Afrikaans name for baboon.
This also allegedly happened despite the fact that the white man had apologised to the victim.
Elias Moja, who works for Urban Security Services in Polokwane, said the first incident happened on September 13.
Moja's company is employed to guard an alcohol distribution depot in Ladanna.
According to Moja, 32, he had caught the alleged culprit loading liquor on his bakkie, which had been brought into the premises through a back door.
"After I caught him and reported the matter to his managers, the man made me his target. I would be taken through all sorts of insults," Moja said yesterday.
He said he complained to the company's management and the man, whose name is known to Sowetan, had apologised to him "verbally and in writing".
He also showed this reporter a copy of the apology letter.
"It came as a surprise when the same man interfered in a conversation between me and another employee on Wednesday. When we told him he had no business to interfere, he referred to me as a bobejaan. I now want him to be taken to task," he said.
Moja said he would not accept any further apology from the same man "because he is doing all this intentionally".
"He told me I'm a little baboon like Julius Malema - the ANC Youth League president," he said.
"The new South Africa does not need people like him who still practise racism. We should learn to treat each other as equals."
The security company's general manager, Pierre Bantjes, advised Moja to consult the (company's) lawyers to find a solution to the matter.
"Moja and the lawyers should decide whether they want to sit around the table with the culprit to resolve the matter or whether they will pursue the matter through legal means," he said.
A manager at the liquor distribution company, identified as Adriaan Lucas, said he would advise his employee to sue Sowetan if the newspaper ran the story.
Source - Sowetan
