A restaurant in Cape Town has received criticism after allegedly refusing entry to a black man, Thabiso Danca.
Danca was allegedly told by one of Hank’s Olde Irish Pub co-owners he was not allowed to enter the establishment because he was not accompanied “by a white person” to enter the pub.
A video of the incident went viral after the pub’s owner was confronted by Christopher Logan, the friend of the victim.
In an interview with the SABC, Danca said he was stopped from entering the pub because he was not accompanied by a white friend.
He added the owner said: “It’s because people of colour steal and cause trouble when they go inside the pub.”
The pub issued a media statement, saying there had never been any instruction to staff to disallow patrons entrance on the basis of race or gender discrimination in their 30 years of service.
“We owners want to state categorically that in the past 30 years of operating businesses in Cape Town, we as the owners never – nor have we ever instructed our staff – to discriminate on any basis whatsoever, whether that be gender, sexual orientation, or race.
“We want to place on record that we are extremely concerned for the well-being and safety of the staff involved, therefore we will not be commenting any further while we conduct an internal disciplinary process about these allegations and the police conduct their criminal investigation on the case of assault opened against the individuals making accusations on the video,” they said.
Disclaimer: The following video contains vulgar language. Viewer discretion is advised.
Cape Town white owned establishments doing what they do best. This is one of many racist and racially profiling incidents black people get up to 🚮
— The Queen of peace 🌈🇿🇦🇩🇪 (@Queennatasha_O) December 4, 2022
Cape Town Hank’s Old Irish Pub should face the music #racism #CapeTownHanksOldIrishPub#CapeTown #HumanRights pic.twitter.com/5elSTRA9FH
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