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According to reports by Eyewitness News, another Virgin Active gym has been immersed in a racism row.
The alleged verbal attack took place in Sunninghill, northern Johannesburg and Lesley Mofokeng says he is too traumatised to return to the gym.
Mofokeng is quoted as saying that he has already laid a criminal charge at the Sandton police station.
According to reports Mofokeng was cycling when a man approached him and accused him of “hogging the equipment”. The man apparently swore at him and referred to him as a “boy”.
“The guy came and started shouting and said, ‘You black guys take everything. We know this is your f*cken country, but you do not have to control everything.”
Mofokeng says Virgin Active has not been in contact with him despite having twice complained to them during the past month.
“I am still scared. I have not been to that gym ever since.”
The gym has reportedly pledged to investigate the matter and reaffirmed that they have a zero tolerance attitude toward incidents of this nature. - IOL
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Anonymous, wrote
Just think ppl, wrote
There is nothing wrong in calling someone a boy per se(depending on the context). Now, I don't think they saying the other guy was racist because he called Mofokeng a "boy" but because of the "‘You black guys take everything. We know this is your f*cken country, but you do not have to control everything." statement. I don't care what you say, the above statement is racist. The other guy seems to have some anger towards black people (justified or not) because he feels that they want to control everything, the problem is, he is directing this anger at a person he hardly knows just because he has the same skin color as the people he feels want to control everything. This is exactly the same as shouting to a whiter stranger, "You white people are racist, you killed my forefathers". The truth is, the white stranger could be a really good human being but just because of his skin color I would have classified him as a racist, and that would be wrong. So people please think before you type.
Beaver, wrote
1,200 South Africans die on our roads every month! About 1,300 South Africans are murdered every month! That means 2,500 South Africans of all races die violently every month!! Maybe we should spend more time addressing this issue and let these idiots settle their differences on their own. Citizens are dying violently every day, but all we see in the papers are crap like this!
Anonymous, wrote
Oh whatever, always the race card. he probably hogged the machine for so long with no consideration for others.as for the other incident with the lady shouting "yebo", she deserved to be shut up. its hugely frustrating to for someone to be shouting out something repeatedly regardless of what is being shouted. Grow up!
Shame, wrote
Malcolm X, wrote
Time-out people! The interesting aspect of these alleged racist incidents is that they happened in previously overwhelmingly 'white'elite environments..now that the demographics of these places are changing,of course there will be resistance, arrogance and obstruction. The same pattern as in the workplaces and educational establishments. I fear there is a backward reversion to racial identification accross the board in SA. Madiba wearing a Springbok jersey and the adoption of Die Stem as part of the national anthem was not enough to completely melt racist hearts. This re-enforced 'race' mindset[as appears from the comments on this page] I blame on the way 'transformation' has been managed. Instead of using economic criteriasome form of means testing as a basis of transformation, 'affirmative action''economic empowerment' is based on Verwoerdian race constructs. This purported redress based on 'race' creates anew race-based advantagedisadvantage and a new set of grievances, as well as some absurd but real injustice.So we revert to our racial laagers, because that is how we have been conditioned. Racism will not disappear by itself.
Anonymous, wrote
Oh for pete's sake, grow up already! Another black crying racism! You ARE a boy, unless you're a girl? And stop hogging the equipment! I have been threatened, pushed, sworn at, spat at by black people - and I am a senior citizen, you don't hear me cry racist! That's because I'm white! We have backbone, jellyfish!
Mdolomba, wrote
This is the kind of stuff every boy has to deal with through those "innitiation" practices, especially in boys high school. I agree, some of our country men are bloody racist, but if I can deal with you, I will without making a lot of noise about it. if I can't I will keep it to myself, wait until I can get someone of the abuser's kind to pay revenge. I was raise to deal with my personal problems on my own, without involving elders. "On my own" includes mobilizing sympathisers to deal with such elements. The media is our mama these days. lets be realist, if its not a "k" word of physical abuse, to me its not a big deal, someone will pay. The knock-on effect will eventually get to him. There is always a way of making yourself feel compensated for a semingly bad treatment by a small d..k "brother". No need to cry.
Kip, wrote
This story does not suprise me in the least. I am a member of VA in Horizon View and despite the 20 minute limit that you have on certain equipment, certain people just ignore the rule and use the treadmills and bikes for longer...much longer. I have twice addressed the issue with individuals in a very polite manner and twice I have been on the end of mutterings in an indigenous language together with clicking and clucking of tongues. When addressing the issue with the VA staff, it falls upon deaf ears. I had to turn the music up on my iPod some days ago due to a "conversation"that was taking place some four bikes down from where I was training. I am a very tolerant person however my lid will blow one day.
ASANDA SANDZA, wrote
lmimp! only in SA man...... so much tension in here damn argument between two human beings, gimme a break.
aml, wrote
I think the whole South African soccer team must cry racism-- Bafana Bafana = The Boys The Boys
Precious, wrote
That man was in "culture shock". African time is African time. Even if they wear a watch, doesnt mean they will look at it. Relax and learn African time bro.
Alwyn, wrote
So a guy calling him a boy, and that 'you black people' (which he no doubt is unless his name is misleading), and the fact that they control the country is not racist either, it's fact. Just because he cries 'racism' does not mean that it is in fact racism. Haal daai chip van jou skouer af!
Graham F, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
Alan McLellan, wrote
This is a terrible incident and people should not be allowed to get away with comments like this in the new South Africa. WHY ON EARTH is Virgin Actives name nbeing slandered because of this. This really has nothing to do with them. A typical example of how this sub-Standard newspaper Glamorises things to get peoples attention. iol come on man. Print whats real and dont use flashy headlines using big brands to sell Newspapers.
Wake_Field, wrote
What a bunch of tossers commenting on this article. Surely Les was hogging the equipment and the other lady enticed the white man to use racist word, neither is innocent and both should have their membership suspended. If you can't follow rules then you shouldn't be there in the first place.
Anonymous, wrote
Whats this? - I have been verbally assaulted by African okes at the gym many times - it cuts both ways bru.
Precious, wrote
So some white bad temperd guy says something to a young black and calls him a boy. Whites call all young men boy, dont have to be black either. Its their way of talking. The same guy most peobably beats up on his kids. And maybe the guy was hogging the equipment.
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