Durban - Prominent businessman Peter Vundla has taken offence at being fined R5 000 for the noise his adult family members allegedly made at his lavish holiday home at Zimbali Coastal Resort at Ballito during the December festive season.
He is now demanding that the fine be cancelled and wants an apology from the estate management.
But Zimbali, in a statement to The Mercury, stood by the issuing of the fine and the actions of its security personnel.
Vundla is the chairman of a number of companies including the Mail and Guardian newspaper and African Merchant Bank. He is also the younger brother of SABC1 soapie Generations: The Legacy producer Mfundi Vundla.
Vundla claimed that Zimbali management had disrespected him and acted with “racial undertone”. Vundla said he had reached the conclusion that the complaint was influenced by racism by either the management or “faceless white” residents who made the complaint. He said his two black neighbours had had no problem with the gathering at his house on two nights.
“With this racism in our country, it is my view that we need to root out racism wherever it appears. We should chop off its head,” he said.
The complaint emanated from a two-day visit by his daughters Nozizwe Vundla, 40, and Sindi Msibi, 50, and his son-in-law Mime Msibi (who is also in his 50s) at his holiday house in Zimbali in December.
Nozizwe is also demanding an apology.
In the first incident where noise was alleged, the three were talking on the balcony when a security guard told them that a resident had complained about them making a noise. On the second night they were joined by friends for a braai, when a different security guard told them about another complaint.
This time an argument ensued as they denied they were making a noise and demanded to know who had complained.
Vundla said he was shocked when in January he received two fines of R2 500 each. He said he questioned his children about the noise and they denied the allegations. Vundla later questioned the head of security at Zimbali, Albert Rode, about the allegations and the fine.
“I told him I have been a resident since late 1999, and nobody ever complained about me, and I am one of the oldest residents.”
He said he was not impressed when Rode refused to reveal the identity of the complainant.
“I said: ‘Could the complainant be white?’ He said: ‘Listen, I am not going to continue the discussion with you.' Then he left me in his office just like that. He walked out, saying: ‘This discussion is over.' I resented being dismissed like that,” he said.
He later took up the matter with estate general manager, Sarika Somai-Sewpersad, who explained the rules that prohibited noise.
Somai-Sewpersad said the noise happened between 11.30pm and 3.30am on the second occasion. Nozizwe said on this occasion there 10 people having a braai but they were not playing music.
“I demanded to know how the security reached a conclusion that we were making a noise, because we were just talking like civilised people,” she said.
Vundla said when he insisted on knowing the identity of the complainant, Somai-Sewpersad said the complainant had refused to be revealed.
“I said I cannot be charged by a faceless person... I said this is unconstitutional,” he said.
He said the management later cancelled one of the fines, leaving him with R2 500 outstanding, but he refused to pay.
“I said I want an apology for the way Rode treated me, because I am his employer. I told him as an employee he must listen to me,” he said.
Somai-Sewpersad said Zimbali had rules against making a noise, which residents should respect.
She said Vundla “does not appear to accept that the rules apply to him. Mr Vundla was, I am afraid, arrogant and unaccepting of the explanation given to him.
“Mr Vundla was dealt with in an even-handed manner such as any resident or owner would be dealt with.”
She defended the estate’s security personnel for enforcing the rules and denied “any wrongdoing on its part or on the part of any of its personnel or management”.
The Mercury