Cape Town - A complaint of racism and assault has been lodged at the Cape Town Central police station against the owner of Hank’s Olde Irish pub in Cape Town.
This after the establishment in Bree Street was challenged over its alleged racist entry policy by not allowing a black man to enter without an accompanying white person.
In cellphone footage widely circulated, Sea Point resident Christopher Logan confronts the owner of the pub after his friend Thabiso Danca, 25, was denied entry the night before based on his race.
The incident took place at about 11pm at last week’s First Thursdays night.
Hank’s Olde Irish / Love Thy Neighbour turning people of colour away if they aren’t “accompanied by a white person”??? Surprise, surprise another racist watering hole… @CapeTimesSA @mailandguardian pic.twitter.com/nvRhzlcgep
— nathannnnn (@Natenoged) December 3, 2022
Part 2 of the video where the owner says he’s going to fire the bouncer for something that is clearly an institutional policy. Shameful. pic.twitter.com/3DnCn2pdIN
— nathannnnn (@Natenoged) December 4, 2022
In the police statement, Danca said his white friend, identified as “Jordan”, proceeded to enter the establishment first, while Danca was finishing a cigarette outside.
When getting ready to enter, the bouncer prevented him from doing so and questioned him.
“He said I can’t go inside if I am not accompanied by a white person. I asked him what he meant by that. He said black people steal and make trouble inside.”
Danca, who by then was joined by Jordan, questioned the bouncer over these remarks, which the bouncer said was a directive from the boss.
“I was inside for just five minutes then I left because I couldn’t take what I was told,” Danca said.
He said he felt “not human enough” and humiliated as this was done in front of a crowd.
On Friday, Logan, with five others, including Danca, went to the establishment at about 5pm to confront the owners over what had taken place the previous night.
Logan said the owner and the bouncer had physically assaulted him and another person during the confrontation.
“The first owner was just kind of unsure how to respond in many ways. There was a second owner, the brother of the first owner.
“He was far more combative and dismissive. He told us we were jokes and that we’re entitled and that we should go and do something serious with our lives,” Logan said.
“Then he proceeded to call every black member of staff that was around, made them stand in front of us and asked them on the spot ‘have you ever felt that I’ve been racist towards you?’”
In the police report, Logan said he had a bloody nose, bruises on his face, neck, upper hands and knees, and had been choked.
South Africans have lauded Logan, who challenged the Cape Town pub over its alleged racist policy.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) visited the pub on Sunday, however found that it had been closed. The party said it would lay a racial discrimination case with the South African Human Rights Commission and other relevant institutions.
EFF spokesperson Wandile Kasibe said the party would be visiting the pub today (Tues) at 5pm, “to express our disgust”.
According to IOL, the pub released a statement denying any instruction given to staff to prevent patrons from entering on the basis of race or gender discrimination in the 30 years of service.
“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 to conduct their criminal investigation on the case of assault opened against the individuals making accusations in the video.”