The brother of Tourism Minister Valli Moosa was assaulted on Wednesday night allegedly by a manager of an Italian restaurant at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town after an argument about the food.
Mohseen Valli Moosa, also a MP, said on Thursday morning that a manager of Prima Piatta "punched, kicked and broke my nose" in front of the other customers, after he had complained about his companion's food.
Captain Izelle Mostert of the Bay police station on the V&A Waterfront confirmed the incident had occurred around 9:30pm and a charge of assault against the restaurant manager was being investigated.
"The matter is receiving immediate attention as this is not the first complaint of this nature reported against restaurants here (waterfront)," she said.
Moosa said after the waiter arrived with the food his female friend complained that it was the incorrect order.
He said when he asked the waiter to take his friend's food back because she was unsatisfied with it, the waiter called the manager who allegedly became "abusive" instead of apologising or rectifying the matter.
He claimed the manager told him "leave my restaurant otherwise I will f... you up".
"When I refused to leave until we resolved the matter, he swore at me and then punched me several times in the face and nose and pinned me to the floor where he kicked me in full view of the customers," Moosa said.
He was taken to the nearby City Hospital where a doctor, who did not wish to be named, confirmed he was treated for a broken nose and other injuries to his body.
Moosa said he was "disgusted" and "shocked" at the behaviour of the manager who he believes could have been "in a bad mood or was just racist".
"How can you beat up someone who complains about the food? What would have been the consequences if I was tourist?" he asked.
He said the manager became so aggressive over "something which was unprovoked" that the patrons had to "pull him of me".
He said he planned to take civil action against the manager for injuries.
He said the waterfront's executive director, Duncan Kloete, had called him, apologised and admitted that there had been other incidents of a similar nature at the restaurant and its franchise Mimos.
Kloete, however, could not be reached for comment by 5:15am on Thursday. - Sapa