The national spokesperson of the DA, South Africa’s main opposition party was victim to a racist attack this Friday. The Phumzile van Damme, a Rhodes University graduate, told TMG Digital that her reservation at a local Durban restaurant was turned down on Friday evening which had claimed it was fully booked but gave her white friend a table five minutes later.
“I am in Durban for a meeting right? So I asked my sister to refer us to a place we can have dinner and then she gave me a number for this place.
“I called and I was told it’s fully booked and my white friend called later and got a table for three without hassles.
“Surprisingly when my sister called again five minutes after that‚ they were fully booked again‚” Van Damme said.
She added that her sister told her that the restaurant was “known for having a quota rule” and that they only allowed a certain number of black patrons a day.
“I am so mad and I don’t understand why this is still happening in this country. I am on my way there now and I will be confronting them‚ I want answers‚” the political science graduate said.
She took to her Twitter account @ZilevanDamme to vent her anger‚ sharing:
“I call to book a table at a restaurant – fully booked. My white friend calls 5 minutes later — table available. Coincidence? I think not.’’
“I will not boycott. I am entitled to go anywhere I like & go I will. Let’s just say the restaurant will hear from me tonight.’’
“My sister called 5 minutes later & it was suddenly fully booked again. Racism exists because we allow it room to thrive. Nah‚ son.’’
Posting a photo of a man eating a large amunt of hamburgers‚the young spokesperson tweeted: “Me‚ later. Ngeke ngizwe ngabo” translated (Me‚ later. They can’t dictate to me).
This incident follows a racist involving a KZN guest house in Sodwana bay that “do not accommodate black or government officials.” and a motorist who was caught shouting racist slurs to police officers trying to assist her.
