It’s hard to believe that landlords racially segregate toilets 20 years after Nelson Mandela became president, yet that’s the allegation at a Limpopo business park. Quite rightly, the SA Human Rights Commission has been alerted to these allegations. The matter came to light in a report by The Sowetan newspaper. It seems that one white man has a toilet all to himself. The property sector has been accused of dragging its heels when it comes to Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) at the highest levels of large organisations. Accusations like this won’t help the real estate industry’s reputation for failing to adequately address transformation, though one assumes this case is the exception rather than the norm in modern South Africa. Â – JC
From the South African Press Association
The SA Human Rights Commission could investigate allegations that a Limpopo business park allocates toilets according to race groups, it emerged on Wednesday.
“We are aware of this incident and our provincial office is on its way to [Louis Trichardt] to verify these shocking allegations,” spokesman Isaac Mangena said in a statement.
“If they are indeed true, we will immediately launch an investigation.”
The Sowetan reported that business tenants at the Vleissentraal office block in Louis Trichardt convened a meeting after alleging they were told to use separate toilets.
The tenants told the newspaper they had had enough of the segregation and humiliation.
“There are four toilets in this building. One is for black females, one for black males, one for white and coloured females, and the last one is used by one white male,” a businessman, who did not want to be named, was quoted as saying.
“The toilets are always locked and before we can use them we have to ask for the keys from the white lady managing the building.”
Other tenants, who did not want to be named, also spoke to the newspaper about the alleged racism.
Attempts by the Sowetan to get comment from the building owner were unsuccessful.
Source : Sapa /mr/mar/jje/jk
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