Witness speaks out on ‘racist attack’
"What I saw was horrifying; I cannot even fathom going through such an experience."
These are the words of Jessica Smith, who witnessed the attack on Zoran Ramos and Natalie Spence by a group of about 15 people, in the East Rand Galleria, on Sunday afternoon, March 1.
According to her, the couple was called names like ”white pig” and Ramos retaliated only after Spence was struck first, following a verbal confrontation.
Mere moments later, said Smith, she saw about 20 people beating Spence and Ramos.
“The couple were on the floor, unable to move or get away – screaming out for help, yet not even the security guards aided them.”
Smith said that Spence was bleeding profusely as she screamed for them to stop.
“I even saw a woman taking off her shoe to beat Spence and, yes, I did witness one man kicking her in the head, which caused the ugly gash.”
“The rest of the mob was kicking Ramos and carried on beating him on the floor.
”He couldn’t fight them off, even though I could see he was trying to defend Spence.”
According to Smith, it took a while before help arrived.
Smith said she called the police while the assault occurred, but no one showed up.
“A couple was assaulted in a public mall without immediate action being taken to aid them; this is shocking and absolutely disgusting!” she added.
Smith tried to speak to the management of the store where the verbal altercation started, but was told it was not the store’s problem as the physical assault took place outside its doors.
“In this time we live in this should definitely not have happened,” she said. – @IschkeBoksburg
