Update: 15.45pm
Following an inquiry and visit to the Douglasdale Police Station by the two witnesses of the incident it has been learned that the two parties involved in the altercation have decided to not press charges against one another.
As a result, notwithstanding the offer by the Douglasdale police to open a docket and the complaints have decided to not come forward [to do so]
As a result, Douglasdale police cannot give any more statements at this stage.
Spokesperson of the Douglasdale Community Policing Forum, Jean Berdou said, ” It appears that the altercation followed an incident of dicing [racing] not racial between the two parties.”
However, further investigations are being made and the matter will be pursued early next to confirm all the facts.
Further updates to follow.
Initial report:
The Douglasdale Community Policing Forum has urged all community members to cooperate with police following a social media post of an alleged racial attack that occurred at McDonald’s Fourways Crossing on 18 November.
Spokesperson for the Douglasdale Community Policing Forum, Jean Berdou said, “It’s come to our attention of an alleged incident of assault, racial abuse and other abuse at McDonald’s Fourways Crossing. The Douglasdale Community Policing Forum views all incidents of this nature in a very serious light and urges all complainants and witnesses to come forward.”
He urged community members to allow police to conduct a thorough investigation of this incident for wrongdoers to be brought to book.
Candice Ervin explained that she and her sister decided to stop at McDonald’s, Fourways Crossing after a night out when they witnessed the incident.
“A few cars ahead in the drive-through we could hear raised voices and what I could clearly understand as an Afrikaans male hurling racial slurs at the lady who takes the orders through the speaker. He was calling her dumb, deaf, and called her the K word on several occasions. He was extremely abusive and degrading.”
Ervin added that the man kept changing his order and allegedly started swearing at the woman.
“She was polite and controlled and asked him not to use that kind of language, and he started hitting the speaker with his fists.
“Two cars behind him had three Indian people in it… The driver hooted for a few seconds and yelled out for the man to stop abusing the lady and leave her alone.
“The Afrikaans man then turned around and clearly said, ‘nou gaan ek [die] K****** dood skiet’.”
At that point the Afrikaans man walked to his boot and allegedly pulled out a bicycle chain, wrapped it around his fist, ripped off his shirt and walked to the Indian man’s car.
“The driver’s window was open and my sister and I watched this man start beating this man in the face.”
It is claimed that the Afrikaans man was joined by his friends who took metal poles and assaulted the other two passengers in the car.
“This was a completely unprovoked, vicious and blatantly racist attack,” Ervin said.
Ervin and her sister rushed to the car and helped the female and proceeded to entrance of the McDonald’s. However they were left to stand outside for a few minutes as staff refused to open the door.
Once they were inside, McDonald’s staff first refused to call the police as, according to them, it was not a racial attack, as the victims were not black but Indian.
Four police officers made their way to the scene, again Ervin was allegedly told that it was not a racial attack as the victims were not black.
Police are still investigating the matter.
