Maselspoort Resort: Trio arrested for attack on black teens appear in court

Three people have been arrested for the attack on two black teens at the Maselspoort Resort in Bloemfontein during Christmas celebrations.

Police confirmed the trio was nabbed on Wednesday morning after a video surfaced on social media earlier in the week in which the two siblings were seen being pushed, strangled and held underwater by the group.

Attack

In the video, a white man can be seen strangling the younger black boy at the resort’s pool.

A group of people then tried to intervene, whereafter another white man pulled the hair of the boy violently.

The teens said the adults claimed the pool was reserved for white people only.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Family’s Christmas marred by alleged racist attack in Free State resort

Arrest

Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said the suspects were apprehended after a thorough investigation.

“After an additional charge was added, the investigating team worked around the clock to detect the suspects, we can confirm that there are three suspects arrested today.  The first two who were arrested are from Bothaville and Brandfort respectively, 33-year-old Johan Nel and 47-year-old Jan Stephanus van der Westhuizen.”

Charges

Makhele said the suspects have appeared in court.

“The two appeared in court on charges of assault common and Crimean Injuria and the matter was postponed to 25 January 2023 while being released on warning.”

“The third suspect from Bloemdal in Bloemfontein was arrested just after 12:00 and will be charged with attempted murder. He will remain in custody and is expected to appear in Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 29 December 2022 on the main charge being attempted murder,” Makhele said.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Free State police Lieuenant General Baile Motswenyane. commended the investigating team which worked tirelessly to make sure that these suspects are brought to book as soon as possible.

“This matter was regarded as very sensitive, hence we appealed to our team to handle it with the urgency it deserved,” he said.

Racists must expect harsh consequences’

The alleged racist attack, filmed by their sister Tumii Frost at the Maselspoort Resort swimming pool and posted on Twitter sparked widespread condemnation from the community, government, and political parties.

On Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said racism had no place in South Africa and racists must expect harsh consequences in terms of the law.

“As black and white South Africans, we should be united in condemning all manifestations of racism and attempts to explain or defend such crimes. Racism is not a problem to be fought by black South Africans only.”

“We must also be united in ridding our society of the violence we see in the videos of the incident at the Free State resort, whether such violence comes with racism or not,” the President said.

ALSO READ: Maselspoort Resort: ‘Racists must expect harsh consequences’ – Ramaphosa