A routine visit to the Mall@Carnival in Brakpan would turn into a harrowing ordeal for Arthur Mbambo (75), veteran South African actor, pastor and author. Mbambo, well-known to South African audiences for his on-screen performances in ‘Emzini wezinsizwa, ‘Tshisa’ and ‘Muvhango’, to name a few, gives an account of his experience on December 19 last year.
Accompanied by his wife, he visited a mobile phone store where he was advised that he needed to purchase a starter pack before a salesperson would be able to attend to his concern. Noticing that the queue was growing, he enquired whether he would have to re-join the queue and was informed that he would be assisted as soon as he returned and would not need to stand in line again.
On his return, he indicated to the queuing customers that he had been to the store and was informed that he need not to stand in line again. After having conducted his business, Mbambo turned to exit the store and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
According to him, a customer at the end of the line responded, “Kaffer,
“Kaffer, wie dink jy is jy?”
He ignored the racial slur and was surprised when another male customer, who turned out to be the customer’s grandson who uttered the racial slur, poured what he surmises was orange juice over the elderly actor. A scuffle ensued, followed by more racial abuse, during which Mbambo was repeatedly headbutted, resulting in severe swelling under his eyes.
Fellow shoppers intervened and the Brakpan division of the South African Police Services were called and charges laid against the attacker. Mbambo has since lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission and is awaiting an outcome.
