Ban those racist golfers from any SA golf course

Maluleke was left battling for his life

SEVERAL days have passed since the unprovoked brutal assault of Nathan Maluleke, a decent and harmless 60-year-old man, at the World of Golf in Woodmead – but my shock and anger linger on.

The fact that the alleged attackers were white leaves me in no doubt that race played a role in the vicious assault that left Maluleke hospitalised with serious head injuries.

Maluleke, who has undergone surgery, suffered several facial fractures, a broken jaw and teeth.

According to his family, Maluleke, who is employed at the golf course as an instructor, asked a loud, foul-mouthed golfer to tone down racist remarks he was making.

The response was vicious. Maluleke was attacked by the golfer and his colleagues with, among other things, golf clubs.

The result was that Maluleke was left battling for his life in hospital.

Maluleke’s lawyer, Zola Majavu, was quoted by the SABC as saying: “The doctors say they will insert some metal blades to try and deposition his face. He is quite anxious about this operation. I’m told it is an intense one and it deals with a very delicate part of his face.”

It is not only shocking but also unacceptable that in this day and age we can still have such incidents involving openly racist attacks on defenceless blacks.

What was even more disappointing was the reluctance of the local police station to open a case against the alleged culprits.

I am not surprised that this blatant racist attack has attracted the attention of the South African Human Rights Commission, which is now investigating the incident. As chairman of the Union of Golf Societies ( UGS), I, along with my organisation, remain appalled by the attack.

The UGS, which is made up of social golf clubs that include Ambassadors Golf Club, West Orlando Golf Club and Renaissance Golf Club, was saddened and angered by the attack on Maluleke, which took place at the World of Golf, Woodmead, on January 14.

The UGS rightly says: “This kind of attack, which was without doubt motivated by racist undertones, cannot be condoned”.

The alleged culprit, Matthew van der Walt, has already appeared in court and has been released on R1 000 bail. He will again appear in court on February 13.

The UGS not only condemns the racist attack in the strongest terms, it has also demanded the immediate banning of the alleged culprits from the golf course.

This demand has already been implemented, according to Vodacom, which runs the Woodmead golf course.

We urge law enforcement agencies to act speedily. We also urge relevant authorities to ban the culprits from the World of Golf anywhere in South Africa.

In the meantime we will support the work of Maluleke’s lawyer and the employer to see the family through these difficult times.

Together we can put an end to this barbaric racist behaviour.

Pusetso Qhena Union of Golf Societies Joburg