Racism mars wedding
2003-03-16 18:12
Wonder Hlongwa and Mandla Zulu
A high-profile and glamorous wedding - attended by some of South Africa's top celebrities - almost turned into a farce when members of an "all-white" private Durban club refused to make way for the wedding party.
The patrons of the Durban Under Sea Club instead sat drinking beer, sun-bathing and watching cricket.
The wedding was between Johannesburg information technology tycoon Patrick Tladi and his banking executive bride Phumla Mnxibisa.
They had to exchange vows inside a marquee because of the group's refusal to move, even though the venue had already been prepared inside for the exchange of vows.
Guests were also supposed to use the club's bar and facilities.
Wedding guests - including SABC chief executive Peter Matlare, the country's celebrated couple Romeo and Basetsane Khumalo, BMW director Seths Phalatsi and acting judge Louis Skweyiya - had to share the bar and toilets with the unruly "uninvited" guests.
"This is naked racism. We have been told that they came to know later that this was a black wedding. That is why they decided they were not going to make way for the wedding.
"They are refusing to move even though we have paid for the venue. My sister is distraught," said Mnxibisa's sister, Xoliswa.
The club had been hired through its chairperson, Bill Barron.
Barron said that the wedding co-ordinator, Kim Sinchan, was informed in advance that they would have to use the marquee only.
"Kim was told the venue was booked for the marquee only, not anywhere else.
"So if there is any problem, you talk to her about that. Talk to her. I will not comment any further," said Barron.
Xoliswa said her sister, through Sinchan, had arranged for the couple to exchange their vows inside the club, which had been specifically decorated for that purpose, and not in the marquee.
"They were sitting having beer and sun-bathing. I had to move the vows to the marquee and closed one side to create some privacy. When you have paid for the venue, you should be entitled to use it," said Sinchan.
It is claimed the owner's behaviour was influenced by the fact that a young, white boy was beaten during a wedding at the club recently. The assault was blamed on the wedding attendants.
Tladi said he was very disturbed by the behaviour of the club members and he would demand a refund.
He said it was clear to him the disturbance was caused by racism. A fuming Skweyiya, who also cited racism as the reason behind the incident, said: "It's ridiculous that we still have people behaving like this in a new dispensation."