Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the two teenage boys who were attacked in an alleged racially motivated incident at a Free State resort on Christmas day.
A viral video showed three middle-aged white men struggling with the two teenagers, known as the Nakedi brothers, in a swimming pool at a holiday resort in Bloemfontein and trying to strangle, slap them or dunk their heads under water.
The violence allegedly broke out after the men stopped the brothers from using the pool, saying it was reserved for resort clients.
Jacobus Johannes Classen appeared at a Bloemfontein court and was released on bail.
He was charged with attempted murder, assault and crimen injuria, an offence that means inflicting humiliation through obscene or racially-offensive language.
The two other suspects also appeared in court on assault charges and were released on warning.
The case has been postponed to January 25.
[WATCH] President Cyril Ramaphosa praises the Nakedi boys during his speech at the ANC’s 111th anniversary. He praised their bravery for resisting a racist act at a popular resort in the Free State in December.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/T6WuVA5o5T
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) January 8, 2023
Speaking while delivering his January 8 statement as the African National Congress (ANC) celebrated its 111th birthday at the Dr Petrus Molemela stadium in Mangaung in the Free State on Sunday, Ramaphosa urged South Africans not to be afraid of white people, as apartheid was over.
Ramaphosa praised the two boys for standing up to their attackers and showing a lot of courage.
“It was such a shameful act to see old white men trying to throttle these young men and to drown them in a pool under water, the most shameful act to perpetrate against young boys like these and that is why they are my guests.
“I thank you boys, stay strong and not be afraid of white people they no longer have power, their project of apartheid is over,” Ramaphosa said.
He added: “We honour these young men, we thank them and we also thank their parents for having stood firm to make sure that they resist the racist acts and practices being perpetrated against them.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
