Cape Town - Drinking establishment Hank’s Old Irish Pub, in the city centre, has been called out following an alleged racial profiling incident where a black customer was apparently refused entry.
Thabiso Danca went to the pub for “first Thursday” celebrations. However, he was allegedly denied entry by a bouncer, who claimed that according to the pub’s right of admission policy, he needed to be accompanied by a white person.
The bouncer allegedly claimed that people like Danca “steal and caused trouble” and that the pub’s owners gave instructions about the right of admission policy.
Danco’s white friend noticed that he was not inside and went to look for him outside the venue, which is where he allegedly found Danca with the bouncer, who reiterated the statement.
On Friday, Christopher Logan went back to the pub with his friend and demanded to speak to the owners.
In cell phone video footage which has gone viral, Logan is seen confronting a man believed to be one of the owners about the alleged incident. The man claimed there had never been a racism incident in the establishment.
He also said they do not instruct staff to discriminate on any basis whatsoever, whether that be gender, sexual orientation or race.
“We want to place on record that we are extremely concerned for the well-being and safety of the staff involved. Therefore, we will not be commenting any further while we conduct an internal disciplinary process about these allegations and the police conduct their criminal investigation into the case of assault opened against the individuals making accusations in the video,” the owners said.
The EFF in the Western Cape visited the establishment in Bree Street on Monday morning to protest but found it closed.
The party has called for pub’s trading licence to be revoked.
This is a developing story.
Cape Times