Recent media reports on “Racial tension in Hartbeespoort”

15 August 2024

Open Letter to the Kormorant

Kormorant

Summary:

The content of the letter deals with the long-standing problem of constant noise pollution by foreshore venues at Hartbeespoort Dam. Kormorant receive complaints on a regular basis from community members and has reported on this issue in various articles over the last few years. Read Kormorant’s response to media inquiries here:

Right of reply:

“Legacy” requested to reply to the “Open Letter” . Their reply was 3200 words. Kormorant requested that the reply should be shortened to 650 words for publication. “Legacy” rejected this offer. Read the full reply here.

22 August 2024

Fire at Bubbles Garden in Harties ‘racial spillover’ – owner

Jacaranda FM

Summary:

Thabiso Mathibedi, owner of “Bubbles” says that his wife was at “Bubbles” when the fire started and called him. “This was a clear indication of an arson case.”
Mathibedi claimed the attack appears to be a culmination of brewing racial tensions, where black-owned businesses are the target.

The report states: Mathibedi believes that it’s no coincidence that a similar open letter was published in the same publication about another black-owned business four days before his restaurant was attacked.
Kormorant received an email from Jacaranda FM on 22 August 2024 at 13:58. The article was published at 17:46. Kormorant replied on 23 August 2024 at 10:09. The reply was not published by Jacaranda FM. Read Kormorant’s response to Jacaranda FM here inquiries here:

23 August 2024

Hartbeespoort racial spat rages on

The Star

Summary:

“A raging racial war has intensified within the community of Schoemansville in Hartbeespoort where Afrikaans-speaking people are accused of attempting to drive out black people who are setting up businesses there.”

“It has been hell because the white community here feel we don’t belong here…They were clear that as a black person I’m not wanted on the dam and that there was no way that I was going to build here. I did it anyway,” he (Thabiso Mathibedi) told The Star.

27 August 2024

Hartebeespoort Dam Tour Operators allege they are under siege from Racist Attacks including Arson

Inside Politics

Summary:

Black tour operators have claimed that they are under siege at the Hartebeespoort Dam and have accused their counterparts of waging systematic and racist attacks to flush them out of the North West prime tourist attraction.

The latest arson attack was at Bubbles Champagne Garden along the dam’s shoreline owned by Thabiso Mathibedi who complained that this was a clear racist motivated attack to force him out of the area.
Mathibedi said this in line with threats by racist elements in the area that black business people must move “back to Soweto where they belong”.

3 September 2024

Fear and loathing living in Harties

The Star

Summary:

Black businessmen in Hartbeespoort in the North West are fearing for their lives after simmering racial tensions have been on the rise in the area following what seems to be business rivalry.

The predominantly white area, known for its vibrant tourism and entertainment opportunities, has historically been dominated by white residents.
Recently, an influx of Black business owners has led to significant racial tensions and confrontations.

5 September 2024

Black business call for government intervention after simmering racial tensions on the rise, in Hartbeespoort

Power FM

Summary:

Black business owners operating in Hartbeespoort Schoemansville  are calling for the government’s intervention as racial tensions escalate – following what seems to be business rivalry.

The businesses want the South African Human Rights Commission to help after two black owned properties were set on fire, the latest having been burned to the ground last week. Thabiso Tema speaks with Thabiso Mathibedi, CEO and Founder of Bubbles Champagne Garden and Black Bull Aviation, Thabiso Mathibedi.

15 September 2024

SABC News

Summary:

Interview with the spokesperson for the Hartbeespoort Community Development Initiative, Russell Baloyi

“We are sitting with here is a situation where Hartbeespoort over the years has actually became a safe haven for any racist and unfortunately they are not showing off their racism only to black businesses but also to normal black people who go there …”

21 September 2024

City Press

Summary:

“In this compelling video, we focus on the escalating racial tensions in Hartbeespoort, where a low-intensity “race war” is unfolding. We examine the recent events surrounding the destruction of Thabiso Mathibedi’s Bubbles Champagne Garden Restaurant, a tragic incident linked to simmering racial conflicts.”

“As Black tenants assert their rights to access state-owned recreational facilities, they face opposition from long-standing white business occupiers. We delve into the community’s divided perspectives and the implications of these clashes on local relationships.”

21 September 2024

SABC News

Summary:

The Water and Sanitation Department says it’s investigating allegations of racial clashes in Hartbeespoort in the North West province. This followed simmering tensions that saw one of the black-owned business properties razed to ashes recently.

Affected business owners claim the incident was racially motivated and have accused some white community members of refusing them the right to do business on the dam’s shoreline.

22 September 2024

State is to blame for low-intensity ‘race war’ around Harties

City Press

Summary:

The fight for access to the state-owned recreational facilities along the serene banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam in North West has sparked a low-intensity race war in the small holiday town.

Tension has reached boiling point, resulting in verbal and violent confrontations and property damage. The alleged assaults and the recent burning down of a black-owned restaurant along the dam, a popular holiday and weekend destination, have added to the tension.

22 September 2024

Newzroom Afrika

Summary:

The North West government is investigating alleged racial tensions in Hartbeespoort. This follows allegations that Afrikaans-speaking individuals torched properties belonging to black-owned businesses to force them out of the area. Businessman Hartley Ngoato and Harties Community Development’s Russell Baloyi have more.

Russell Baloyi: “You have a situation where the typical population of white people in Hartbeespoort is old people – Hartbeespoort has been sort of a typical pocket of excellence for racism.”

22 September 2024

Newzroom Afrika

Summary:

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo says the Hartbeespoort Dam belongs to the government, however, apartheid laws allocated the use of the facility to only a particular race. He adds that there were 99 year leases given to “white privilege” on the basis of the apartheid system.

David Mahlobo: “What has happened is criminality when individuals they choose to burn down people’s assets in terms of arson. It is a criminal act that must be dealt with decisively by law enforcement agencies.”

27 September 2024

Racial clash allegations in Hartbeespoort

ENCA

Summary:

Racial tensions are high in the North West tourism hub, Hartbeespoort Dam.
Black Business owners marched in Hartbeespoort earlier today claiming attacks and marginalisation.
They allege their businesses are denied access to land at the dam’s shoreline.

“Recently a black-owned restaurant was set alight, allegedly by white residents.”

29 September 2024

Marchers: We will no longer be silenced!

Daily Sun

Summary:

On Thursday (Wrong – it was on a Friday) , 27 September, the community took to the streets in a march that resulted in a total shutdown of the town. This comes after months of alleged harassment, intimidation, and violence allegedly against black businesspeople.

“Since 2018, I’ve faced numerous attacks and harassment while building my resort. The recent incident is a clear indication that racism is still deeply rooted in this community,” Mathibedi said.

6 October 2024

Tourism mogul at the centre of Hartbeespoort’s racial tension

City Press

Summary:

Tourism mogul Jack Seale, who also runs the popular recreational attraction Hartbeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park in North West, has been at the centre of racial tension in the area, accused of actively blocking access to state-owned properties along the dam.

Two years ago, Duncan Motswahae and his business partner were allocated 9 hectares (4.5 hectares each), and were given permission to start running their boating and camping business while the lease was being processed. But Motswahae said, while they were clearing land, Seale accosted and harassed their workers, claiming that the permission to occupy issued to Motswahae was null and void.

8 October 2024

Newzroom Afrika

Summary:

#NewsAtPrime is focusing on racial tensions in the North West’s tourism hub of Hartbeespoort Dam. Black and white business owners are reportedly at loggerheads over the land ownership. Black businesses accuse their white counterparts of wanting to drive them out of the area. 

#Newzroom405‘s Xoli Mngambi speaks to former Hartbeespoort councillor Mmoni More about the situation.

8 October 2024

Newzroom Afrika

Summary:

Tensions flare between black and white business owners in Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West. Black businessmen claim they’re being racially profiled while white business owners say their complaints are a result of noise pollution emanating from some establishments and are not racially motivated. 

Kosmos Village Association’s Cherry Grobler and Daan Van Heerden, businessman Hartley Ngoato and Hartbeespoort Community Development’s Russell Baloyi join #Newzroom405‘s Xoli Mngambi to discuss the escalating tensions.

8 October 2024

Newzroom Afrika

Summary:

Former Hartbeespoort mayor Pieter Rautenbach highlights noise pollution as the main driver of tensions in the North West tourism hub. “There is noise pollution here, that is one of the main problems. That is what’s making people angry,” he says.

Meanwhile, Bubbles Champaign garden owner Thabiso Mathibedi says a lot of white-owned establishments make noise too. “There are white-owned establishments that play loud music. Two weeks ago, there was a festival that played [white people’s] music loudly throughout the weekend,” Mathibedi counters.

14 October 2024

SABC

Summary:

The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo has engaged community representatives to deal with the apparent tensions at Hartbeespoort Dam.

The bone of contention appears to be land around dams. Let’s get more details now about this engagement. The Deputy Minister of Water and Saniitation David Mahlobo joins us live now.​

14 October 2024

EWN

Summary:

Deputy Minister of water and sanitation, David Mahlobo engaged with stakeholders and business owners at Hartbeespoort Dam, following alleged racial clashes in the area.

14 October 2024

SABC

Summary:

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo interacted with business owners and some of the stakeholders at the Hartbeespoort in the Northwest province to discuss the issues that are currently a bone of contention at the dam.

Mahlobo also spoke about the position of the department in relation to the policy on land around the dam. The meeting follows concerns and frustrations expressed by business owners in the area, who’ve been claiming that they are being deliberately excluded from participating in the local economy.

14 October 2024

Newzroom Afrika

Summary:

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo says a committee was set up to address a dispute over the state-owned land around Hartbeespoort Dam. He met with residents, business owners and civil groups after claims of racial tensions in the North West tourism hub. Mahlobo elaborates more on what transpired in the meeting.