The *******ization of the Black Man!

I am a guest at this lodge and the experience here so far is that of June 16, 1976.

1. We are a group of 12 black friends and family booked in three 4 sleeper units, as we are booked together we cook and gather at one unit.

2. We are surrounded by generally white neighbors with the exception of two black neighbors, we have received two noise complaints emanating from our immediate one white neighbor who himself and his family has been very loud, playing loud musical instruments (the krostina), waking up very early and speaking so loud it can be mistaken for shouting; my two year old is woken up by that disturbance every morning (mind you my two year old is able to sleep with the noise levels we have received warnings for). Our other neighbors were generally talking in the same volume we were, others playing music at the same level we were and none of them have received any noise complaints or warnings.

3. We have been reasonable, true to the festive season and not lodged any complaints to those noises from our immediate neighbor, and neighbors generally, however; we are met with warnings without asking our views on those complaints, with no practice of judgment from the administrators.

4. I’ve raised the point that our (white) neighbors were just as loud (if not louder); then I was told that I should’ve complained then and there. I immediately raised it as an official complaint, however; the administrators left without giving the neighbor I complained about a warning, I’m not certain whether it was because I was not disturbed enough by my neighbors as according to the security guy who was here, or whether my complaint is not serious (white) enough.

5. On a separate incident, when we entered the pool the previous day, some white guests (mainly mothers) called their children out of the pool because of our presence; one white lady also witnessed this and pointed it out. I don't know whether its part of the lodges responsibility to call out that kind of behavior, however; nothing was done about that incident.

6. Our experience here is as if any wrong done is only noticed when the wrongfulness complaint is lodged against us (blacks), and which, which is apparent that when lodged against us is taken more serious and what we have to say about those complaints don't matter; they result in warnings. When it’s against us; large speeding maintenance bakkies come within a wink of an eye to put us back in place!

7. I will later visit the reception to check if any warnings were delivered to my neighbor or registered with reception, of which I didn’t see happening.

The behavior of management does not in any way assist in creating an equal experience for both black and white patrons; the treatment stands out like a soar thumb and if this land is to be any place for its people, the behavior, treatment, attitude of both patrons and administrators of this institute must reform/transform!

We are here making the continuous effort at reconciliation, only to be met with insolence, intolerance and racism; these are the elements which will continue to segregate this land and its people back to an undesired violent past, which this treatment evokes those feelings of anger and hate!