Durban Undersea Club chair responds to racism claims
Updated | By ECR Newswatch
The Durban Undersea Club has denied having ever removed a person from the club or Vetch's Beach on the basis of their skin colour.
Chairperson Cuane Hall has dismissed as "an absolute fabrication" claims that the club accommodates only white people and that it's closed off with a fence bearing "whites-only" signs.
There have been allegations that the club discriminates against non-whites by not allowing them onto the beach and to gain membership into the DUC.
"We don't control the beach at all. A section of this beach falls under the harbour authorities and the municipality has declared it a non-swimming beach because of the motorised craft that are coming in and out. There is an agreement with the port captain as to how to behave, but people still swim on that beach, there is snorkelling, spear-fishing and surfing."
"We actually have a very big walkway through uShaka which is open to the public and that entire beach is accessible through uShaka. Also near the sand-pumping station, there is an entire section that is just open. So you can just walk onto the beach," Hall explained.
It comes after a group of protesters, some clad in ANC Youth League t-shirts and accompanied by a TV news crew went to the club saying they want to buy drinks.
Hall says according to the club lease and the Liquor License Act, the club is not allowed to serve drinks to non-members.
Hall has told Newswatch they have 8000 members of all colours, denominations and creeds across the four water sports clubs, DUC, Durban Ski Boat Club, Paddle Ski Club and the Point Yacht Club, which are all situated on the private piece of land near uShaka Marine World.
"At the Durban Ski Boat Club, the seine netters use the same facilities and are all people of colour. The Paddle Ski Club comprises 40% people of colour and there is no need to distinguish between black and white. In South Africa today, this should not be an issue. I don't know why the ANC Youth League are wanting to make a political hot potato out of it. I don't understand it," Hall said.
The clubs are leasing the land jointly from eThekwini Municipality and the Durban Point Development Company.
Hall says in the 70 years of their leasing agreement, they've never had a racial incident.
With regards to turning away prospective members, Hall says water sports is becoming more and more popular and the facility can only accommodate so many people.
He says the Durban Undersea Club has not accepted any new members for three years because they've reached membership capacity, while the other clubs have also begun to cap the number of members for the same reason.
"You have to service and provide for those people for them to be able to practice their sport. There is parking for only 1000 cars if it's really, really packed, " he said.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Senzo Mchunu has asked the eThekwini Municipality to investigate the claims made against the club.
Spokesperson Sibusiso Magwaza says Mchunu is very worried about the number of race-related incidents over the last couple of days.
"The premier is of the view that there is no place in South Africa that is off limits to anyone. He has also indicated that we are coming from a very troubled past that we do not want to be reminded of. As a result, the incident that is alleged to have taken place [at] that beach is really regrettable," Magwaza said.
(File photo)
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