Hank's Olde Irish Pub

The EFF reported Hank’s Olde Irish Pub to the SAHRC. Image: Twitter/@EFFWesternCape_

Government wants investigation into alleged racism at Hank’s Olde Irish pub

The government called on SA’s law enforcement agencies and the SAHRC to investigate the alleged racism at Hank’s Olde Irish Pub in Cape Town.

Hank's Olde Irish Pub

The EFF reported Hank’s Olde Irish Pub to the SAHRC. Image: Twitter/@EFFWesternCape_

A drinking establishment in Bree Street, Cape Town, is accused of requiring black patrons to be accompanied by a white person if they want to enter. The owner of Hank’s Olde Irish Pub denied the allegations; however, the pub may be subjected to an investigation.

WATCH: Hank’s Olde Irish accused of racist admission policy – EFF says pub is ‘closed until further notice’

HANK’S MAY BE INVESTIGATED

25-year-old Thabiso Danca was allegedly barred from entering the pub. A video of Danca’s friend, Christopher Logan, confronting the owner of Hank’s about the incident went viral on social media. It attracted the attention of political parties and the South African government.

In the initial response to the incident, the owner said there’s not been a “race issue” at the pub in all their years of trading. They said they have never instructed staff to discriminate based on race.

The government condemned the incident and called on law enforcement agencies and the South African Human Rights Commission to look into the matter and ensure that justice is served.

The State also referred to another racist incident in which a woman named Belinda Magor referred to black South Africans as pit bulls.

READ: Belinda Magor: Woman behind ‘racist Pitbull rant’ ARRESTED

“It is horrifying and outrageous that the tendencies of apartheid South Africa keeps rearing its ugly head. As a country, we are working hard to deal with crucial challenges such as the huge inequality gap, a legacy of the past, which is also a contributing factor to racism.

“The eradication of racism can only happen on a human-to-human level, and when we recognise and accept that we have more in common that unites us than which divides us. Government also compliments Danca’s friend, Christopher Logan, who came to the defence of his friend,” said GCIS Director-General Phumla Williams.

As previously reported, Hank’s said an internal investigation into the matter is underway. It added that an assault case was opened against Logan and Danca.

On Tuesday, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) staged a small protest outside the pub, which was closed.

In its initial response to the incident, the political party called for the pub’s liquor licence to be revoked and described the alleged discrimination as, “blatant racism, criminalisation, racial profiling, degradation and reduction of black people to criminals and prisoners who must always be under watch.”

READ: