Cape Town - CCTV footage released by Food Lover’s Market has shown how the coloured man in a blue tracksuit, allegedly overlooked by master braaier Jan Braai from receiving a kerriewors roll at Willowbridge Shopping Centre in Tyger Valley, eventually received his free boerie.
Jan Braai (real name Jan Scannell) came under fire this week after he was caught on video, allegedly overlooking people of colour and only handing out the boeries to white shoppers.
Previously, Food Lover’s Market and Jan Braai said they were aware of the allegations that only selected shoppers received the boerewors rolls; however, the allegations were baseless.
In further developments, Food Lover’s Market has since released CCTV footage, confirming the coloured man wearing the blue tracksuit received a boerie.
“We know you were all concerned that the gentleman in the tracksuit didn’t receive a boerewors roll from Jan.
“We wanted to offer you a different angle of the moment, so we tracked down the full CCTV footage and can confirm he received his boerewors roll.
“As mentioned in our first statement, the original video was shared in the spirit of the day we had with our Willowbridge Food Lover’s family, that anyone who visited the stand would receive a boerewors roll for free.
“We hope this CCTV footage comforts you that we did not exclude or single out anybody in what was a celebration of everyone’s heritage."
Among scores of social media users who condemned the alleged incident, labelling it racist, was National Coloured Congress (NCC) PR councillor Anastatia Stacy Davids, who said: “The video still shows that he was ignored and everybody else that came after him got one before him ...
“Overlooked how many times? He was following him like a beggar, that's disheartening and dehumanising. The CCTV footage shows very clearly how a lot came after him and they got before him.”
Facebook user, Tracey Cheryl Amos, wrote: “It's not about him getting or not. It's about the principle here. How that uncle stood there and was not acknowledged. He even followed Jan Braai.
“He (Jan Braai) would be able to see in the peripheral view of his eye when someone was close. Now Food Lover's Market wants to cover their tracks and not acknowledge what happened.
“The northern suburbs have always been racist; this is just one of many incidents.
“For this brand to still be associated with Jan Braai is a disgrace to the human race and the freedom that the older generations fought so hard for. Also, let’s not forget inclusivity.”
Stellenbosch Business School Strategic Foresight Advisor, Dr Morne Mostert said although the 1950 UNESCO Statement on race made it clear that species does not have biological races, racism remains an intractable social challenge. That means that it is perceptual.
“This matters because ethnicity, for many people, is an enormous part of their identity. So sensitive is race in South Africa, that even the denial of racism subjects the denier to further accusations, particularly on the part of those for whom (rightly or wrongly) racism-spotting has become a profession.
“South Africa is presented now with a rich opportunity for a more socially cohesive future. Breaking bread (or boeries) together is one way of creating that future,” Mostert said.
sibuliso.duba@inl.co.za
Cape Argus