Ndebele Activist Mahlangu Accepts Mall Manager’s Apology
- The Boulders Shopping Centre manager in Midrand, Jose Maponyane has issued an apology to the Ndebele activist, Thando Mahlangu for denying him entry after wearing traditional attire
- According to the latest reports, the CRL Commission has made its recommendations following the video of Mahlangu and Maponyane
- It is also reported that the CRL Commission has ordered that Redefine Properties should hold a cultural exhibition on March 24 as an apology to Mahlangu
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After his cultural dignity and values were violated, Ndebele activist Thando Mahlangu has said he holds no grudges against a Johannesburg shopping mall manager.
Mahlangu rose to prominence a few weeks ago when he was seen denied entry to a shop in Johannesburg located at Boulders Shopping Mall, and his video went viral on social media.
Dressed in Ndebele traditional clad, Mahlangu was kicked out of the Clicks Store because he was dressed inappropriately but he only demanded a public apology from the mall manager, Jose Maponyane.
Source: Twitter
It is reported that the activist also said Maponyane should be reinstated at his job and the latest media reports suggest his wishes have been granted.
According to The Sowetan, this was a recommendation made by the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural‚ Religious and Linguistic Communities which investigated the matter.
The commission has since released its final recommendations on the Boulders Mall incident in Midrand involving Mahlangu and the manager of the mall, Jose Maponyane.
Said commission chair professor David Mosoma as per TimesLive:
“Mr Jose Maponyane is to make a public apology in person to Mr Thando Mahlangu on April 29 2021 at the CRL Commission, and for him to undergo training on religious, cultural rights and cultural diversity.”
“Redefine Property to reinstate Mr Jose Maponyane as he was also a victim of a lost heritage created by past inequalities. This is a special request made by Mr Thando Mahlangu which is endorsed by the commission.”
Moreover, the commission has also made a plea that the company should hold a cultural exhibition on March 24 every year in all of its malls in Gauteng, to collaborate with the CRL Commission to promote awareness and cultural diversity.
The publication also reports that Maponyane who faced heavy criticism has also issued an apology to Mahlangu Mahlangu is quoted:
“I am not angry at him. He needs to go back to work. I forgive Mr Maponyane. I challenge all South Africans to practice their culture and learn their mother tongues.”
Briefly News reported that Clicks South Africa had promised to take action after an incident in which a man dressed in traditional Ndebele attire was refused entry at a shopping mall in Midrand.
A video had surfaced and went viral on Twitter, showing a man in a Ndebele outfit being denied entry by a Boulders Shopping Centre manager in Midrand - the incident led to the pharmaceutical company's intervention.
In the video, a man (Mahlangu) was seen approached by another man (Maponyane) dressed in a red jacket, referred to as the centre manager, he then asked him to vacate the premises as they have the right of admission.
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Source: Briefly News
