A case of common assault has been opened after a racial incident took place at the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) offices in Palladium Street in Carletonville on Monday 18 January. According to a security guard who was on duty that afternoon, a woman walked in asking for assistance to apply for a grant. She was given the necessary application forms to fill in and told to come back the next day to complete her application. The woman objected and raised her voice, accusing the supervisor of unfair treatment. She then allegedly started making racist remarks and said that everyone present at the offices was a baboon. She then sprayed pepper spray into the room before closing the door behind her. The security guard gave chase as chaos erupted in the office. Sassa officials and members of the public, who were overwhelmed by the fumes, ran outside to get fresh air. The entire building was evacuated for at least an hour to allow for the gas to dissipate. When the Herald arrived on the scene the victims were still coughing and the police had already been alerted. The security guard had caught and handcuffed the woman as she tried to flee. According to the security guard, the woman was lucky that she was not lynched by the furious crowd. The woman was described as appearing to be mentally unstable. She was taken to Carletonville police station and was later released.