Vusi’s take on the #SpurIncident that ‘broke the internet’
Manager of the Vryheid branch of Spur feels that the incident that went viral and caused a racial outrage across the country, could have been avoided, had the correct procedures been followed.
ANGER management could have prevented the aggressive altercation that took place at a Spur restaurant at Oakdene in Johannesburg recently.
This is the opinion of Vusi Ndaba, the manager of the Vryheid branch of Spur, who feels that the incident that went viral and caused a racial outrage across the country, could have been avoided, had the correct procedures been followed.
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Vusi, who is well-known in Vryheid for his friendly and positive attitude towards work and life in general, is a prime example of a model citizen in South Africa’s diverse population, referring to people of all races as his “brothers and sisters” and emphasizing the fact that no South African citizen is more ‘African’ than any other. “We are all African, regardless of our race,” he states, with that friendly smile that patrons have become accustomed to since he became a part of the Spur family.
“Here at Golden Peak Spur, we are taught that everyone who comes through our doors is a part of the family and we strive to treat them as such,” he adds.
Last year, in March, long before the Oakdene incident took place, Vusi featured in the Vryheid Herald in an article by Sine Thwala, entitled ‘Growing up on a farm helped Vusi see past colour.’
The article highlighted Vusi’s positive demeanour and how he was brought up to believe in tolerance and acceptance. These qualities are a part of Vusi Ndaba, even today, and he always takes the time to make himself available to patrons and members of the public in general.
According to Vusi, growing up with the Friend family is what made him confident when interacting with different races.
In the article, Vusi is quoted as saying, “I feel that racism is caused by the fear of something different. A different race, a different experience,”
“In this industry, the struggle to communicate is what sparks most arguments. People often feel more comfortable when they are being addressed in their own language. What we need to realise is that no language or race is more important than another. We should all respect each other irrespective of which racial background one is from.”
Had the two angry parents at the Oakdene Spur taken a page out of Vusi’s book, the country may have never had to witness the appalling behaviour that spilled over into the realms of social media, causing yet another unnecessary racial divide in a nation that needs to stand together now, more than ever.
