Jody Kollapen was following up a complaint to the
SAHRC |
A South
African barber shop that denied a human rights official a haircut on
account of its "whites-only" policy will be taken to the country's
Equality Court.
Jody Kollapen, the chairperson of the South African Human Rights
Commission (SAHRC), went to the Pretoria-based barber shop after recieving
a complaint from a black man.
According to South Africa's Sunday Independent newspaper, an employee
at the barber shop told Mr Kollapen he could not have a haircut because
the premises had a "whites-only" policy.
The South African constitution prohibits unfair discrimination on the
grounds of gender, ethnicity, age, conscience and belief.
Under the Equality
Act of February 2000 those found guilty of unfair discrimination face
penalties ranging from unconditional apologies to the payment of damages
to the injured party.
Disappointed
Mr Kollapen's move has been commended by the opposition Democratic
Alliance (DA).
"By acting as the complainant and lodging a case with the Equality
Court in Pretoria Kollapen was performing a splendid public service," the
Mail & Guardian newspaper quoted the DA human rights spokesperson,
Dene Smuts as saying.
Mr Smuts said the courts can also make recommendations for the
revocation of licences, issue restraining orders and can even defer
matters to the prosecution authorities for criminal prosecution.
He said that the move by Mr Kollapen - who said that he was
disappointed that racism was still being practised in South Africa 10
years after the fall of the apartheid regime - would introduce people to
the Equality Court.
"Coverage of the case should help publicise the remedies available to
members of the public who suffer racist humiliation," said Mr Smuts.
The Equality Court has so far received about 10 similar cases.
Coverage of the case should help publicise the
remedies available to members of the public who suffer racist
humiliation 
