Daily Sun (January 23 2014) - WHEN record producer Thabiso Khati confronted an angry woman at the gym, her words were not music to his ears. She called him a k----r, a monkey and a moffie and punched him! AND ALL BECAUSE HE RAN THE WRONG WAY ROUND THE ATHLETICS TRACK!
The row broke out on Monday at Planet Fitness in Fourways, north of Joburg.
And it ended with Thabiso laying a charge of crimen injuria (damaging the dignity of another) against the unidentified white woman.
A source at the gym told Daily Sun that Thabiso - husband of Bridget Masinga and founder of record label 360 Street - was running on the track in the opposite direction to the normal cicuit.
The woman, in her 40s, was doing her own exercise but went to report Thabiso to instructors.
Thabiso explained to them he was running in the counter direction on the instruction of his physiotherapist after injuring an ankle.
Running to the right instead of the left reduced pressure on his ankle.
According to an employee at the gym, Thabiso saw the woman in the reception area and tried to explain his action to her.
Said the employee: "He patted her on the shoulder and that's when she turned on him and threw insults at him, calling him a monkey, a k----r and a moffie.
"When he told her he was going to open a case against her, she pushed and punched him," said the witness.
Planet Fitness manager Dylan Hinde told Daily Sun that according to his understanding, "racial slurs were thrown from both sides".
He told Daily Sun the matter was unacceptable and would be investigated.
When contacted for comment, a shocked Thabiso (39) emphatically denied making any racial slurs against the woman.
He said: "This is a very important case for me and I would like the law to play its part fully.
"I've also lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission."
When asked why he would run when he was injured, he said: "I am a runner and I can run through pain as long as I follow my physiotherapist's recommendations.
"I didn't want to be selfish and beat this woman, even though she was punching me and swearing at me," said Thabiso.
Detective Dina Mputla, the investigating officer at Douglasdale Police Station in Fourways, confirmed that a case had been opened on Monday.
Isaac Mangena, spokesman for the Human Rights Commission, confirmed they had received a complaint.
"We are currently assessing it with a view to launching an investigation.
"Our constitution is clear on racism: it cannot be tolerated and should be dealt with whenever it raises its head," he added.
See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....
The Daily Sun is South Africa's largest daily newspaper with an average circulation of 291,132 (Audit Bureau of Circulations 3rd Quarter 2013) and a readership of 5.7m (as per AMPS 2012ab). Its Facebook page can be accessed here. It can be followed on Twitter here. To find about advertising on the Daily Sun click here.
Issued through the Politicsweb iService
