Durban -
Cedric Mkhize, a former junior Springbok and Sharks academy rugby player paralysed in a car crash seven years ago, claims he was denied entry at the upper level of a popular Morningside restaurant because of his disability.
Mkhize, who said he had been to the upper level of the Velvet Lounge restaurant in Florida Road several times before, was shocked when he was “rudely” stopped by the restaurant’s manager, who he claimed also swore at him.
He claimed that after the incident, which lasted no more than four minutes, the manager had him removed by security.
He has laid a complaint with the QuadPara Association of SA, which is to investigate.
Mkhize’s claims, posted on his Facebook page on Monday - and shared several times online - had his followers up in arms over what they called discrimination against people with disabilities.
However, Chris Munsami, the manager of the restaurant, denied swearing at Mkhize or having him thrown out by security.
“I told him very nicely that the upstairs was not wheelchair friendly and told him he was more than welcome to use the bottom level, which is.
“If he had to get injured upstairs, then that would be my problem. My concern was for his safety. There are 15 stairs you have to climb to get to the top, and if there was an incident up there, he would get hurt,” he said.
Mkhize said the incident occurred last Monday when, during a night out with friends, he wanted to have a drink on the upper level.
He said that as his friends carried him up the stairs, they were stopped and told that “wheelchair-bound persons were not permitted to use the upper level of the restaurant”.
“I was caught by surprise because I had been to the upper level on many occasions. At first I thought it was a joke, until we realised he was being serious,” Mkhize said.
“When I asked him if he was discriminating against me because of my disability, he said that I could fall over and hurt my head up there, yet there were people getting drunk there who could as easily fall over. I asked him several times if he was discriminating against me, and he eventually told me that if I did not like it, I could f*** off.”
Mkhize said the bouncer eventually led them out and they left without causing a scene.
“This is the first time something like this has happened to me. In this day and age no one should be discriminated against based on disability, race or any other reason…”
Ari Seirlis, chief executive of the QuadPara Association of SA, said they had received a complaint from Mkhize and would investigate.
Daily News