The Week's Newspaper
| Black rugby player assaulted for ?invading Boer territory? |
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| Written by Edson Haufiku | |||
| Thursday, 10 November 2011 00:02 | |||
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Jemeneus Paavo, an 18 year-old black rugby player of the Windhoek Rugby Club (WRC), was assaulted in Windhoek’s Southern Industrial suburb last week Friday, after being questioned on why he was present at “Kieppies”, a bar widely perceived as a ‘place for whites only’. Paavo, who has for the past three years played as a lock for the WRC, was assaulted by Jia Visagie at the popular hang out spot for white Namibians. Informanté has it on good grounds that Visagie is a known racist in that part of the capital. Paavo related how he and three of his team mates (one black, two whites) left the WRC’s year-end function in the Prosperita suburb and headed to “Kieppies” which is located close to the police reserve force headquarters in the Southern Industrial area. While enjoying a round of drinks, Paavo headed to the lavatory to answer the call of nature. On the way back from the rest rooms Paavo ran into Visagie who allegedly called him ‘Vambo’, using a racial undertone. “Bearing in mind that it was my first time in that place, I chose to ignore him,” said a swollen-faced Paavo. The second time Paavo and Visagie ran into each other, Visagie allegedly asked Paavo whether he hasn’t departed for Katutura yet. But, once again, Paavo chose to ignore Visagie by leaving the bar area and headed to the balcony for some fresh air. While on the balcony, Visagie allegedly appeared from nowhere and punched Paavo in the face. “With a bloody face, I went back inside to find my friends. My two white friends informed me that Visagie is a cousin to one of our team mates. I could tell they were afraid of him,” said Paavo. Visagie told Paavo’s companions how disturbed he was by seeing black man enjoying drinks amongst white folks. Visagie allegedly even asked one of Paavo’s white friends, Norman Blaauw, whether he was going to Katutura with his ‘swart vriend’ (black friend). When Blaauw gave a negative reply, Visagie enquired what the two blacks were doing in ‘Boere territory’. “The three of us were dancing while Paavo sat close to where we were. Then suddenly he appeared with a bloodied face, claiming that Visagie had hit him. He had taunted Paavo and my other non-white friend ‘clutch’,” recalled Blaauw. The police were called to the scene after counter accusations started flying between Visagie and Paavo. Visagie, backed by a small number of revelers in the bar, accused Paavo of provocation. Fuming with anger, Paavo refused the police’s suggestion of an amicable settlement and decided to open a criminal case against Visagie. The two were taken to the Windhoek central police station. Paavo laid a charge of common assault (52/11/2011) but claims the police refused to include the racial remarks Visagie allegedly threw at the complainant. The detective investigating the case, Sergeant Esterhuizen, did not confirm or deny the allegations and referred Informanté to the police public relations division. At one point, Visagie attempted to dodge from the police charge office while pretending that he was talking on his mobile phone. He was however caught with his sandals in hand and ushered back inside. Charged with common assault, Visagie was released without bail the following morning after spending a night in the police holding cells. According to Inspector Nuuyi of the Namibian police public relations division, the arrest of someone charged with common assault depends on the severity of the assault, usually the police just issues a warning or a summon to appear in court. “It’s the same as petty crimes such as negligent and reckless driving which warrant a warning, fine or an appearance in court,” said Nuuyi. Visagie’s mobile phone went unanswered since Monday of this week.
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