Boulders manager apologises to Mahlangu for Ndebele dress furore
Boulders Mall manager Jose Maponyane has apologised to Thando Mahlangu and Nqobile Masuku.
Maponyane, however, believes the whole matter was taken out of context.
Maponyane appeared before the CRL Rights Commission in Braamfontein on Monday afternoon.
This comes after Maponyane was caught on video demanding that the pair leave the mall because of how Mahlangu was dressed.
Mahlangu was dressed in his Ndebele regalia while he was at the shopping at the mall.
Maponyane told the commission that, is in his entire experience as a centre manager, he has never been faced with a situation where Africans are wearing African regalia at the mall.
"Thando's dress code, which I don't know how to describe it. It was unusual, I have seen how Ndebele and Zulus dress.
"Hence am saying; I'm willing to learn to be educated for future to know because it was usual," said Maponyane.
He said customers in the mall were uncomfortable with Mahlang’s regalia and he had to address it.
"We are living in a world whereby people are mentally disturbed. I sorry to use the word crazy because I have never seen that.
"My plea was for him to cover, for the sake of the customers. Nobody wants to go to the mall and see that," he said.
Mahlanga and Maponyane are expected back at the commission on April 29.
