21-year-old Mthunzi Sibuyi was at a bar on January 6 celebrating with friends when he was attacked for dancing with a white partygoer. A witness and companion of Sibuyi recalled how Sibuyi was harassed by an older white man and his sons.
Apparently, the man was irritated at the site of a black and white person interacting on the dance floor. The older White man was documented as saying “K***irs [local racial swear] getting too comfortable with the white girls!”
Sibuyi’s unnamed friend recounted in an online post how the older man and his sons began to physically attack Sibuyi and his group of friends. “[He] and his sons kept on pushing us around on the dance floor and being unnecessary and sexually harassing the girls that were with us up to the point where we all decided to leave because they were making the night unpleasant for everyone.” The post goes on to explain “and, without any provocation from any of us, he took a cheap shot and assaulted Mthunzi.
Sibuyi sustained bleeding on his brain and was admitted to the ICU. He sustained serious injuries due to a hard hit on the concrete ground.
As of January 10, Sibuyi was released from the hospital according to his uncle, Mandla Mabuza. Mabuza stated “He’s sleeping at home now, but he will have to go back to the doctor for check-ups next week. He may also need some counselling, I have respect for the love and support shown to my family. As a family, we are humbled and grateful.”
On January 11, the suspect was apprehended by the Witbank police according to Witbank news.
Individuals on Twitter expressed their disdain for the brutal beating with the hashtag #JusticeForMthunzi. Here are some responses:
So Mthunzi Sibuyi from Witbank, Mpumalanga was brutally assaulted because he was in a interracial relationship. I don’t understand some white people, if he wants to date a white woman it’s his business. EFF must punish these racists. That is sad.#CountryDuty#JusticeForMthunzi
— Michelle Rene Lelethu Grobbelaar (@rene_lelethu) January 17, 2018
#justiceformthunzi https://t.co/yQORPPNSSX
— LadyLeigh (@LeighJ26) January 15, 2018
@SAPoliceService what more do you need to make an arrest? RT for #JusticeForMthunzi https://t.co/QLYNHpdGje
— Zöya Pon (@ZoyaPon) January 11, 2018
This is 2018, this is enough. An older white man and his sons ganging up on a 21 y.o for dancing with a white woman is heartbreakingly reminiscent of Emmett Till. Demand #JusticeForMthunzi. Do not ‘get over’ this. https://t.co/Ftfm93vBHj
— Zöya Pon (@ZoyaPon) January 11, 2018
#BlackLivesMatter #JusticeForMthunzi
— tshilidzi (@manyeuma) January 11, 2018
Suspect of racial fight arr
Thank God the racist punk was arrested #JusticeForMthunzihttps://t.co/x2jMc4uPQD
— Snazz (@TrillSnazz) January 11, 2018
#JusticeforMthunzi
This is shocking!!! I’m so sorry for what happened to Mthunzi. Don’t only call on “Black Twitter” for support. There are plenty from ALL RACES who would like to see justice served and for racism to stop. The more we isolate each other, the more racism is fueled— Malista (@Malista15) January 11, 2018
Black people just stop going to these racist breeding establishments. Hai mani nine bo darkie, nifuna kuhlala nikhala njalo.
Get well Mthundzi. #JusticeforMthunzi— Siphakamiso Lomahoza (@Sphakes) January 11, 2018
“South Africans will kick down a statue of a dead white man but won’t even attempt to slap a live 1. Yet they can stone to death a black man simply because he’s a foreigner” Former Zimbabweans president who liberated Zimbabwe completely said. #JusticeforMthunzi @SAPoliceService
— tshilidzi (@manyeuma) January 11, 2018
Disgusting to see how some people believe they can physically harm someone with impunity. We don’t need this Apartheid mentality in our country. #JusticeForMthunzi
— Joshua Dickinson (@JoshPDickinson) January 10, 2018
They have given witness statements and footage of the incident in favor of Smiley’s case. 3 #JusticeforMthunzi
— Megan Steyn (@Megz_Steyn) January 10, 2018
