UPROAR OVER ‘RACIST’ GUEST HOUSE

AN international uproar is brewing in the small KwaZulu-Natal holiday town of St Lucia after a local guest house reportedly turned a senior Dutch diplomat and his family away on racist grounds. Namib Chalets allegedly barred Netherlands diplomat Dr WHLM Hoppers and his family from the guest house in December after finding out the family was of mixed race. Hoppers confirmed that he lodged an official complaint with provincial authorities. The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority and St Lucia tourist organisations have also officially deplored the incident. Namib Chalets owner Johan van Dyk denies the incident was racist but Seasands Lodge owner Geoff Cogzell who found alternative accommodation for the Hopper family disagrees: “There is absolutely no question that they were turned away on any other grounds than race.”