Peter Makarube
A racist brawl between two women marred the success of the Aardklop Arts Festival in Potchefstroom last week.
The organisers of Aardklop sought to change the town’s image from that of a conservative community to a model of the new South Africa. Instead, they were treated to an unusual racial incident involving two white women.
Hannalie Coetzee was allegedly accosted and thrown out of a Potchefstroom bar by another woman, Elizabeth van Schalkwyk, who is known among locals as “Blackie” because of “her hatred for black people”, say residents.
The incident occurred soon after the end of a successful jazz festival in Ikageng township. Members of the Jazz Pioneers, Jack Big Voice Lerole and Imvelo went into a hotel bar for a drink, only to be bundled out with their stage manager, Coetzee.
According to witnesses, Van Schalkwyk bumped into Coetzee and walked past without apologising. When she returned a few minutes later she allegedly said to Coetzee: “You and your kaffir friends should drink up and leave. You are not welcome here.” Soon thereafter a group of about 10 to 15 men converged on the musicians and Coetzee, shoving them out of the bar.
The police were called to calm down the situation and attempted to get Van Schalkwyk to apologise. When she refused to do so, Coetzee decided to lay a charge of assault and racism against her.
Aardklop festival organiser Giep van Zyl said he could not find strong enough words to condemn the incident. “I want to make it clear that people like these are not welcome at the festival. It is objectionable behaviour that is completely in conflict with our aim of uniting people through art.
“We ended the festival with an incredible highlight in Ikageng, where white and black danced together, and then our artists have to face something like this. It leaves a bitter taste in one’s mouth.”
Contrary to Van Zyl’s claim, there were no white faces at the township gig other than the crew, which included Coetzee.
Potchefstroom town council spokesperson Japie Fransman said: “These sort of people, who cannot interact with others socially, should rather avoid attending public social events altogether.
“We strongly condemn any form of racism and discrimination. On behalf of the two city councils [Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom] I apologise to the victims of this unpleasant incident.”
Kobus Fourie, owner of Elgro hotel, where the incident occurred, was livid: “We have been an international hotel for many years and it took only one idiot to spoil it all for my hotel guests, the town and the festival.”