Man beaten up for 'staring' at someone's wife

A 28-year-old Benoni, Ekurhuleni, man was allegedly beaten up by a group of white men and called a k*** allegedly for staring at one of the men's wife at the weekend.

Mpho Mashilo, 28, said he was left traumatised by the ordeal and is now seeking justice for what he labeled as a racially fueled attack at a shopping complex on Sunday.

Mashilo said yesterday that the incident was triggered by a misunderstanding that occurred while waiting for his order at a pizza outlet.

"I was at Dominos Pizza, sitting by the door while I waited for my pizza. The couple walked in and I looked at them because I was sitting in a position where I could see everyone who walked into the restaurant," Mashilo said.

"The white guy turned around and started talking in Afrikaans to me. I responded in Zulu, asking him uthini (what are you saying) as I too did not understand [him]."

He said the man became angry and asked him in English why he was staring at his wife.

"I told him I won't answer that question because he can't tell me where to look. I got up from my chair. He pushed me and I pushed him back then we got into a scuffle." Two other men joined in on the assault.

Mashilo has registered a case of common assault with the Springs police. Captain Johannes Ramphora confirmed it, adding that no arrests had been made.