DON MAKATILE

DON MAKATILE

A resort owner accused of racism is going to be helped to run his business according to the principles of the Constitution because his attitude is giving tourism a bad name.

Businessman Bertus Pretorius, 62, has been in the news three times in as many years for denying black people access to his premises, the Broederstroom Holiday Resort in North West.

But at a press conference at Amazingwe yesterday provincial economic development and tourism MEC Darkie Africa said his department had decided to intervene.

He said Pretorius' behaviour at the resort had generated negative publicity for "brand South Africa and in particular for the Hartbeespoort Dam and North West".

So the North West Parks and Tourism Board had decided to help, Africa said.

The board would launch an investigation and, according to Africa, the department would make the results of the investigation public within seven days.

Pretorius first hit the headlines in March 2005 when he objected to a mixed-race couple using the pool at the resort.

The Human Rights Commission ordered him to pay a R10000 fine and to open his facilities to clients of all race groups.

Last September Pretorius shot Alpheus Maropane when he accused the black man of trespassing on his property.

But the ensuing case has been postponed pending ballistic tests.

And last month Pretorius had something to say when film-maker Anant Singh set foot on his property as part of a crew on location to shoot a sequel to Leon Schuster's Mr Bones.

The first movie was shot on the whites-only resort.