East Rand mob brutally beats couple, hurl racist slurs

An East rand couple involved in an alleged racial verbal argument led to an attack which saw them mercilessly beaten by a crowd at a shopping mall.

The couple, Zoran Ramos and Natalie Spence were shopping at the East Rand Galleria when they asked a woman in front of them to move forward in the queue so they could pay for their groceries.

Speaking to The Boksburg Advertiser, the duo said they were told by the woman that she didn't have to move, after which she began making racist slurs towards them. While Ramos and Spence opted to walk away and mind their own business - another bystander uttered racial comments which led to a full blown verbal confrontation.

Ramos said, “the next moment, a mob formed and ran towards us, screaming and shouting.” He said he threw a punch because he saw someone assaulting his girlfriend.

After I struck him, every single person in the crowd had a bash at us. We were punched and kicked multiple times; at one stage I saw one the tall guy, who had also hit my girlfriend, kicking her so that her head slammed into tiles, which caused a horrific injury.

“I am highly upset about the lack of security. The security must have witnessed the assault, but did nothing to aid us. When you go to a mall to shop you want to know security will keep you safe.

An eyewitness Jessica Smith told The Boksburg Advertiser the attack was shocking and disgusting. Smith said racial slurs like 'white pig' were thrown around by the mob. Centre management for the mall has apparently refused to comment on the issue.