A Durban architect is taking a stand against racism with his Anti-Racist Hotdog pop-up eatery, after he was turned away by a beachfront restaurant, he claims because of the colour of his skin.
Wandile Mthiyane, 27, who was chosen for the Obama Young Leader programme in 2019, is hosting pop-up hot dog events while he waits for a permit from the eThekwini municipality to open his eatery in the vicinity of a club that houses a restaurant, along the city’s promenade.
Mthiyane said on Thursday that he had been denied service at the club’s restaurant in October last year because he was not a member.
Mthiyane then decided to take a stand against racial discrimination and segregation by creating his eatery, Anti-Racist Hotdog.
The club, the name of which is known to Sunday Times Daily, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“While we wait for our permit to operate, we have been having pop-up events at the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts (KZNSA) in Glenwood, Durban.
“I have written to the city about this, started a national dialogue about antiracism and launched the Anti-Racism Hotdog.
“I think raising awareness about racism is shallow. The Anti-Racism Hotdog exists as a form of protest to speak against this problem, while giving people of colour a chance to eat at their own beach.
“I think protest normally takes away from the victim because you lose a day of work, you could lose your job and in America you could probably lose your life.
“What I wanted to do is create a form of protest that gives back to us. That’s why it’s a revenue generating business. I wanted to flip the script.
“The whole point of this is to be inclusive, which includes serving halaal food. People from around the world, including SA, can buy a hot dog for a homeless person through our website. We want to be able to give back to the community as well.”
Bearing names like Black Friends hot dog and Privilege hot dog, they range from R35 to R55.
Touching on his encounter, Mthiyani said he had popped in at the club for a meal.
“I could see it appeared to be predominantly white. I asked for a one-day pass which I was denied. I was told I would need to be a member to access the restaurant. I wanted to sign up and pay immediately but was told to e-mail a request.
“The criteria to be a social member at the club are questionable. You have to send a picture and fill in a form and a committee decides whether you will be let in. You can have a club but it has to be inclusive.
“The reason we are hosting pop-up events at the KZNSA is that it is also a club. The difference is that anyone can eat there but club members get a 10% discount.”
Mthiyane said he could relate to the Lindani Myeni story — the former KwaZulu-Natal rugby player who was shot and killed by US police recently — because he lived and studied there for a decade.
The Anti-Racism Hotdog exists as a form of protest to speak against this problem, while giving people of colour a chance to eat at their own beach.
— Wandile Mthiyane
Myeni, 29, from eSikhawini, in the north of KZN, died in hospital after being shot four times by police officers responding to a “burglary in progress” at a home in Nuuanu, Hawaii, in March.
His body was repatriated back to SA on Saturday, and his funeral is set to take place this Saturday.
More than 200 people arrived at the Empangeni Rugby Club on Thursday, where Myeni’s memorial service will be held.
“When I heard what happened to Lindani Myeni it touched close to home. I thought yep it made sense.
“SA is quick to point fingers at America, as if we are past racism, but in reality the only difference is that our racists don’t have guns,” he said.
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