Indian origin beautician in SA accused of racism

A South African beautician of Indian origin is facing racism charges at the Equality Court in Durban after refusing to allow a black woman and her daughter treatment at her spa.

A South African beautician of Indian origin is facing racism charges at the Equality Court in Durban after refusing to allow a black woman and her daughter treatment at her spa.

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Sophie Crouse filed a complain at the Equality Court and at the Bellaire police station after an unnamed Indian woman had told her that her spa did not cater for Blacks.

The Indian woman will not be named until she has appeared in court.

Business developer Crouse said she had wanted to treat herself and her daughter at the spa after receiving a brochure at her residence.

"(The therapist) said she can't do an Indian head massage because black hair is difficult to work with," Crouse said in her statement.

"I told her I didn't ask for a head massage, I just came for a spa package, but she again said that she doesn't cater for blacks."

Crouse said a friend who called the spa got the same response, as did her husband, who is a white Afrikaans South African, when he visited the spa.

Crouse said she decided to pursue the matter because she wanted the therapist to know that she was racist, as well as letting her daughter know that she should never accept this form of racial discrimination.