Parents of student barred from PMB hostel claim racism

THE parents of a final year BCom honours student who was barred from staying at a Christian hostel for the 2015 academic year have accused the manager of racism.

Roshni Pardesi and her husband, Rashan, alleged in Pietermaritzburg High Court documents that Frederick Harold Hammond, the manager at The Christian Residences For Young Women, disliked Indians.

Hammond has denied the claim.

According to court papers the Pardesis, represented by advocate Rithy Singh, had paid R24 000 a year for the past four years for their daughter, Angelique, from Estcourt, to stay at the hostel in Pietermaritzburg.

Angelique, a final year student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and her parents have had to look elsewhere for accommodation after they found out on January 20 that the gate had been padlocked

Hammond and the Pardesis sought interdicts against each other, court documents revealed. However, none of the parties obtained the order they had sought last week.

The matters were adjourned to an unconfirmed date.

Hammond, who denied he was racist, fired the first salvo.

He sought an order that Angelique and her parents remove all her belongings from the premises and return the key to him.

Restrain

Hammond also wanted the court to restrain the Pardesis from verbally and physically abusing him and his wife.

The Pardesis sought an order that the decision by Hammond to refuse Angelique accommodation at the hostel for the 2015 academic year be set aside.

In court papers, Roshni claimed that Hammond had made racial remarks against Indians in June 2013.

“After I asked him to provide us with a remote control, Hammond said the problem with Indians is that we want everything. He dislikes Indians. Hammond told me to go to hell. He refused to give me the remote although I wanted to pay for it,” she said.

“Hammond’s attitude irked me, Rashan and Angelique. His claim that we had not complied with the regulations is a lie. We reject his allegation that Angelique’s boarding feeds were in arrears. There may have been arrears, but the statement as at December 2014 shows that there were no arrears.”

She said friction again erupted between them and Hammond about a month ago.

“We went there to hand Hammond a letter regarding Angelique’s accommodation. He acknowledged receipt of the letter. Even though he was not asked to accompany us, Hammond came into the room where Angelique stayed. After Angelique locked the door from the outside he demanded that the key be given back to him.

“After Angelique refused to do so, he pushed her and grabbed the key. I warned him that if he touched her again, I would lodge a complaint at the police station. He said I could do as I pleased,” said Roshni.

“After I informed him that I was recording him on my cellphone he tackled me and punched me in the chest. We subsequently lodged a complaint against Hammond at the Alexandra Road Police Station. We are awaiting the decision of the senior public prosecutor.”

She said when they went to the hostel again on January 20 they found that the gate had been padlocked.

“It was clear that Hammond does not want Angelique to board there. We are good Christians and do not like to get involved in fights. Hammond provoked us.

Helpful

“Unlike Hammond, his wife was always polite, courteous and helpful. Therefore there is no merit in Hammond’s allegation that we were abusive towards his wife.”

In his affidavit Hammond denied that was a racist or that he had verbally and physically abused the Pardesis.

“They were abusive towards me and my wife. I was not violent against them.

“Anyway, their claims that I dislike Indians and (am) a racist is irrelevant to these proceedings,” he said. “We had arguments. The friction turned personal.”

Hammond alleged the Pardesis were given written warnings concerning the breaching of the agreement and the late payment of the boarding fees.