‘Too dark’ victim gets R90 000 for damages

An 18-year-old man, who was detained and almost deported to Mozambique, because he was considered "too dark" was awarded R90 000 in the Pretoria High Court, The Star newspaper reported.

The court heard that South African born Shaun Mhaule, who was 14 at the time (2004), was hysterical when police were about to load him onto a truck in Mpumalanga, "back to his homeland".

The newspaper reported that police insisted Mhaule was "too dark to be a South African" and locked him up for 30 hours with 24 other men. He also told police that he did not know anyone in Mozambique. Police would also not take his identity document into consideration, The Star reported.

Mhaule was later released into the custody of his mother and a journalist in Nelspruit. Judge Willie Seriti said it was clear that Mhaule's arrest and subsequent detention was unlawful and granted him R90 000 in damages.

The damages would be paid out by the Minister of Safety and Security, the newspaper said. -Sapa