A Franschhoek resort has stepped up its security measures following allegations of unfair and racially motivated treatment after an alleged assault involving guests at the establishment.
The incident reportedly occurred at De Hollandsche Molen, where a patron and his family had been camping since December 16 and were due to check out on December 23.
According to the patron, their stay was cut short after a confrontation on December 21 that escalated into an alleged physical assault.
The family, who have frequented the resort for camping holidays over the past five years, said the incident unfolded when three young family members were walking back to their campsite.
It is alleged that an altercation arose after they were told they could not use a particular pathway, despite there being no visible resort rules restricting access.
The patron claimed that a 19-year-old family member was allegedly assaulted from behind and choked during the confrontation, while two younger girls witnessed the incident and ran to alert other family members.
The situation reportedly escalated further when additional campers became involved.
According to the patron, the matter was reported to resort management and the owner, but the family felt their concerns were not adequately addressed.
They allege that they were instructed to leave the resort, while other parties involved were allowed to remain, leaving the family feeling traumatised and unfairly treated.
The patron further claimed that an agreement was reached for all parties involved in the altercation to vacate the campsite.
However, upon leaving, the family allegedly discovered that only one individual had departed, while the rest of that group’s camping setup remained in place.
A case has since been opened with the Franschhoek South African Police Service. Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk confirmed that a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm had been registered.
He said the complainant was allegedly choked following an argument and that the investigation is ongoing, with no arrests made at this stage.
In response, resort management confirmed that an “unfortunate and isolated incident” occurred at around 5.40pm, involving a physical altercation between visitors.
The resort emphasised that such behaviour does not reflect its long-standing reputation as a peaceful, family-oriented destination.
Management further stated that no resort staff members were involved in the incident and that personnel acted professionally by attempting to calm the situation and prevent further escalation.
The resort said it had no prior record of complaints related to restricted access to specific areas.
According to the resort, one group of visitors indicated that they felt unwelcome following the incident and requested to leave.
In response, the establishment said it has implemented additional preventative measures, including increased security visibility, more frequent patrols during peak holiday periods, closer coordination with private security services and refined response protocols.
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