Viral Attack Survivor: A Security Guard’s Harrowing Ordeal

Key Takeaways

• A security guard, Xolisile Nongodlwana, was allegedly assaulted after asking a group of men to move their car, which was blocking another vehicle.
• The incident occurred at Ebuhlanti Marina Glen in East London and was captured on video, which has since gone viral on social media.
• The suspects have been identified, with one of them being an employee of Baagi Technology, a company contracted to Exxaro Resources.
• Two suspects have been arrested and face charges of common assault, with further arrests likely.
• Exxaro Resources has condemned the behavior and revoked the alleged suspect’s access to their company.

Introduction to the Incident
A routine request to move a vehicle turned into a humiliating and violent ordeal for East London security guard Xolisile Nongodlwana. The incident occurred at Ebuhlanti Marina Glen in East London, where Nongodlwana was working as a security guard. According to Nongodlwana, his "mistake" was asking the occupants to move their car, which had blocked another vehicle. The response he received was: "Xa singayisusi uzokwenza ntoni?" — loosely translated as, "What are you going to do if we don’t move it?" This response set off a chain of events that would leave Nongodlwana feeling humiliated, degraded, and fearful for his job.

The Assault and Its Aftermath
In a video that has gone viral on social media, the suspects can allegedly be seen kicking and manhandling Nongodlwana. The incident occurred last week, and on Thursday, Nongodlwana shared his account of the incident on Facebook. He described the incident as traumatic, saying that what was meant to be a normal workday quickly turned into a nightmare. Nongodlwana said that one of the guys grabbed him by his neck, and things got worse, as seen in the video. He described the incident as humiliating and degrading, saying it left him feeling "useless" and fearful that he might lose his job.

Response from the Community and Authorities
However, Nongodlwana said he has since been overwhelmed by support from social media users, some of whom were able to identify the alleged perpetrators. The community’s response to the incident has been swift and supportive, with many people condemning the behavior of the suspects. The authorities have also responded quickly, with Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brig Nobuntu Gantana confirming that two suspects have been arrested and face charges of common assault. The investigation remains active, with further arrests likely. No further information can be shared at this stage, according to Gantana.

Company Response and Consequences
One of the suspects has been identified as an employee of Baagi Technology, a company contracted to Exxaro Resources. In a statement, Exxaro Resources confirmed it was aware of the circulating video depicting the assault. The company said that one of the alleged suspects in the video has been identified as an employee of one of their contractors, Baagi Technology. Exxaro Resources does not tolerate any behavior that is contrary to their values, and the alleged suspect’s access to their company has been immediately revoked. In line with their code of conduct, Baagi Technology is attending to this matter with the urgency it deserves. The company’s swift response and condemnation of the behavior demonstrate a commitment to upholding their values and ensuring that their employees and contractors adhere to a high standard of behavior.

Conclusion and Reflection
The incident highlights the importance of treating others with respect and dignity, regardless of their profession or position. It also underscores the need for companies to have a zero-tolerance policy towards behavior that is contrary to their values. The swift response from the authorities and the community demonstrates that such behavior will not be tolerated and that those responsible will be held accountable. As for Nongodlwana, the incident has left him shaken, but the outpouring of support from the community has helped him to feel less alone and more confident that justice will be served. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, and the need for companies and individuals to uphold high standards of behavior.