Mustard Seed Guest House - ****** Owner

A star is an over rating for such inhospitable place.

I wrote to the owner (Moss) to request an apology for ******, inhospitable and adversarial stay at the guesthouse in 2012. I requested a formal apology and a refund for the money paid which went unanswered. Apparently, she had an issue with mixed race relationship. Never, in my visit to 30 countries and stays at guesthouses and hotels have I received such ridiculous service. Please see below an excerpt of my letter to the owner :

“Dear Ms. Moss: It has been over two years since I have worked and lived in South Africa, and I have received only good will and hospitality until I set afoot in your guest house. I love South Africa. I tell my friends and family overseas what a great place this is. I am a net promoter of South Africa. When I went back to the USA to visit my family on 5-September, I was saddened by what happened at your guest house, as my positive experience in South Africa was *****ed for good. And as a global citizen who has worked and lived in almost 30 countries, I have never received such unprofessional and disrespectful treatment in a foreign country.

I am writing this letter to right a wrong and to ask you to stop maltreating foreigners and local South African guests of colour. If this is not possible, please do not accept guests of colour. Your unprofessional and ****** behaviour not only *****s the reputation of this great and hospitable country, but also undermines the great and selfless work that Nelson Mandela did for us. Thank you for your kind words. However, you excluded a specific apology for calling me a "funny looking little thing", and again, I seek your apology for this highly offensive and unacceptable comment.

I called my partner and a friend not even five minutes after I left your premises to repeat to them what you said to me, not knowing what you said to me was actually ****** in nature until they told me so. I also wrote down everything on a word document on my laptop when I got to work. I could prove the exact date and time this document was created. You see, I never fathomed that a white South African woman, someone who should be so sensitive towards race due to South Africa’s recent history, could call me a “funny looking little thing” to my face. If you need sworn affidavits signed from the two people who heard from me, what you said to me, for your records as well as to jog your memory, I would be happy to provide them. I could also take screen shots of the word document creation date and time if you need to see it. Furthermore, I could provide character witnesses to sign sworn affidavits supporting my honest and professional character.

The fact that you remembered everything that happened on the weekend of 1-September, except what you called me on the morning of 3-September is puzzling. Furthermore, it is strange for someone who felt threatened to come after us to tell us to lock up after we left; in fact, you never asked us what was wrong. And why you were so taken aback by us being unpleased for not being able to watch a movie as a paying guest is another. If I owned a guest house, and I told my guest that she cannot watch a movie because I was watching a show I liked, I would expect her to be upset, and rightfully so. And yes, it is misleading for you to advertise DSTV but the guests do not have the freedom to change the channels. Guests do not expect to have to watch the same channel as the hostess.

Furthermore, how could anyone sit down and enjoy breakfast when the owner demands the return of the house key even before the guest finished moving her things before 7:30am? Calling the guest rude for moving things in her own room is also uncalled for. And that you were embarrassed in front of your other guest, but not with me, also speaks volume of what you thought of me, which was a “funny looking little thing”. In addition, it proves that you were trying to force me to leave as soon as possible, before the check-out time of Noon.

Again, I seek your formal and written apology for calling me a “funny looking little thing and that my parents will be ashamed of me and my behaviour”. In addition, I demand a refund of R1180. I understand that it is against your policy to issue a refund after a guest has stayed at your premises; however, it is against my policy not to receive a refund after a guest house did not provide the services it promised.

Furthermore, I believe it is against the national policy to speak ****** comments or treat the country’s guest poorly. I could have stayed at any guest house in Sandton, but chose your guest house because you promised “best attention at all times”. I then gave you an opportunity to prove your word, and you failed. Thank you for your kind offer of a free weekend stay at your guest house, however, I have my own residence. And I would highly discourage anyone from staying at your guest house.

To reiterate, I kindly request a formal and written apology from Ms. Cheryl Moss for calling me a “funny looking little thing” by Thursday, 27-December 2012 as well as a refund of 1180 Rands.”