Complain on Cavendish Ster-kinekor

I am appalled and disappointed with the treatment and service we received at the Cavendish Ster-kinekor cinema. On Saturday the 10th August 2019 my partner and I purchased tickets for a 4:30 pm movie "Midsommar". We are both individuals living with disability and wheelchairs users, upon purchase of the tickets we requested disabled seating and received front row tickets which cater and are convenient for wheelchair users.

Whilst approaching the entrance a black lady directed us to the movie house. Note directed not escorted, to our surprise we could not wheel ourselves as there were stairs going down to our allocated seats. We then returned to the lady and asked for disabled seating. She immediately told us that disabled seating is at the back row. We therefore explained to her that our wheelchairs won't both fit and our ticket states front row. I further asked access to the emergency exit entrance which I naturally assumed was obvious we would utilize to access our seats. She dismissively responded with a raised tone that the said entrance is never opened and will not be opened. Being a "woman of colour" to another I was perplexed with the level of unprofessionalism and **************. I then requested to speak to the manager on duty, she called a young coloured lady to whom I stated our case. It was evident that she had never dealt with such a case and politely requested to call the manager.

When the manager arrived she also referred us to the back row seats. I told her that two wheelchairs do not comfortably fit, one being a motorised wheelchair. She insisted that we go back inside the cinema so she could see if the wheelchairs fit. It was evident that the one wheelchair would be stationed on the Isle. When pointing out this matter she responded that the cinema is not full. Again I inquired about the emergency exit entrance, to my surprise she reiterated that the entrance is not used. I then posed a question to her, if Cavendish ster kinekor caters for disabled people. It's upon this question that she proceeded to take us to the emergency exit and stating that she was "doing us a favour". When going to the emergency exit I was appalled by the level of uncleaniness that we passed and the urine smell at the entrance. My natural assumption was that maybe this could be the reason the staff was reluctant for us to use the entrance. As the extrance was wheelchair accessible and effortless.

It is against the above background that I lay a formal complaint against Cavendish ster-kinekor. As a fellow South African living with disability we were not treated with human dignity. Section 10 of the Constitution states that " Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected." Ster-kinekor Cavendish failed to provide care and assistance for disabled individuals.

Based on the traumatic unfair treatment we experienced I see no reason why I should not refer this matter to the Human Rights Commission. As they maybe in a better position to provide appropriate treatment with regards to this matter.

Regards

Kumaro Gazo ***