CapeTown's Gay District Bombed

'Apparent hate crime' condemned after explosion at gay bar 6th November 1999

Cape Town - Gay and lesbian rights groups and Cape Town's tourism, public and private sectors have condemned an explosion at a gay bar in Greenpoint in Cape Town early on Saturday which left five men and one woman injured.
The National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality called on police and the Ministry of Safety and Security to leave no stone unturned in investigating the apparent hate crime.
"In South Africa, we live with a history of struggle against tyranny. Terrorism of any nature is unacceptable anywhere and more so when we as South Africans are working towards building democracy and reconciliation."
"The lesbian and gay community were aligned to this process and would continue to do so despite acts by reactionary forces on the margins of society," the coalition said in a statement.
Earlier police said they do not believe the explosion at the Blah Bar was linked to previous acts of urban terrorism in the city.
Captain Neville Malila, spokesman for Operation Good Hope -- a campaign established to fight acts of urban terrorism -- told Sapa the owner of Blah Bar in Greenpoint had not received a bomb threat prior to the explosion.
"Where these explosions take place, people are pre-warned, but the owner said she had not received threats or any other warning."
Malila said the bar was not linked to activities relating to gangsters or drugs and it was not thought that terrorist groups who rallied against these crimes would be involved in the attack.
Asked about the motive for the blast, Malila said it could have been anything -- including a disgruntled patron. The possibility that the explosion was a Guy Fawkes prank was also being investigated.
Cape Town Tourism manager Sheryl Ozinsky voiced concern that the attack might have been directed against the city's gay community. "We hope this incident is not reactive against the gay community in Cape Town because that is tantamount to bringing back prejudices of the past. We say that because the Blah Bar is a traditional gay venue," Ozinsky said.
Malila said police believed the device was set on a time-delay system because it was placed about six metres from the entrance to the building during the time the bar was open.
He could not confirm whether the explosive device was a pipe bomb.
"The bomb disposal experts combed the area and collected all the evidence. From there it will be sent for forensic testing where they will confirm the origin of the explosive device."
The device, which had been placed against an inside wall in the bar, detonated at around 12.20am.
The street was cordoned off as police investigated the area from 1am to 5.30am.
Surrounding night clubs in Somerset road -- well known for its gay clubs -- were closed early as precautionary measures.
Among those injured in the blast was the co-owner of the bar, Craig Gibson, who was treated at the Somerset hospital and later discharged.
A cleaner at the club was also injured.
Four patrons were treated at City Park hospital in Cape Town and Somerset Hospital in Greenpoint.
Glynnis Delenay a co-owner of the bar, said she will not be put off by the bomb blast. "This incident has not put me off. I won't be frightened," she said.
She said the incident was unexpected as the club was not linked to gang or drug-related activities.
"We don't deal in drugs, we don't handle drugs. We pay basic protection for security personnel, along with other business in the area."
Asked if she was paying protection money to gang lords Delenay said: "No. Nor have we been approached by them to pay protection money."
Delenay said it was still too early to speculate on whether the motive may have been linked to gay hate.
"The police still have to find a motive so you can draw your own conclusions."
Delenay said she would try and establish a fund for those injured to help pay for their hospital expenses.
While the Blah Bar carried insurance, Delenay was not covered for loss of earnings while the premises were being refurbished.
Delenay said one of the injured was still in the City Park Hospital in Cape Town with a broken leg while another suffered a severe foot injury. Another in Somerset Hospital suffered shrapnel wounds to the neck.
Cape Town Tourism manager Sheryl Ozinsky said she did not believe the incident would affect tourism.
"Tourism is resilient and we have seen it recover from other blasts in Cape Town.
"I don't believe it will affect tourism whatsoever but we want to sort this incident out very quickly. We have spoken to the police and Business Against Crime and the matter is being dealt with speedily."
She expressed her sympathy to the victims and their families. "I understand all but one of the victims have been discharged from hospital."
Cape Town had been relatively quiet as far as bomb blasts were concerned. The last blast was in Athlone when a car bomb detonated outside the police station in June this year.
"We hope this is not the start of a new spate of bombings especially with Christmas around the corner," Malila said.
By lunch-time on Saturday the area was still cordoned off with police in a Nyala keeping curiosity-seekers away.
From the outside of the bar -- the premises were locked -- no apparent damage was visible apart from two cracked window panes.
The Cape Town Partnership, a private/public sector partnership aimed at revitalising the city centre, in its reaction commended the swift actions of police in responding to the explosion.
"The police service have yet again demonstrated the determination and professionalism with their response to the incident."-Sapa

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