OUDTSHOORN – A 28-second video circulating wildly on social media has thrust a quiet Karoo town into the national spotlight after it captured several white adults chasing, grabbing, and striking what appear to be black street children on a central Oudtshoorn street. But for local businessman Dwayne Venter, being present at the scene has unleashed a torrent of online abuse he never anticipated.
The footage, filmed on Van Der Riet Street on Saturday and posted to X (formerly Twitter), shows adults in casual clothes confronting young children near parked vehicles. Traffic controllers can be seen in the vicinity, appearing to watch without intervening. The children, described by some community members as street children known for glue-sniffing and scratching cars, scatter as adults give chase — one adult striking out at a boy as he flees.
Within hours, the video had drawn thousands of reactions, ranging from demands for immediate arrests to defenses framing the incident as “community discipline” for alleged misbehavior. Some commenters drew comparisons to a separate video showing a black taxi driver beating an elderly white man in Pretoria.
But for Venter, a businessman whose vehicle was visible in the footage, the past 48 hours have been a waking nightmare.
‘It’s not nice’: Businessman speaks exclusively to NOWinSA
Speaking to NOWinSA over the phone, Venter was audibly shaken by the backlash that has consumed his Facebook since the video went viral, per the X post below.
The businessman had also addressed the incident earlier on his Facebook page:
“Good morning you guys. I’ve already received hundreds of threats because of the video on Van Der Riet Street. For any ambiguity with my involvement, I just happened to drive past there. I just stopped to see what was going on. I was NOT involved in the events AT ALL.”
“The police were here this afternoon to take my statement,” Venter told NOWinSA. “I only arrived when the commotion was already on.”
Venter, a bystander who stumbled upon the scene accidentally, reiterated that he was not involved in the assault.
“So I was driving, and then I saw a couple of people and there was a huge commotion. I pulled over and see some violence going on in there and I said ‘no no no, I’m not gonna get involved in here. This has nothing to do with me.’”
He estimates his entire presence at the scene lasted less than a minute. Yet his business vehicle being parked nearby has made him a visible target for online fury.
“Unfortunately I was there and my business vehicle was there,” Venter said with audible frustration. “It’s not nice, everybody is tearing me apart on Facebook.”
Venter confirmed he has fully cooperated with authorities.
“I helped the police with some of the individuals there and they going to follow that up. And they asked me to assist them at court as well, and I said no problem, I will assist you there.”
Legal channels, not violence: Community leader responds
Former Oudtshoorn Mayor Chad Louw, who co-founded the Prosperity Movement (PPM) in 2025 after leaving the Patriotic Alliance, has emerged as a key figure ensuring the matter follows proper legal channels.
Following discussions with a Commissioner, an official complaint has now been lodged with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
In a statement, Louw stressed that violence can never be justified, regardless of what the children’s behavior. “Regardless of what the children involved may or may not have done, under no circumstances may violence be used. If there was wrong action, there are legal and proper processes to address it.”
He urged the public not to racialize the incident:
“This case is not about race. Please do not try to send it in that direction. This is about a serious incident where violence was used and it should be handled in a fair and legal manner.”
Members of the public who wish to escalate concerns can do so directly through the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) complaint portal.
Additionally, a case has been opened with the South African Police Service (SAPS). The police confirmed:
“The incident has been reported to the South African Police Service, and a case docket has been registered. The matter is currently under investigation. Upon finalisation of the investigation, appropriate and decisive action will be taken.”
Legal representatives have also been secured to ensure due process is followed. No arrests had been made as of Saturday afternoon.
The video that shocked a town
Filmed in broad daylight on one of Oudtshoorn’s main thoroughfares, the footage captures a chaotic confrontation between adults and vulnerable minors living on the margins of society.
One moment in particular has unsettled viewers: an adult striking at a fleeing boy, his small frame darting between parked vehicles as traffic officials remain nearby.
The video’s rapid spread online has amplified tensions, reopening difficult conversations about vigilantism, children’s rights, public safety and the power of viral outrage.
While some defend the adults’ actions as frustration boiling over, others argue that no allegation of misconduct can justify physical assault on a minor.
Louw reiterated his position clearly:
“We remain committed to the principle that justice must be served through legal channels. ALL THE TIME!”
What happens next?
The SAHRC complaint is now formally before the Commission, and the police investigation continues under national attention.
For the children involved, legal assistance has reportedly been secured.
For Venter, the immediate battle is reputational.
“I was on the scene maybe not even a minute,” he repeated. “This has nothing to do with me.”
But in the age of viral video, presence can look like participation — and reputations can be shredded in seconds.
As one Oudtshoorn resident told NOWinSA, “The whole town is talking. Everyone knows someone who was there. It’s small here. This will take a long time to heal.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
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