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Police Investigate After South African TV Host Is Beaten Unconscious in Alleged Racist Attack

A South African TV and radio presenter called himself being a good Samaritan by helping a group of stranded white motorists, but says he wound up being the victim of a racist attack instead.

SABC presenter Samora Mangesi shared shocking images from the alleged assault he says left him bloodied, battered and rendered unconscious.

Samora Mangesi

TV host Samora Mangesi said the attack left him with injures to his face, cuts in his mouth and bruising along his side. (Image courtesy of Twitter / @Samora_Mangesi)

“On Friday night, I was the victim of a racially motivated attack,” Mangesi wrote on Twitter. “After stopping to check on a group of young white people whose car had overturned, they called my friends & I Monkeys. When we engaged them on why we were being called such, they beat me up until I was unconscious.”

The young TV host suffered severe injuries to his face, cuts inside his mouth and bruising along the side of his body, where he was reportedly kicked by his assailants. Mangesi also published videos from the alleged attack, adding that one of the men attempted to run his friend down as he received medical treatment at the scene.

“Even whilst I was being put in the ambulance, one of these guys tried to run my friend over with his bakkie (pick-up truck) and the paramedics had to intervene,” he wrote. “As much as they say I was awake, I don’t remember being in the ambulance, arriving at the hospital nor much of the treatment.”

Of what he could remember, Mangesi said paramedics told him he was only unconscious for five minutes and finally came to in the ambulance. His attackers had reportedly kicked him to the ground after striking him in the head with something.

The radio personality said he thought about the letting the incident go and “continuing with my life,” but ultimately decided to file a report with authorities. Armed with car registration numbers, pictures and videos, Mangesi is hoping to get justice.

A police spokesman told the BBC News the incident is under investigation.

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