Cape Town - The Virgin Active member that hurled homophobic slurs at eNCA anchor Andrew Barnes and his partner, has reportedly been banned for life from the Virgin Active club in Green Point by its management.
Apart from being banned at the club in Green Point the member, who has remained unidentified throughout the entire investigation, has also been banned from all Virgin Active clubs in South Africa for three months.
Barnes took to his Facebook page on Thursday to share his delight regarding the outcome of the situation.
"Thank you Virgin Active for taking a stand against homophobia. For physically threatening my partner and verbally abusing us both, The Homophobe has been banned for life from The Point.
Strict investigation
"He's also been suspended from all other Virgin Active clubs for the next three months (sic)."
Barnes and his partner were at the gym when his partner said goodbye to him and gave him a kiss on 27 November. Another gym member allegedly took offence and approached the pair and according to Barnes, verbally abused them.
He laid a complaint with the management team at Virgin Active Green Point regarding the matter, which had been under investigation by management teams to resolve the situation.
Barnes, who anchors News Day weekdays from 13:00 to 16:00 on eNCA, posted the news of the abuse on his Facebook page.
Les Aupiais, who acts as head of strategic communications for Virgin Active South Africa, told the Times Live that they have a "zero tolerance approach to any kind of prejudice" and that they would act swiftly to resolve the matter.
Apart from being banned at the club in Green Point the member, who has remained unidentified throughout the entire investigation, has also been banned from all Virgin Active clubs in South Africa for three months.
Barnes took to his Facebook page on Thursday to share his delight regarding the outcome of the situation.
"Thank you Virgin Active for taking a stand against homophobia. For physically threatening my partner and verbally abusing us both, The Homophobe has been banned for life from The Point.
Strict investigation
"He's also been suspended from all other Virgin Active clubs for the next three months (sic)."
Barnes and his partner were at the gym when his partner said goodbye to him and gave him a kiss on 27 November. Another gym member allegedly took offence and approached the pair and according to Barnes, verbally abused them.
He laid a complaint with the management team at Virgin Active Green Point regarding the matter, which had been under investigation by management teams to resolve the situation.
Barnes, who anchors News Day weekdays from 13:00 to 16:00 on eNCA, posted the news of the abuse on his Facebook page.
Les Aupiais, who acts as head of strategic communications for Virgin Active South Africa, told the Times Live that they have a "zero tolerance approach to any kind of prejudice" and that they would act swiftly to resolve the matter.