Remember the postings on XENOPHOBIA? It’s your time.
REMEMBER this posting on police XENOPHOBIA experienced first-hand by Represent readers living in Johannesburg – watch this weeks SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT that EXPOSES all,
‘Kwere Kwere’
13 September 2005
SABC3
21:30
On Special Assignment this Tuesday, we investigate allegations of abuse, xenophobia and assault by the Booysens police.
Following our expose of extortion and bribery by …
the Booysens police last week, we now look at the experience of a Congolese woman who was allegedly beaten with a wheel spanner by the Booysens “raiding squad”. The woman received ten stitches after the alleged assault.
When Special Assignment arrived at her house about two hours after the event, she was still covered in blood. There were several witnesses who described in detail what had happened.
The Congolese woman and her Nigerian partner live in Rosettenville. One Sunday morning in July, the Booysens raiding squad stormed into their house. Without identifying themselves, they demanded to see the refugee papers of two people who were visiting them at the time.
The police looked at the papers, threw them aside, called them kwere-kwere (foreigners) and allegedly beat the woman with wheel spanner. Her partner was then arrested for allegedly interfering with a police investigation. A pistol was allegedly pointed at him.
Both people claim that the police warned them not to attempt to lay a charge as they would “get back at them”.
The husband was locked up for the night. When the woman went to the Booysens Police Station to complain and to find out what had happened to him, she was again told not to bother to lay a charge as it would not be investigated.
Special Assignment has spoken to various other immigrants who also allege abuse and assault. From our investigation a clear pattern of xenophobia on the part of the Booysens police has emerged.
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1 August
Our EXPOSE BAD/GOOD ATTITUDE posting, is the forum for people to complain about bad service, driving, attitudes, racism, sexism, bad manners, bad smells… you name the charge, we publish it. In the name of Ying and Yang we decided to extend this posting to also highlight GOOD ATTITUDE – so if you have some good service experience let us know!
Represent reader “TRUTH” tells us about her bad experience when it comes to dating a foreigner:
I have just read an article posted on your sight by an angry “South African” whose partner was arrested at Hillbrow Police station and had to bribe a police office to let him out.
Unfortunately this sort of abuse happens to so many of us (South Africans with foreign partners). I too had the misfortune of such a shocking encounter when on one Johannesburg winter evening I decided to pick up my “boyfriend” from his home in Sunninghill, while marveling at how I would for a change share my bed and not have to endure the winter night on my lonesome, I realized that we were being followed.
I mentioned this to my “friend” who immediately suggested I pull over because it was the police who were following us. My initial reaction was “not a chance, I’m not stopping just because the police are behind us.”
The next thing I knew the sky turned red and blue and there was a moorse noise. (hmmm…I though. Interesting), I politely pulled over the side of Rivonia road. (as I thought about my unpaid licence disk).
Two policemen shone their torches in our eyes and asked us to get out of the car so they can search us. I could not believe my ears and in utter and complete shock and anger asked why. The policemen told me that this was a routine check and they were entitled to stop whomever they choose and do a spot check on them. You see I do not take lightly to having my rights infringed upon.
I then looked at the more outspoken officer in the eyes and said “No, I am not getting out of the car and infact you owe us an apology”. Then proudly turned to my friend for support.
It was at this point that I noticed that my “friend” was already out of the car with both hands on the car roof while the less spoken of the policemen frisked him. It then hit me like a ton of bricks – this was happening because he is a foreigner. I am still not sure who I was more angry with – him for letting them do that to him, Me for not stopping them, Or the police for treating him (and me) like that. You see there really is nothing random about the search, it was and still is targeted at our tall dark and very handsome brothers, who unfortunately can not fight back as their presence in SA is often questionable.
I still feel violated just thinking about that evening. You see my take is that the policemen are not doing their job because through all this not once was my friend asked for his papers to justify his being in the country. The worst evil of all to me is the silence that so many of us victims then endure – I have seen my friend a few times since and we do not even discuss this between ourselves. Often I wonder if we are ashamed of where the discussion might lead&.His questionable presence in my country? Which he carries a lot of shame around. And me? well who knows what my issues are?
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3 July 2005
It’s your space to express your feelings of unhappiness, pleasant suprise or even outrage and sheer amazement… depending on the weight of the offence or the great response – and to expose those that need a klap… well a good telling off anyway or a BIG THANK YOU. Do not be shy, just mail us on EXPOSE. You can remain anonymous.
Our SECOND posting goes out to Singapore Airlines – we recently went on a quick trip to South East Asia to check out how they do things over there and to catch a bit of sun.
When dear Editista was checking into here economy class seat, she took her chances and asked the hot m’fethu behind the counter to please give her her own row of seats as she was exhausted and really would have loved to spread out a bit and lie down… he laughed and so did she – at the ridiculousness of her request – I mean let’s get real… three seats ALL to yourself?
Off she went to board the plane… and guess what…. VOILA – the only row of three free seats and her touche was in the window seat! She was delighted with Singapore Airlines as she put her legs up and lay down for a decent nights sleep!
Then came the return trip and she thought to herself – hey – this could be fun – let’s try and push our luck again… so she went up to the desk at SIngapore Int Airport check in and related to the pretty Chinese lady what the kind man had done for her in Joburg and asked if there was anyway it could happen on the way back as well… She promised to thank her from the skies if she could pull it off… Once again they all had a good giggle – Editorista thinking she had god to far –
BUT NO – what happens now..??? Not only did she get her own row of three seats (the only free row once again) but her baggage was given first class labels, which meant that when she got to Joburg International, they were the first lot to come out!
So THANK YOU to SIngapore Airlines for your generosity and for suprising us with a little treat – making the world of difference to our Editor’s journey… It’s a ten hour flight and the best so far. Having three chairs to spread yourself out on and literally lie down in makes the ticket all worth it.
The service was also impeccable and there was even a function on the telly where you could choose from over 70 movies and start them whenever you felt like watching them? We highly recommend SINGAPORE airlines and will continue to gush for a long time coming… SIYABONGA SINGAPORE !!!
Our first posting comes from AFRICANDIVA who is horrified by xenophobia and bribery at the Hillbrow police station. She blows the whistle on Hillbrow Policewomen:
I made a mistake! I fell in love. Not with just any man, but a foreigner! Is it a problem, not according to my book. Am I stressed? yes. Why you may ask. Certain Hillbrow Police Station Officers have managed to piss me off.
They took my hard earned cash. I never thought it would happen to me. I’m streetwise! My man’s asylum seekers documents expired. On the night of May 20 2005 he was stopped ON LOUIS BOTHA AVENUE and taken into Hillbrow Police Station. I got a frantic call from him wanting R200. I’m in love and I would not like my man to spend a night in a cell (this was the consequence of non-payment of the R200.) So I borrowed money from a friend and rushed to the rescue.
I’ve always had a problem with the current immigration process.. regarding legal/illegal foreigners. What is the criteria for being stopped and asked for papers. Why do the cops only stop black people and taxis. Are there no white, indian other races who are here illegally. Is there a law that says one must walk around with an id. What about losing it and finding yourself fraudulently married to some desperate foreigner with the help of corrupt home affairs official????????
Yes I paid the R200, I even managed to secure a blank, stamped and signed affidavit as a bonus to fill in as I please. Isn’t South Africa Great. Assuming these cops do this everyday, and they arrest a 100 people a day who then pay R200 each… you do the maths. I’m considering changing careers.
So, policewoman Maahlo and policewoman Theledi You are in deep sh…t and you don’t even know it. I want my R200 back or a receipt…. GOOD LUCK TO YOU
