The clampdown, code-named “Operation Duty Calls”, was launched by Police Minister, Nathi Mthethwa and includes setting up roadblocks, intensifying street patrols and conducting random stops and searches on members of the public.
Unfortunately, Zimbabweans living in South Africa have been targeted by such clampdown policing methods in the past. In the Hillbrow, Berea and Joubert Park areas where a lot of Zimbabweans live, the police have been accused of harassing locals and demanding bribes. First the police conduct searches for dangerous weapons. If they fail to find any they demand identity documents and arrest those who do not have them. Those found in possession of the documents are later arrested for “loitering” and detained for a period ranging between one and three days, after which they are released without charge.
During the process, the police demand bribes of between R150 and R300 from the desperate Zimbabweans, some of whom end up paying.
The Johannesburg district of the mainstream MDC and human rights groups recently complained that police harassment against Zimbabweans was continuing, especially in Johannesburg, where an average 40 Zimbabweans are detained every day between Friday and Sunday.
“The one issue that continues to worry us is the continued arrests of our people on the streets on Johannesburg,” said the MDC-T’s Johannesburg district secretary, Alice Mhlanga recently.
However, Mthethwa said during the launch of ‘Operation Duty Calls’ that police would not tolerate corruption, a cliché that has previously failed to help vulnerable Zimbabweans.
“……….the deviant activities of a few rotten apples in our midst should not be allowed to tempt us to subtract from the human rights of society, the majority of whom are responsible, law-abiding citizens,” said Mthethwa.
Dewa Mavhinga, regional coordinator of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, said civil society was worried about the abuse likely to accompany the latest police operation.
“Our fear and concern as Zimbabwe civil society groups is that the operation will unfairly target Zimbabwean immigrants and result in greater harassment. It is unfortunate that immigrants are stereotyped as criminals and are prone to police harassment,” Mavhinga told The Zimbabwean.
Post published in: Africa News