By Thapelo Molefe
Allegations of bribery and extortion against members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) have emerged in East London, with a local landlord claiming officers are taking money from Nigerian nationals operating in a notorious stretch of a tavern precinct known as California.
The claims were made by Nomfundo Gqamane, whose husband, Ayanda, owns the Belgrave Hotel, right by California.
Residents have been calling for the shutdown of California, which they claim has become a hub for criminal activity.
Speaking to media on Friday, Gqamane said repeated attempts to report concerns to police had yielded no action.
“We went to the police station many times, even to the newly [appointed] station commander, but our complaints fell on deaf ears. Police come here and then return back without doing anything,” she said.
She further alleged that the Nigerians nationals in the area appeared to receive advance warning of police operations.
“Every time police come, Nigerians would leave before they arrive, as if they were told by someone,” she said.
Gqamane also relayed claims from a tenant who allegedly witnessed officers receiving “payments from Nigerians”.
“[The tenant] says police would come to collect money at certain times, especially during lunch and in the afternoon,” she said, adding that the payments were described as “lunch money” and “petrol money” – common terms for bribes in South African slang.
She claimed corruption has worsened conditions in the area.
“Corruption is affecting us. Our government has failed us because it was not going to be like this if our government didn’t fail us,” she said.
Distancing herself from the activities in California, Gqamane said her property was not linked to California.
“To be honest, California is not linked to us. We are not California,” she said.
She added that while she previously had foreign nationals, including Nigerians, Somalians and Pakistanis, renting space for businesses such as laundry services and tyre shops, she had since removed them.
“I don’t have Nigerians in my hotel, there is nothing that links me with them. I have since chased them out,” she said.
Gqamane said she would now comply with calls to prioritise South African tenants.
“I will comply with the rule that we must accommodate only people from South Africa. I only have South African students and people who are working now,” she said.
Gqamane also said efforts to secure the hotel property had failed.
“I hired securities but that didn’t work. It’s the police I have been reporting to that failed me,” she said.
She said the situation has severely affected business.
“Ever since we started here in 2015, we’ve never had such bad business as now,” she said.
Meanwhile, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality mayor Princess Faku is leading a planned march in East London on Friday alongside Deputy Minister Cogta Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe.
The march is aimed at calling for the removal of a recently coronated Igbo king and the closure of alleged drug dens in the California area.
Gqamane said she fears further unrest if the situation is not urgently addressed. “I would be happy if there would be a way forward to this problem,” she said.
Police had not responded to the allegations at the time of publication.
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