By Sihle Mavuso
Police in KwaZulu-Natal have dismissed claims by a group of Durban scooter delivery riders that they favour foreign nationals in the same industry when opening assault cases against them.
The claim was made on Tuesday during a protest by the riders, who marched from the Durban Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road, formerly Moore Road, to Berea Police Station to deliver a memorandum.
In the memorandum, the protesters claimed that when they open cases against foreign nationals competing with them in the delivery sector, police officers ignore them but are quick to act when a foreign national opens a case against one of them.
They said there was an ongoing conflict in the Florida Road area, where they alleged that foreign nationals working in the same sector had told them they were not welcome because the area belonged to them. They accused the police of failing to act.
One of the scooter riders’ leaders, Mlungisi Mbonambi, openly admitted that they had been involved in physical fights with foreign drivers over the route.
As a result, one of them is behind bars after being tracked down by police. He is currently facing prosecution at the Durban Magistrate’s Court, while the March and March Movement is providing him with legal services.
“They attacked us, and we decided to fight back. I must admit that we fought. What is surprising is that the police did not arrest anyone from the foreigners’ side, but went for one of us and arrested him in Umhlanga. That is unfair,” Mbonambi said.
Another leader, who asked not to be named, spoke at the gates of Berea Police Station, where the memorandum was handed over. He said one of their South African members had been attacked by foreign drivers in Morningside.
“They slashed the tyres of his bike, and when we came to Berea Police Station, they refused to attend to us and open a case. I am not lying; ask any police officer who was working at the station on Sunday,” the leader alleged.
Speaking at the same protest, March and March Movement leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said the government had given foreign nationals free rein in the country, which she said was worrying.
“We will continue this fight, even if Ramaphosa arrests me, as I am already aware that they are planning to arrest us. I will not back down,” Ngobese-Zuma said.
The SAPS spokesperson in the province, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Nentshiunda, dismissed the claims, saying police serve everyone on an equal basis.
“Police serve those who are within the borders of South Africa equally without fear or favour, and no one is above the law. Police at the Community Service Centre wear uniform with name tags and the management of police will appreciate if they are furnished with the names of police officers who allegedly refused to open cases.
“Alternatively, anyone who is dissatisfied with the service from police can report the matter to the IPID, who will investigate any police conduct,” the police spokesperson said.
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