Pretoria - Zimbabwean school teacher, Wilson Kwatamanzi alleges he was repeatedly punched with clenched fists, put in a chokehold and “almost died” after he was spotted by police officers taking pictures while queuing at Home Affairs offices at Marabastad in Pretoria on Tuesday.
“I wanted to send the pictures to my employer, to notify the school administration that there is chaos here and I will not be able to leave early. I explained to the police officers but they started punching me. I ran for help to Home Affairs guards but they could not intervene,” said Kwatamanzi, sporting swollen cheeks.
He was arrested by Constable Benny Ndlovu and detained in a truck inside the Home Affairs premises. Home Affairs security officials released Kwatamanzi after several hours.
When Ndlovu then spotted Kwatamanzi queuing again, he re-arrested him and again detained him in the truck.
“Why are you outside? You’re my suspect and I’m taking you inside,” Ndlovu said.
The police officer, accompanied by several of his colleagues, then threatened the African News Agency (ANA) journalist who was interviewing Kwatamanzi outside the Home Affairs premises.
When a team of senior police officers from the Pretoria central police station, led by Colonel Simon Seleke and Captain Augastinah Selepe arrived at the scene, an apologetic Ndlovu said he was arresting Kwatamanzi “because he didn’t have documents”.
“I detained him so that he could calm down. There were guys from Congo who were going to assault him if I had not detained him. The guys from Congo didn’t want him (Kwatamanzi) to take pictures with his phone. But I didn’t touch him (Kwatamanzi),” Ndlovu explained.
“I was furious with you (journalist) because I thought you were the one who brought him out of the van. I thought you were a lawyer.”
After deliberations with the team of senior officers, Kwatamanzi elected not to press charges against Ndlovu.
“I do not think I have the time to be pursuing the matter in courts. My work is demanding and I would be in my class, teaching. I just wish a message could be relayed to the police officers that they ought to treat all human beings with respect,” said Kwatamanzi.
He said a number of police officers were allegedly demanding bribes from the thousands of immigrants jostling to renew asylum-seeker documents at the Department of Home Affairs.
After further discussions, Ndlovu apologised to Kwatamanzi. The Zimbabwean was handed back his phone, but with all pictures and videos deleted.
“I am sorry, my brother, I was trying to save you,” said Ndlovu.
A number of foreign nationals claimed that Home Affairs was turning a blind eye to their plight.
“For years, several ministers have come and gone but without solving this mess. We are at the mercy of unscrupulous police officers, corrupt home affairs officials and nyaope addicts making a living out of stealing from us,” said Zambian Trevor Masimiri.
“South Africa preaches African solidarity and renaissance on one hand, while immigrants from other countries continue to be treated like trash. We have left our countries because of circumstance beyond our control. We had South Africans also in our countries when things were bad here.”
Another asylum-seeker, only identified as Bethany, said a place in the queue costs anything between R50 and R200.
“But there is no guarantee that you will extend your asylum-seeker permit. That money is taken by the police manning the queues. At the same time, you always have to be on the look-out for criminals here. Police don’t do anything because the criminals are never arrested,” she said.
“The police run this place like a mafia. Every day people, even women get assaulted here.”
Numerous men were controlling the queue outside, holding batons and rubber whips.
The manager of the Marabastad office, Macanda Mthetho, declined to comment on the matter, referring questions to the Home Affairs communication department.f
ANA