Cape Town - ANC Youth League spokesperson Siyabulela Tom has lodged a complaint of racism at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) after a traffic police officer allegedly called him a "bobbejaan".
The prominent ANCYL provincial executive committee member said he was arrested and spent the night in jail on the eve of his grandmother's funeral after he asked police officers to help him lodge a complaint against the "white metro police officer".
Tom was a passenger travelling with a friend in Sea Point when they were stopped at a road block last Wednesday.
Speaking to the Cape Times at the SAHRC offices in Adderley Street on Monday, Tom said he wanted the officer in question identified and prosecuted for racism.
"My friend had been drinking and when the officers asked him to blow into the device, they spoke in Afrikaans. He did not understand them and I asked them if I could translate for him.
"A white police sergeant then told me, 'stap weg, jy's 'n bobbejaan net soos hulle almal' (step away, you're a baboon just like the rest of them)."
He said he insisted on the officer revealing his name, but the officer disappeared.
"The other officers would not tell me his name and when I insisted they bundled me into a police van. I was charged with assault for touching one of them on his chest. I was put in jail and then released, and then arrested again and charged with crimen injuria."
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana on Monday said traffic officers had arrested Tom.
"Cases of assault and crimen injuria are being investigated. The suspect was arrested by traffic officers on July 28 at 1.13am and will appear in court on August 5."
SAHRC spokesperson Gail Smith said Tom's complaint may have been lodged on Monday, but has not been registered at the provincial office yet.