THE SAPS has condemned the recent verbal attack on KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda who was called a “kwerekwere” during a heated confrontation with March and March members outside Point Police Station.

In a now widely circulated video, a woman was seen and heard using the slur after hearing that Netshiunda was from Limpopo and unable to communicate with her fully in IsiZulu. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said tribalistic slurs captured in a recording were discriminatory and offensive, and needed to be strongly condemned.

Mathe said, “The SAPS has noted with concern the derogatory comments outside a police station, in which a woman admonished a SAPS spokesperson for not communicating with her in isiZulu and referred to him as a ‘kwerekwere’ which is a deeply offensive term used to label someone as a foreigner.”

She said Netshiunda was born and raised in Limpopo and that his presence in KZN reflects the diversity and unity that define the SAPS. “His home language is Tshivenda, one of the country’s 12 official languages,” said Mathe.

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“The SAPS takes this opportunity to remind communities that discrimination against any individual based on culture, language, or race is unacceptable and undermines the constitutional values upon which our democracy is founded. It is both unfair and disappointing for any member of the public to display such behaviour towards a police officer who is highly qualified and dedicated to serving and protecting all who live in this country.”

The woman’s verbal attack has received wide condemnation with social media users also weighing on the mater. In an open letter to Netshiunda on Facebook, Ntsako J Khosa said, “What you were subjected to is not just disrespect, it is raw, ugly tribalism, and it must be called out without fear or hesitation. No South African, especially a public servant of your calibre, should ever be harassed, bullied, or attacked for who they are, where they come from, or which language they choose to speak.”

While on X Sandile Mthembu said, “As a Zulu from KZN, I am so embarrassed. This man is owed an apology. That lady was wrong, we cannot condone tribalism when other non-Zulu speakers accommodate us in their provinces.”

Mathe said the SAPS calls for greater social cohesion among the communities and urges the public to promote tolerance, respect, and understanding of different cultures and languages.

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