10111 refuse Afrikaans callers
JOBURG - AfriForum outraged at discrimination by 10111 call centre personnel.
During a recent call to the 10111 emergency line of the South African Police Service AfriForum had to hear the operators refuse to take calls in Afrikaans.
When service was requested in Afrikaans, the 10111 operator summarily disconnected the call. These actions are not only unconstitutional and endanger the lives of callers in need of help.
Non-profit Afrikaaner rights organisation AfriForum will take up the matter with National Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega, and has launched a complaints channel on its website (www.afriforum.co.za) where members of the public can submit information on similar experiences.
Unfortunately many complaints about the unilingual service in English by the police have been recorded.
According to Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO of AfriForum responsible for language matters, this is the umpteenth example of the failure of the police to offer service in an official language of the country, as is required by the Constitution, The Use of Official Languages Act and the Service Charter for Victims of Crime.
“AfriForum regards this latest incident in a very serious light, because service provision by the 10111 emergency personnel is literally a matter of life and death,”
Bailey said. The public can listen to the call being refused on the AfriForum website. (www.afriforum.co.za)
If you’ve had the same treatment from the Brixton, Sophiatown, Parkview, Linden or Fairland police fill out a form on AfriForum’s website or submit an e-mail of complaint.
Details: www.afriforum.co.za, afriforum@afriforum.co.za
