Foreign nationals sit on the ground as South African Police officers backed by soldiers of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) check their identity in Hillbrow Johannesburg, an area mostly inhabited by foreign nationals. Image: MUJAHID SAFODIEN / AFP.
Police attacked in Northern Cape as incidents become more prevalent
Police were attacked by foreign nationals believe to be Nigerians when they tried to arrest a suspected drug dealer in the Northern Cape.
Foreign nationals sit on the ground as South African Police officers backed by soldiers of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) check their identity in Hillbrow Johannesburg, an area mostly inhabited by foreign nationals. Image: MUJAHID SAFODIEN / AFP.
Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, has welcomed the arrest of eight foreign nationals believed to be Nigerians who attacked police and damaged vehicles in the Northern Cape.
At the time of the arrest, police were conducting a search and tracing information on one of the alleged drug dealers. A large group of foreign nationals attacked the police.
WHY WERE POLICE ATTACKED IN THE NORTHERN CAPE?
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson in the Northern Cape, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers, said police had to fire rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
Ehlers said one suspect was arrested for illegal possession of drugs, and three suspects were arrested for public violence and detained at Kimberley Police Station.
“During processing, the suspects broke windows at the station. Additional charges of malicious damage to property were added.
“Another group of Nigerians later approached the Police Station and threatened to retaliate,” she explained.
Despite the Operational Commander warning the group to disperse, they resorted to damaging police vehicles.
Subsequently, another four suspects were arrested for malicious damage to property.
COMMISSIONER WELCOMES ARREST
Lieutenant General Otola condemned this behaviour and stated that those who prevent police from exercising their duties would be dealt with harshly.
Otola said they would not allow such lawless behavior; we are processing the suspects and working with Home Affairs to determine if they are legally or illegally in the country.
“Police will continue to stamp the state’s authority in the Northern Cape Province,” Otola added.
INCIDENTS BECOMING PREVALENT
Incidents where police are attacked by individuals resisting arrest, especially foreign nationals are becoming prevalent.
- In January, Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) members were conducting policing on the Ben Schoeman Highway when they noticed a bus coming from Fountains heading in the direction of Centurion.
The bus was overloaded as some passengers were behind the front windscreen beside the driver.
In a video widely circulated on social media, a truck driver who saw what was happening managed to block the bus, and instead, the foreign nationals came out and attacked the truck driver. Furthermore, the cross-border bus drove straight into the TMPD vehicle and bumped into it.
- In 2023, a video of a foreign national also believed to be Nigerian and a drug dealer resisting arrest by undercover police in Sunnyside, Pretoria went viral on social media platforms.
In the video, a man can be seen trying to run away from two men that are reportedly undercover cops as they want to arrest him. Two other men coming from behind can also be seen dragging the alleged drug dealer away from the police.
The two that are dragging the drug dealer can be seen removing drugs from the one resisting arrest and stuffing them in their pockets in full view of the public and the police.
- In 2019, Johannesburg’s inner city was plunged into chaos when law enforcement agencies attempted to confiscate counterfeit goods from informal traders. A joint operation between the SAPS and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) quickly spiralled out of control when vendors fought back against the raids.
Then-Premier Makhura and Chief of the JMPD, David Tembe said foreign nationals operating in the inner-city responded with violence; hurling bricks and petrol bombs at law enforcement officers.
