The South African Police Service (SAPS) has strongly condemned derogatory and tribalistic remarks directed at its spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda.
The condemnation follows a recording in which a woman outside a police station admonished Colonel Netshiunda for not speaking isiZulu and called him a “kwerekwere,” an offensive term for a foreigner.
Colonel Netshiunda was born and raised in Limpopo province. His home language is Tshivenda, one of South Africa’s twelve official languages.
The SAPS stated that discrimination based on culture, language, or race is unacceptable and undermines constitutional values. It emphasized that KwaZulu-Natal is a diverse province and that the police service promotes inclusivity.
The SAPS noted its disappointment at the treatment of a dedicated and highly qualified officer. It called for public tolerance and respect for different cultures and languages.
The police service also congratulated Colonel Netshiunda for recently being named Administration Officer of the Year at the KZN Provincial Commissioner’s awards.