Home Affairs detainee `almost died`

Source: Iol.com, 13/10/2015

Pretoria - Zimbabwean school teacher, Wilson Kwatamanzi alleges he was
repeatedly punched with clenched fists, put in a chokehold and "almost
died" after he was spotted by police officers taking pictures while
queuing at Home Affairs offices at Marabastad in Pretoria on Tuesday.



"I wanted to send the pictures to my employer, to notify the school
administration that there is chaos here and I will not be able to
leave early. I explained to the police officers but they started
punching me. I ran for help to Home Affairs guards but they could not
intervene," said Kwatamanzi, sporting swollen cheeks.


He was arrested by Constable Benny Ndlovu and detained in a truck
inside the Home Affairs premises. Home Affairs security officials
released Kwatamanzi after several hours.


When Ndlovu then spotted Kwatamanzi queuing again, he re-arrested him
and again detained him in the truck.


"Why are you outside? You`re my suspect and I`m taking you inside,"
Ndlovu said.


The police officer, accompanied by several of his colleagues, then
threatened the African News Agency (ANA) journalist who was
interviewing Kwatamanzi outside the Home Affairs premises.


When a team of senior police officers from the Pretoria central police
station, led by Colonel Simon Seleke and Captain Augastinah Selepe
arrived at the scene, an apologetic Ndlovu said he was arresting
Kwatamanzi "because he didn`t have documents".


"I detained him so that he could calm down. There were guys from Congo
who were going to assault him if I had not detained him. The guys from
Congo didn`t want him (Kwatamanzi) to take pictures with his phone.
But I didn`t touch him (Kwatamanzi)," Ndlovu explained.


"I was furious with you (journalist) because I thought you were the
one who brought him out of the van. I thought you were a
lawyer."


After deliberations with the team of senior officers, Kwatamanzi
elected not to press charges against Ndlovu.


"I do not think I have the time to be pursuing the matter in
courts.

My work is demanding and I would be in my class,
teaching. I just wish a message could be relayed to the police
officers that they ought to treat all human beings with respect," said
Kwatamanzi.
He said a number of police officers were allegedly demanding bribes
from the thousands of immigrants jostling to renew asylum-seeker
documents at the Department of Home Affairs.


After further discussions, Ndlovu apologised to Kwatamanzi. The
Zimbabwean was handed back his phone, but with all pictures and videos
deleted.


"I am sorry, my brother, I was trying to save you," said Ndlovu.
A number of foreign nationals claimed that Home Affairs was turning a
blind eye to their plight.


"For years, several ministers have come and gone but without solving
this mess. We are at the mercy of unscrupulous police officers,
corrupt home affairs officials and nyaope addicts making a living out
of stealing from us," said Zambian Trevor Masimiri.


"South Africa preaches African solidarity and renaissance on one hand,
while immigrants from other countries continue to be treated like
trash. We have left our countries because of circumstance beyond our
control. We had South Africans also in our countries when things were
bad here."


Another asylum-seeker, only identified as Bethany, said a place in the
queue costs anything between R50 and R200.


"But there is no guarantee that you will extend your asylum-seeker
permit. That money is taken by the police manning the queues. At the
same time, you always have to be on the look-out for criminals
here.

Police don`t do anything because the criminals are
never arrested," she said.


"The police run this place like a mafia. Every day people, even women
get assaulted here."


Numerous men were controlling the queue outside, holding batons and
rubber whips.


The manager of the Marabastad office, Macanda Mthetho, declined to
comment on the matter, referring questions to the Home Affairs
communication department.f
ANA