from NJABULO MKHIZE in Durban
KwaZulu Natal Bureau
DURBAN, (CAJ News) – THE South African Police Service (SAPS) has condemned in the strongest possible terms the discriminatory and offensive remarks directed at one of its senior spokespersons, following a video that circulated widely on social media on Wednesday.
The incident, which unfolded outside a police station in KwaZulu-Natal, has reignited national concern about the dangers of tribalism and xenophobia in South Africa.
In the recording, a woman — identified as a Zulu South African — is heard berating SAPS KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda for not addressing her in isiZulu.
She further referred to him using the xenophobic slur “makwerekwere,” a derogatory term historically used to label and dehumanise foreigners.
The remarks were made solely on the basis of his ethnicity and language, despite him being a South African citizen.
SAPS clarified that Colonel Netshiunda was born and raised in Limpopo, one of South Africa’s nine provinces.
His home language is Tshivenda, one of the country’s 12 official languages.
His posting in KwaZulu-Natal reflects the constitutional values of diversity, unity and non-discrimination that underpin the SAPS and the broader democratic state.
“The discrimination and offensive remarks directed at a dedicated, hardworking and highly qualified officer are unacceptable,” SAPS said in a statement, emphasising that its members serve communities across provincial and cultural lines.
“Our police stations are staffed by members from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and this diversity strengthens our ability to serve all South Africans effectively.”
The incident has drawn parallels with long-standing warnings by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, who has repeatedly cautioned that xenophobia does not exist in isolation.
Malema once warned that “a society that learns to hate foreigners will eventually turn that hatred against its own people,” describing xenophobia as a gateway to deeper tribal and ethnic conflict.
South Africa’s history bears out that warning.
In 2008, widespread xenophobic violence swept through parts of the country, leaving more than 63 people dead and over 300,000 others displaced, many of them foreign nationals who lost homes, livelihoods and dignity.
The violence shocked the nation and exposed deep socio-economic fault lines.
Similar unrest resurfaced in 2021, when outbreaks of xenophobic attacks again targeted foreign-owned businesses, compounding the devastation already caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and civil unrest.
The aftermath included economic losses, strained diplomatic relations and long-term trauma in affected communities.
Analysts warn that tribalism and xenophobia erode social cohesion, weaken state institutions and undermine nation-building.
When citizens are judged by language, surname or place of origin, merit and professionalism are replaced by prejudice, leading to division, instability and mistrust.
SAPS has called on South Africans to reject hatred in all its forms and to uphold the constitutional values of equality, dignity and mutual respect.
“This incident is not just about one officer or one confrontation,” the statement said. “It is about the kind of nation we choose to be.”
As South Africa continues to grapple with inequality and social pressure, leaders and citizens alike are being urged to remember that unity, not division, remains the country’s greatest strength.
– CAJ News