Human rights unfairly critical of South African Police Service (SAPS)

8 June 2010

The South African Police Service is appalled by the misguided remarks of
the representative of Amnesty International South Africa who
gratuitously accused the police of using the FIFA 2010 rules and
regulations to harass homeless people, immigrants and street hawkers
ahead of the tournament.

Amnesty International's Dr Mary Rayner should know better that the
bi-laws that govern activities of street hawkers, car guards and
homeless people are a domain relevant Metropolitan Council. The SAPS is
only enforcing these laws when approached to assist the Metro Police.
The street hawkers and the car guards must be registered with the
Metropolitan Council in order to operate legally.

The SAPS, when executing crime prevention operations, do so jointly with
the immigration officials from the Department of Home Affairs. The
illegal immigrants are required to be in possession of a legal permit
for their stay in the country, and the Department of Home Affairs
determines their deportation or the extension of their permit.

The illegal immigrants are temporarily kept in the police holding cells
while Home Affairs processes their documentation. Homeless people are
placed in shelters, depending on the availability thereof, where they
can be safe and fed.

The SAPS is making a humble appeal to Amnesty International South Africa
that, in future, when in doubt, please check to verify the facts before
rushing to the media to make unsubstantiated and damaging claims about
the SAPS, which strives hard to respect and to uphold the human rights
and dignity of all the people.

Enquiries:
Major General Nonkululeko Mbatha
Cell: 083 645 6252

Colonel Lindela L Mashigo
Cell: 082 778 4310

Issued by: Ministry of Police
8 June 2010