The South African Police Service (SAPS) has condemned what it called discriminatory and offensive remarks made against KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda in a viral video on social media.
The video shows a woman confronting Netshiunda during a protest outside a police station in Durban on 28 January 2026. She accuses him of failing to speak to her in isiZulu and calls him a “kwerekwere,” a derogatory term used to label someone as a foreigner.
The protest was held in support of Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of the anti-immigrant group March and March, who had handed herself over to police after allegedly inciting violence.
During the exchange, the woman said she had been struggling to get help with a case involving her child and claimed that an investigator linked to the matter had approached her. She repeatedly asked whether Netshiunda could understand isiZulu and whether he needed a translator.
She also told Netshiunda that he was “in the wrong place” if he could not speak isiZulu and demanded that he return to where he came from and let Zulu-speaking people do his job.
Throughout the confrontation, Netshiunda responded calmly in English. The video has sparked widespread discussion on social media.
SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe released a statement condemning the offensive remarks made against Colonel Netshiunda. The statement reads:
“The South African Police Service (SAPS) condemns in the strongest possible terms the discrimination and offensive remarks directed at one of its dedicated, hardworking, and highly qualified spokespersons, who executes his duties with diligence and professionalism.
“The SAPS has noted with concern the derogatory and tribalistic slurs captured in a recording outside a police station, in which a woman admonished a SAPS spokesperson for not communicating with her in isiZulu and referred to him as a “kwerekwere”, which is a deeply offensive term used to label someone as a foreigner.
“Colonel Robert Netshiunda was born and raised in Limpopo, which is one of South Africa’s nine provinces. His home language is Tshivenda, one of the country’s twelve official languages. His presence in KwaZulu-Natal reflects the diversity and unity that define the SAPS.
“The SAPS takes this opportunity to remind communities that discrimination against any individual based on culture, language, or race is unacceptable and undermines the constitutional values upon which our democracy is founded.
“The province of KwaZulu-Natal is home not only to isiZulu-speaking communities but to people from diverse racial, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. SAPS actively promotes integration, mutual respect, and inclusivity among all communities and within its own ranks.
“It is both unfair and disappointing for any member of the public to display such behaviour towards a police officer who is highly qualified and dedicated to serving and protecting all who live in this country.
“The SAPS calls for greater social cohesion among the communities we serve and urges the public to promote tolerance, respect, and understanding of different cultures and languages.
“Our police stations are staffed by members from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, reflecting the rich diversity of South Africa. This diversity strengthens our ability to serve communities effectively.
“The SAPS once again congratulates Colonel Netshiunda for being recognized as Administration officer of the year at the recently held KZN Provincial Commissioners Excellence Awards.”
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