XENOBAROMETER: Raid, arrest, extort, release — police shakedown of immigrants for bribes ‘now routine’
With anti-immigrant fervour and crackdowns sweeping through South Africa, some police officers have reportedly sought to cash in. Viewfinder interviewed two groups of foreign nationals who say they are now regularly extorted by police officers where they live and work.
Police shakedowns of immigrants for bribes in South Africa have become a routine affair, with anti-immigrant fervour driving officers to extort substantial sums from foreign shopkeepers and workers, according to recent reports. In Rosettenville, Gauteng, hairdressers and shopkeepers claim that police make regular stops at their businesses, threatening arrest and deportation unless they pay sizable bribes.
Similarly, in Knysna, Western Cape, low-wage foreign workers report that their commutes are interrupted by police demanding payment, with threats of arrest and deportation looming over those who refuse.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
