A police officer in South Africa's Western Cape is under investigation for allegedly referring to voters in a George community as "baboons" and saying he would chase them back to their caves. The remarks were captured in a video apparently filmed inside the Pacaltsdorp police station. The officer's comments have sparked outrage over the treatment of Rosedale residents by an officer assigned to safeguard the voting process.
The video has drawn criticism from social media users, who have accused the officer of dehumanising residents and voters. Rosedale is a residential suburb in George with expanding affordable housing developments. In the video, the officer is asked to explain his duties for the day, to which he responds that his duty is to maintain law and order in Rosedale, referring to the residents as "baboons".
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has appointed a senior officer to investigate the conduct of the member or members involved. SAPS has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance towards unprofessional and unbecoming conduct by its members and assured the public that appropriate consequence management will follow should wrongdoing be established.
Southern Cape police spokesperson Warrant Officer Christopher Spies confirmed that SAPS was aware of the footage and had taken it seriously. A senior officer from the Garden Route District has been appointed to investigate the conduct of the member or members involved. The officer seen in the video has not been identified, and police have not confirmed his identity.
The incident has renewed concerns about the use of the word "baboon" as a derogatory insult against black people in South Africa. Previous incidents involving similar language have sparked public outrage and calls for accountability. In 2016, former estate agent Penny Sparrow caused widespread condemnation after comparing black beachgoers in KwaZulu-Natal to monkeys in a Facebook post.
The Equality Court found Sparrow's comments amounted to hate speech and ordered her to pay a fine. Other incidents have also prompted scrutiny, including a case in which the South African Human Rights Commission took a DA councillor to the Equality Court over a social media post comparing political protesters to monkeys and baboons.
The investigation into the police officer's remarks is ongoing, with SAPS yet to confirm any disciplinary actions against the officer. The incident has sparked a renewed call for police accountability and professionalism, particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 local government elections.
Key points
- SAPS has appointed a senior officer to investigate the conduct of the member or members involved.
- The incident has renewed concerns about the use of racist language in South Africa.
- The officer seen in the video has not been identified, and police have not confirmed his identity.
