Johannesburg police are facing allegations of using xenophobic profiling against both foreign nationals and naturalised South African citizens. Tendai Musikavanhu, a naturalised South African citizen, claims he was accosted by police officers outside his home in Northcliff, Johannesburg, on September 27. The officers allegedly accused him of using fake identity documents due to his Shona surname. Musikavanhu, born in the UK to Zimbabwean parents, has lived in South Africa since 1994.
Musikavanhu's encounter with the police began when the Uber he was in was stopped by officers. They asked for his identity documents and allegedly made xenophobic remarks. Despite explaining his citizenship, the officer dismissed his claims and threatened to detain him. Musikavanhu's wife was also targeted, and the officers allegedly claimed her identity documents were fake. The officers eventually released them without charge after Musikavanhu's lawyer intervened.
This incident is not isolated, with several residents reporting similar experiences. Nicolene Jonker, the councillor for Ward 88, said Musikavanhu was the third resident to approach her with similar complaints. She added that the targeting appears to be widespread, with reports of police stopping residents in various areas, including Fairlands, Linden, and Parkview. Jonker expressed concern that ward councillors are unable to intervene as the SA Police Service is a national entity.
Residents in Rosettenville also reported similar experiences with the police. An East African migrant with valid asylum-seeker papers claimed an officer's tone shifted abruptly when he discovered the migrant was not South African. The officer allegedly demanded a bribe and took the migrant on a ride before releasing him after a payment of R1,500. A 2026 report from Lawyers for Human Rights found that migrants' interactions with the police were often marked by corruption and abuse.
The report by Lawyers for Human Rights documented pervasive experiences of corruption and abuse. Migrants reported being stopped arbitrarily by police, who demanded payments of between R500 and R2,500 under the threat of arrest and detention. Individuals reported being detained in police vehicles and stations until payments were made. Many migrants do not report such incidents due to fear of further harassment.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi stated that SAPS is aware of Musikavanhu's incident and that he will be afforded the opportunity to formally place his allegations on record. She denied the existence of a blanket quota requiring police officials to arrest a specific number of people per day for immigration-related offences. Nevhuhulwi added that SAPS conducts operations in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs.
The SAPS operations aim to target those suspected of being in the country illegally, but the police do not independently verify a person's migration status. Musikavanhu's experience has raised concerns about police profiling and the need for accountability. The incident highlights the challenges faced by migrants and naturalised citizens in their interactions with law enforcement.
Key points
- Johannesburg police accused of xenophobic profiling against foreign nationals and naturalised South African citizens.
- Multiple residents report similar experiences of being targeted by police.
- A 2026 report documents pervasive corruption and abuse in migrants' interactions with police.
