Foreigners tell of assault, bribery
04/05/2012 Self appointed queue marshalls outside Department of Home Affairs offices at Tshwane Events Centre are seen demanding money from a foreign international to advance him to the front of the queue. Picture: Phill Magakoe 04/05/2012 Self appointed queue marshalls outside Department of Home Affairs offices at Tshwane Events Centre are seen demanding money from a foreign international to advance him to the front of the queue. Picture: Phill Magakoe
Foreigners seeking help at the Department of Home Affairs offices at the Tshwane Showgrounds were allegedly assaulted by security guards while queueing for services.
According to the foreigners, some of them had been queueing for more than 12 hours when they realised that security guards were taking people who prepared to pay a bribe to the front of the queue.
“Others started shouting and saying what they were doing was wrong and the security guards started beating people up.
“People started running away trying to avoid being hit and one person got knocked down by a car in the process,” said one foreigner who asked not to be named.
Another foreigner said he had been standing in the queue since 1am and, by the time the gates opened, security guards almost immediately began demanding money.
He accused Home Affairs officials of not wanting to work or help foreigners get their papers.
“If these people really wanted to work, they could finish assisting all of us in one day, but they just seem reluctant to help us. They are just dragging their feet,” said the man.
Home Affairs spokeswoman Manusha Pillai said the report they had received from officials at the centre stated that the incident in question was the result of foreigners becoming unruly.
“According to official reports on this matter, foreign nationals at the Pretoria Showgrounds requiring services became very unruly by refusing to queue for services, instead demanding they be served immediately and disrupting the order at the offices.
“Departmental officials were therefore compelled to call for support from the South African Police Service who were able to assist with crowd control and queue management,” said Pillai.
She said the situation was brought under control with foreigners at the offices continuing to receive services.
She added that on the issue of alleged bribery, people were encouraged to come forward and bring the matter to the attention of the management of the centre as it was not able to act on untested allegations.
Pretoria News