Benson Ngqentsu
The incident on March 4, 2025, where a traffic officer was filmed strangling a minibus taxi operator, sparked widespread condemnation on social media.
The video, which quickly went viral also reignited concerns about police brutality and racism, evoking painful memories of the oppressive “donori kop” police conduct during apartheid.
In response, minibus taxi operators at the station deck in Cape Town threatened to protest in solidarity with the victim by blockading roads. The reaction from Safety and Security MMC JP Smith and Democratic Alliance member, who is mired in an alleged corruption scandal, has a history of antagonism toward the minibus taxi industry, was unsurprising. His comments on social media essentially justified the officer’s violent conduct, suggesting that the officer was acting on his authority.
To many Black South Africans, this incident is a reminder of the brutality that has long been embedded in law enforcement, a legacy of both colonialism and apartheid.
South Africa’s police force, as a tool of state power, played a central role in the systemic racism and violence that oppressed the majority Black population for decades. The incident with the traffic officer is symptomatic of a larger, persistent problem: the conduct of traffic officers in Cape Town is rooted in the racist, unaccountable behaviour that has been inherited from the apartheid era.
In light of this, there is a need for an independent inquiry into the actions of the Cape Town Traffic officers, particularly towards the minibus taxi industry. The Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as amended, stipulates the use of necessary force when a police officer is effecting an arrest. However, this must be scrutinized within the context of what constitutes appropriate force, and whether the persistent officer’s actions are always justified in this case.
If the inquiry is successful, the public should be invited to submit evidence and testimonies that reflect the ongoing “donori kop” police conduct under the leadership of JP Smith.
Finally, the brutal conduct displayed by this officer is not just an isolated incident but rather part of a broader, deeply entrenched culture of police violence that has its roots in apartheid’s racist and repressive state apparatus.
If we are to heal from the wounds of our past, we must confront these realities head-on and ensure that law enforcement agencies are held accountable for their actions, particularly when they continue to perpetuate the same forms of oppression.
Therefore, the call for an independent inquiry into the conduct of Cape Town Traffic Officers towards the minibus taxi industry is justified.
* Benson Ngqentsu is the Provincial Secretary of the SACP and a member of the Western Cape Standing Committee for Police Oversight, Community Safety and Sports and Cultural Affairs and Mobility representing the ANC-headed Alliance.
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.