1 reviews | Active since Apr 2023
Harassment at Mitchell's Plain Police Station
On National Woman's Day, the 9th of August 2023 i went to the Mitchell's Plain Police station to certify my id and to stamp a document. Upon entering the station i went straight to the counter where some of the officers were sitting with their phones in front of them watching soccer. I stood there for about 3 minutes when officer Jekela, who had no name tag on and i had to ask his name and he shouted at me because i couldn't hear his name. looked up and asked me if i don't greet. I asked him should i greet him since I'm standing in front of him for a while shouldn't he greet me first? I also told him i am not obligated to greet if he greets first then i will greet him back. I said to him that he is a public servant and he is there to render a service to the public and that is my only reason i went there. I then took out my phone and took a picture of the officers with their phones and another officer came and said hat i must delete the picture because i am not allowed to take pictures in the police station because i can be arrested. He took my phone and he deleted the picture. Then he told me i must not come with an attitude only because i did not greet a police officer that was watching soccer on his phone while on duty. The female officer that was standing next to him also started chiming in. She then certified the id in the mean time. Then officer Sauls came from somewhere behind and told me that he will not tolerate my behavior and that i should leave the station. He then took my id which the female officer certified and he kept it. He then threw my id on the counter and said i must go certify my id by the gangsters. I left the police station without my id copy that was certified by the female officer. I am traumatised by the way i was harassed by the four police officers in a police station a place where i as a woman is supposed to feel safe yet i left there shivering and in tears and in disbelief of what has just happened. I also waisted my time and petrol just to drive to the police station and left there traumatised. My question's is: Am i obligated to greet a police officer upon entering a police station for a service? Was i suppose to keep quiet and accept the treatment i got from them. As i public servant and government employee i am disgusted in the manner in which i was treated.
