Members of the Nyanga Liquor Traders’ Association (Nyalita) are accusing the Nyanga police of targeting them and robbing them of their only source of income when they confiscate their goods.
On Thursday August 16, the organisation joined the Western Cape Liquor Traders’ Organisation (WCLTO) and the Philippi Liquor Traders’ Association on a march to Nyanga police station to demand an end to what they call harassment.
The traders also accused one member of the police of racism.
Singing and holding placards high, the marchers said they felt their suffering at the hands of the police in Nyanga is going unnoticed.
Irate Nyalita members threatened to fight back if their demands were not met.
The association’s secretary Zandiswe Chosi described the liquor traders’ situation in Nyanga as “bad”.
Ms Chosi alleged that traders were robbed of their liquor, cellphones and, at times, money by police. “The worst part is that they would come in the early hours of the morning at times and arrest our members while in nighties. They do not even give them time to dress properly. In the process, they leave the house open. Our members are being robbed of their stuff and assets by the same police. And mostly these are mothers who are trying to make a living for them and their children,” she said.
Ms Chosi admitted that some traders had no licence but said that did not give police a right to mistreat them. She also said the fines were too high, ranging from R10 000 to R100 000.
“Must these mothers go sell their bodies to live? We are humans too and deserve better treatment. We are also running businesses like the big chain stores. We are asking for the government to invest in us. It must empower the traders. These heavy fines are just meant to exclude us from the country’s economy,” said Ms Chosi.
WCLTO secretary Lefa Mapilo said police and liquor organisations should try to solve things in a better way.
“We are not fighting police but the government. But the police should stop allowing people to use them for their dirty deeds. We are doing an honest living and not selling drugs,” he said.
He also called on the traders to trade responsibly and respect their neighbours. He said he knew traders could be a nuisance by closing late and playing loud music.
“We should be responsible enough and respect our neighbours. We should show that we know what we are doing and we are in a good business. Let us not misbehave and give people something to talk about our trade,” he said.
He said police should know that they were not a police force but a police service. “We want them to stop harassing our members when they raid our houses. They must stop confiscating our liquor and kicking our doors down. All they need to do is to sit down with us, and together we can fight crime,” he said. WCLTO Nyanga branch chairman Allan Samuels said they marched because they wanted to build a healthy relationship with the authorities.
Captain Franklin de Villiers accepted the memorandum. He promised the marchers that he would pass it to the relevant people.
Police spokeswoman Captain Ntomboxolo Sitshitshi denied any allegations of racism levelled at the station.
She said police would continue to do their work protecting the community.