The Western Cape SAPS has confirmed that an investigation is underway after a video surfaced showing a police officer expressing anti-foreigner sentiments. 

In the short video, which has been doing the rounds on social media, the officer is in uniform, sitting next to another man in uniform, inside a vehicle. Using an intercom system, the officer said: “if you are a foreigner, go to your country”. 

He also chanted the phrase “abahambe”, meaning “let them go” – which has been a chant used by many protesters during anti-migrant marches in the country.  

“If you don’t have papers for you or your son, please go to the nearest police station. Operation abahambe will begin tomorrow,” said the officer in the video below. 

“Western Cape SAPS management has instituted an investigation into a video circulating on social media platforms wherein a SAPS official in uniform is seen uttering misleading anti-foreigner sentiments,” read the police statement. 

It is not clear at this stage when or where the incident occurred, but the Western Cape SAPS noted that their investigation will determine the details.  

“The internal SAPS investigation led by an experienced official from the West Coast district.” 

Provincial SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, has, however, said that a preliminary investigation found that the officer is stationed at the Vredendal police station on the West Coast.  

“SAPS Western Cape wishes to reiterate that such utterances do not represent the views of the SAPS and the values the organisation espouses as a law enforcement agency.” 

She noted that the findings of the finalised investigation will be made known.  

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