The South African Police Service (SAPS) has condemned what it described as discriminatory and offensive remarks made against KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda in a viral video circulating on social media.

In the video, a woman is seen confronting Netshiunda during a protest outside a police station in Durban on 28 January 2026.

She accuses Netshiunda of failing to communicate with her in isiZulu and referring to him as a “kwerekwere”, a derogatory term commonly used to label someone as a foreigner.

The protest was held in support of March and March leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, who handed herself over to the police after she was allegedly wanted for inciting violence.

During the exchange, the woman claims she was struggling to receive assistance in a case involving her child and alleges that an investigator linked to the matter had previously approached her. 

A woman from KwaZulu-Natal shouts & calls Robert Netshiunda the KZN Police Spokesperson stupid for not being able to speak to her in Zulu. She further claims he is in a wrong place & must go back to work where he comes from (Limpopo) as he is a kwerekwere in KZN. pic.twitter.com/sbV3Jqopv1

— Man’s NOT Barry Roux (@AdvoBarryRoux) January 28, 2026

She repeatedly questions whether Netshiunda can hear or understand her when she speaks isiZulu and asks whether he requires a translator.

She goes on to tell Netshiunda that he is “in the wrong place” if he cannot speak isiZulu and later demands that he return to where he came from and allow Zulu-speaking people to do his job. 

However, Netshiunda responded calmly in English throughout the confrontation.

The video has sparked widespread debate on social media.

In a statement, SAPS said it “condemns in the strongest possible terms the discrimination and offensive remarks directed at one of its dedicated, hardworking and highly qualified spokespersons, who executes his duties with diligence and professionalism”.

National SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the service had noted with concern the “derogatory and tribalistic slurs” captured in the recording.

She confirmed that Netshiunda was born and raised in Limpopo, one of South Africa’s nine provinces, and that his home language is Tshivenda, one of the country’s 12 official languages.

“His presence in KwaZulu-Natal reflects the diversity and unity that define the SAPS,” Mathe said.

She added that discrimination based on culture, language or race is unacceptable and undermines the constitutional values upon which South Africa’s democracy is founded.

“The province of KwaZulu-Natal is home not only to isiZulu-speaking communities but to people from diverse racial, cultural and linguistic backgrounds,” she said.

Mathe said SAPS actively promotes integration, mutual respect and inclusivity, both within its ranks and in the communities it serves.

“It is both unfair and disappointing for any member of the public to display such behaviour towards a police officer who is highly qualified and dedicated to serving and protecting all who live in this country,” she said.

She called for greater social cohesion and urged the public to promote tolerance, respect and understanding across cultural and linguistic lines.

“Our police stations are staffed by members from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, reflecting the rich diversity of South Africa,” Mathe said. 

She added that diversity strengthens the service’s ability to serve communities effectively.

Mathe also congratulated Netshiunda on being named Administration Officer of the Year at the recent KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner’s Excellence Awards.

Meanwhile, the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) also condemned the conduct shown in the video, saying the woman’s actions amounted to discrimination based on language.

While acknowledging that individuals may experience frustration when not assisted in their preferred language, PanSALB said such frustration does not justify discriminatory behaviour.

“Section 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa prohibits unfair discrimination by the state or any person on grounds of language, among others,” the board said.

It added that the use of derogatory terms against the officer was unacceptable and could amount to hate speech, which is a criminal offence in South Africa.

“This behaviour violates constitutional principles and undermines the dignity of a public servant who responded calmly and professionally despite provocation,” PanSALB said.

The board urged South Africans to uphold the constitutional values of multilingualism enshrined in Section 6 of the Constitution, which promotes equal treatment and parity of esteem for all official languages.

“We must actively challenge and dismantle lingering attitudes rooted in colonial and apartheid-era divisions that pit language communities against one another,” it said.

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