SAPF hits back

Johannesburg - The SA Police Force hit back at Amnesty International SA on Tuesday, calling them "unfairly critical" after they accused police of using FIFA regulations to intimidate homeless people and vendors.

Spokesperson Nonkululeko Mbatha said in a statement that issues relating to street vendors and homeless people fell under the domain of metropolitan councils and that SAPF only enforced council by-laws when asked to do so by metro police.

"The SAPF is appalled by the misguided remarks of the representative of Amnesty International South Africa who gratuitously accused the police of using the FIFA 2010 rules and regulations to harass homeless people, immigrants and street hawkers ahead of the tournament," she said.

"Amnesty International's Dr Mary Rayner should know better that the by-laws that govern activities of street hawkers, car guards and homeless people are a domain relevant to metropolitan councils."

Amnesty International said in a report on Friday there was an increase of police harassment of informal traders (hawkers), homeless South Africans, and refugees and migrants who are living in shelters or high density inner city accommodation, prior to the World Cup.

It said police were using regulations created to comply with the FIFA World Cup requirements in host cities to expel homeless people and street traders from "controlled access sites" and exclusion zones around World Cup venues.

Metro councils

"The tearing down of informal housing has taken place without prior notice, provision of adequate alternative housing or compensation and in violation of domestic law prohibiting forced evictions," the report said.

Mbatha said street hawkers and car guards must be registered with metro councils in order to operate legally and that police were working with the department of home affairs in matters relating to illegal immigrants.

All immigrants needed permits while in the country and police only temporarily held them in holding cells while home affairs processed their documentation, she said.

Homeless people were taken by police to shelters in order for them to be fed and kept safe, Mbatha said.

"SAPF is making a humble appeal to Amnesty International SA that, in future, when in doubt, please check to verify the facts before rushing to the media to make unsubstantiated and damaging claims about SAPF, which strives hard to respect and to uphold the human rights and dignity of all the people."