There might be some relief for the woman who was accused of being in possession of a remote-jamming device and arrested on the promenade.
Esethu Mcinjana from Blue Downs was humiliated when two police officers approached her and searched her bags as she waited for a job interview at a hotel on Sunday May 19.
As she was early, she decided to sit on a bench on the promenade and take selfies to pass the time.
The alleged police harassment of Ms Mcinjana sparked a furore and notices were pasted all along the sea wall which read: “We are all Esethu Mcinjana! Apartheid mentality MUST END! South Africa belongs to All South Africans! #Freedom2Selfie #EndRacism.”
Now Ms Mcinjana said the hotel has called her for another interview on Monday and is offering her a learnership.
“I’m grateful for the support I’ve received from the public. I wasn’t ready to go back to the place where the incident happened but I need this job,” she said.
According to Western Cape SAPS, an investigation is under way following the wrongful arrest of Ms Mcinjana.
She said the officers searched her bag and found her keys and a remote that she used as a keyholder.
“I didn’t understand why I was being arrested because I even showed the officer that I was there for an interview and they didn’t believe me.”
A local law firm has offered to help Ms Mcinjana take legal action against SAPS.
She said she would be approaching the South African Human Rights Commission on the
matter.
Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said the incident would be investigated by a senior police officer from the Cape Town Cluster. Once the investigation is finalised, details will be made known.
“The SAPS wishes to reiterate its commitment to upholding the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa that espouses the principles of human rights.
“In addition police officials are expected to abide by the tenets of the SAPS Code of Conduct that speak to the treatment of everyone in a humane manner,” she said.
Mayor, Dan Plato has also weighed in on the matter, encouraging Ms Mcinjana to open a case with the Police Ombudsman. “From the video that has been posted online and the claims that have been made by Ms Mcinjana, I am concerned about the alleged conduct of the SAPS.
“While the SAPS have a duty to protect our communities they also have a duty to conduct themselves professionally and to treat all suspects respectfully.”
