Pretoria – Police say they are investigating allegations of wrongful arrest of former Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni’s son.
It is alleged that Mboweni's son was threatened with deportation after a police officer suspected he was a foreigner.
It was reported that Tumelo Mboweni was pulled out of a minibus taxi on his way to have breakfast with a friend in Sandton City, Johannesburg, on Saturday morning. A police officer reportedly did a body serach of the 24-year-old and demanded to see his passport.
In their response, police say all citizens are treated equally and fairly despite the colour of their skin nor their nationality.
Police members from Alexandra police station were busy with normal roadblocks in Wynberg, Alexandra when the incident took place.
They stopped a taxi, all occupants were requested to get out of the vehicle and were all searched. The vehicle was also searched.
All occupants were also requested to provide a form of identification whether it be an identity document or a passport. All occupants had their ID documents or passports except for Mboweni.
Mboweni was given an opportunity to contact his mother, who later came with a friend and produced the passport.
Ms Mboweni raised her dissatisfaction regarding the incident and later went to the station where she reported the incident to a senior officer.
“The officer explained to her the reasons for the stop and search operations as well as the procedures regarding the stop and search operation.
“The officer later interviewed the members and again informed Ms Mboweni regarding his findings,”police said in a statement.
However, Ms Mboweni was again still not happy about how the matter was handled.
Police are again investigating these allegations and will be referred to the inspectorate unit of the police. – SAnews.gov.za
