3 MORE CLAIM ‘FASHION POLICE’ HARASSMENT

MBABANE – Three more women have come out to claim that they were also harassed by Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) officers over their dress code.

The officers in question are stationed at The Swazi Plaza Police Post.  The women said their speaking out was triggered by a recent encounter with police officers over a dress code that left a 27-year-old female traumatised.*Luthando’s quick errand into town ended on a sad note when she was called into the Swazi Plaza Police Post over what she was wearing. The incident took place on March 2, 2022.  Luthando, who is from one of the townships in Mbabane, narrated on social media platform, Twitter, how she was allegedly humiliated by about 12 police officers over her outfit, which she said they deemed as too revealing and short.

The thread reached thousands of people and was further circulated on other social media platforms like facebook and instagram. Since then, three more women have come out to complain about the treatment they had beem subjected to at the Swazi Plaza Police Post. “When I saw her thread, I was triggered and I could relate because I had once been harassed by the police officers and the treatment seemed to be the same. In my case, I was wearing a white thigh high slit dress. They called me into their offices and asked me if I thought my dress was appropriate.  They kept saying mean things to me,” alleged*Sibonelo when sharing her ordeal. She further mentioned that she was kept at the station for over three hours and was threatened with jail. She claimed the incident took place around January this year. 

Another woman, who also shared her experience with the police officers, claimed that she was clad in black leggings when the officers allegedly verbally abused her and accused her of being a sex worker. “The police station has been harassing women for years, they have been doing this for years and by the look of things, they are always getting away with it.
“My case was similar to what they did to the other girl I saw on twitter. They kept asking me to explain what my tights meant,” alleged *Palesa.

Supermarket

The third woman, when sharing her story, said it took place last year December and she had just come out of a supermarket when she was called by the officers. “I was wearing black leggings paired with an oversized T-shirt but they still harassed me,” she claimed. Worth noting is that The Swazi Plaza and Swatini Action Group Againts Abuse (SWAGAA) have endorsed a demonstration against sexual harassment set to take place today. Speaking on the demonstration, SWAGAA National Director Nonhlanhla Dlamini said as an organisation advocating against abuse, they were disappointed by the police officers’ act.  Dlamini said with the demonstration they had specifically targeted the Swazi Plaza Police Post. She said they also wanted to raise awareness on the term ‘flashing’. “We were very disappointed. Police officers are supposed to be protecting us and now they are the ones harassing us. We need everyone to show up today and for an hour we will be demonstrating,” she said.

Echoing Dlamini’s sentiments was Swazi Plaza Marketing and Promotions Officer Siphiwe Nxumalo, who said they were in full support of the event. She said they were aware of the event that will take place within their premises today.  “We are for women empowerment and we stand against abuse. We welcome every woman today with open arms,” she said.
Meanwhile, in a previous interview,Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said the police service was shocked by the interpretation of events  (relating to the 27-year-old woman) because, according to what they knew, the police officers were simply trying to protect her from perpetrators and rescued her from a mob that was harassing her for the way she was dressed.

“Ours is to serve and protect and we were doing just that. We are shocked because the police were simply trying to protect her from a mob which was harassing her over the way she was dressed and we are sad to hear that was harassment. On another note, if she feels she was not treated appropriately, she has a right to lodge a complaint,” said Vilakati.

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