As Black Forum SA we have noted the double standards of the Police on how they handle Black public protests and White public protests in the "democratic South Africa." Black protests are consistently treated with the worse form of police brutality whereas White violent protests are permitted to continue undisturbed. This is a clear act of preferential treatment towards White people over Black people in our country. This brutal behavior is systematically entrenched within the South African Police Institution; as inherited from the apartheid regime. This police culture clearly contravenes our Constitution as the supreme law of the land and further on the relevant laws which give effect thereto.

We are, however, still licking our wounds within the Black society, on the racist apartheid police brutality that was administered upon us. We are furthermore, however,still astonished by the same apartheid police behavior in the current democratic dispensation. Since the dawn of democracy, just to name a few, we have witnessed brutal police violence in our society i.e. the killing of Ntate Andries Tatane in Free State (may his soul RIP), Marikana massacre (may their souls RIP), Victimization of #FEESMUSTFALL students, Victimization and Humiliation of Black people during the national Lockdown etc.

It has been further noted that, the same police force has a more lenient approach towards violent White people. We draw reference from various White protests but more specifically the recent protest at Senekal Magistrate Court, in the Free State. White people displayed a clear act of terrorism towards the state, in the full view of the world, and guess what? no single rubber bullet was shot and no arrest was effected.

In light of the above, Black dignity needs to be restored.