Police officer demands passport from ‘illegal foreigner’

A young actor, Lesley Pillay of Marburg says he is still shaken after his near arrest in Durban last week, after he was mistakenly identified as an illegal foreign national.

Pillay said he had attended an audition and was stopped by a Metro Police officer who demanded he produce his passport, to prove that he was in South Africa legally.

Pillay said at first he was confused about why he had to produce a passport for walking in the streets of Durban.

“I told him that I was South African and I showed him my ID card. He told me he didn’t want to see my ID and wanted a passport instead. He shouted at me and I was shaken,” said Pillay.

He said at that time he was waiting for his bus to Port Shepstone and was afraid that if the officer would not let him go, he would miss the bus.

Pillay said when he told the officer that he had come from an audition and was waiting for a bus, the officer was not bothered. “Luckily I had my passport in my backpack. He had a look and started laughing. By that time I was in distress, then he said I could go,” added Pillay.

He said this was the first time he was identified as foreign, in any city, or by anyone and it was not a good experience. I have been to Portuguese Islands and back to Durban and I never had this experience ” he said.

Pillay has travelled to many cities around the country and this was the first time he was stopped by law enforcement and says he felt very offended.

“Being in a foreign national’s shoes for a few minutes made me realise how difficult it is to live in a country where you are not free and always have to prove that you are there legally. It’s unfair, however it is something they have to live and abide by.”

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