Mashaba gets the thumbs down from Twitter after citizen's arrest
Herman Mashaba received backlash on Twitter after making a citizen's arrest on a man pushing cow heads in a trolley in the Joburg CBD.
I have just personally stopped this illegally act in our city. How do we allow meat trading like this? I am waiting for @AsktheChiefJMPD to come and attend before we experience a breakdown of unknown diseases in our @CityofJoburgZA pic.twitter.com/55YjLkBvZb
— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) November 12, 2018
According to the mayor of Johannesburg, the man acted unlawfully for pushing around carcasses in a public area. Mashaba further asked for the Johannesburg Metro Police to intervene to avoid a 'disease outbreak.'
The JMPD attended to the matter calling it a health hazard to publicly transport uncovered carcasses. Officials confirmed the man would be charged.
In a statement to TimesLIVE by the City of Johannesburg, it said the arrest was "guided by legislation informing the handling of meat produce as contained in the Meat Safety Act (2000)."
"The mayor was assisted by the JMPD in this matter after he reported it. The trader violated the act which stipulates how raw meat ought to be stored and transported," said the city's Luyanda Mfeka.
Mfeka claims the man also did not have a trader's license.
Our EM @HermanMashaba has just effected a citizens arrest.
— AsktheChiefJMPD (@AsktheChiefJMPD) November 12, 2018
Whilst traveling along Harrison& Smit he came across a member of public conveying cow heads in a trolley ¬ covered which is a health hazard.
The suspect is an undocumented person &will subsequently be charged. pic.twitter.com/V69N1j9Ryn
Mashaba's tweet was followed by massive backlash from those who felt that he was undermining small businesses.
We are going to sit back and allow people like you to bring us Ebolas in the name of small business. Health of our people first. Our health facilities are already stretched to the limit https://t.co/rbPFqlpy1K
— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) November 13, 2018
Despite Mashaba's health concerns, many on Twitter felt that the mayor's approach to the matter was insensitive to informal traders.
Mashaba is black Trump.
— King of Leon. (@thenextbarack) November 13, 2018
1. Anti poor
2. Anti immigrant.
3. Anti student.
The DA lets @HermanMashaba and @helenzille do as they please and I am not down with Herman and Helen’s ideological stances and actions where they govern.
I recall Helen speaking on “economic refugees”. https://t.co/gBmuPhGkXh
Entrepreneurs like Herman Mashaba always tell of how they sold their products from the boot of the car when they tell their “from rags to riches” stories however they get on the other side and prohibit other blacks from moving in. Don’t chastise but rather regulate and develop https://t.co/r9CHU52fGU
— Bra Nape ®️ (@Nape_MM) November 13, 2018
So @HermanMashaba is failing to arrest those people getting to rob 1 person in numbers around Johannesburg streets but he's able to arrest someone making a living out of the meat he's selling. pic.twitter.com/pSWmNRY3Gc
— STHEBE (@sthebeMC) November 13, 2018
Don’t kill small businesses rather try to help those people. These people are trying to earn a living and must not be excluded from parti in the main stream economy,they need to be helped with issues of compliance .
— THE LAND IS OURS (@Veli_Ngobese) November 12, 2018
Mr Mashaba, instead of ridiculing him, how about recognising the initiative he took to make a living and helping him to professionalise his business? We should have some empathy for people who are trying their best, you may not know how many people he has to feed & take to school https://t.co/LVdrOwFzrr
— Tebogo Ditshego (@TebogoDitshego) November 12, 2018
DID YOU JUST SAY EBOLA????! FROM CONTAMINATED MEAT?! 🤣😂 Ok, Ntate Mashaba 😂
— Setlogolo Sa Tshoeu (@IM_TheGreatIAm) November 13, 2018