“Apologise for What?”: ‘I Spoke the Truth and I’m Not Backing Down’ A KwaZulu-Natal woman who was recently filmed confronting a senior police official has issued a follow-up statement in which she firmly rejected calls for her to apologise, saying she stands by what she described as her truth.

The incident, which was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media, shows the woman involved in a heated exchange with Robert Netshiunda, the official spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal South African Police Service (SAPS). The confrontation reportedly began during a street interaction, where the woman expressed frustration over communication and language use.

In the widely circulated footage, the woman can be heard raising her voice and insisting that the police spokesperson address her in isiZulu, a language spoken by a majority of residents in the province. As the exchange escalated, she made personal remarks directed at Netshiunda, which many social media users later criticised as disrespectful and inappropriate.

Following the backlash, sections of the public called on the woman to apologise, arguing that her conduct crossed the line from raising a legitimate concern into personal humiliation of a public servant. However, in a new statement shared online, the woman made it clear that she has no intention of doing so.

“South Africans expect me to issue an apology, but on what grounds?” she asked in her statement. “I firmly stand by my words. I was expressing how I felt at that moment, and I will not apologise for telling what I believe is the truth.”

She further maintained that her reaction was driven by frustration and a sense of exclusion, stating that language plays a significant role in how citizens engage with authorities. According to her, the incident reflects broader tensions around communication, accessibility, and representation in public institutions.

The video has sparked a nationwide debate, with opinions sharply divided. Some members of the public have defended the woman, arguing that government officials, particularly those working in provinces with dominant local languages, should make greater efforts to communicate in those languages when engaging with residents.

Others, however, have condemned her behaviour, saying that while language concerns are valid, resorting to personal attacks undermines the message and fuels unnecessary division. Critics also pointed out that public officials often operate in multilingual environments and may not always be fluent in every local language.

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