Vata Ngobeni

Vata Ngobeni, a South African rugby journalist, was detained by police in a New Zealand pub last night. According to the officer who took him into custody, he “fitted the profile of a drug dealer.” Ngobeni happened to be the only black person in the venue at the time. He was also the only one that was asked to take a trip downtown. Awkward.

He was taken to a police station and searched. He had to remove items of clothing.

I have never been so embarrassed in my life. I have never experienced this kind of treatment in all my travels around the world, so to be singled out as a common criminal in front of so many people is something I will never forget.

New Zealand’s High Commission in South Africa said it was “sorry” to hear about the incident. “The New Zealand High Commission is very sorry to learn about the inconvenience suffered by rugby journalist Mr Vata Ngobeni in Taupo,” it said in a short statement.

[Source: Sport24]