No, SAPS Did Not Say That Men Require Something in Return for Drinks and That Women Need Money to Go Out

• The South African Police Service has responded to a viral post that circulated on social media pretending to be issued by them
• In the post, there is stated that if women get free drinks from men they can expect them to demand sexual favours and the police will not assist them
• The police calling out the post as fake news was a shock to some South Africans who fell for it, but others were amazed that anyone would believe the post

JOHANNESBURG - A social media post, allegedly by the South African Police Service (SAPS) went viral on social media due to its victim-blaming message to women who may encounter sexual harassment over the festive period.

A SAPS letterhead was used on the post, which warned women that if they do not take enough money with them when they go out they must be aware that men who buy them "free" drinks will want sexual favours in return.

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The post went on to say that as it has warned women of this they should not be surprised when it happens to them and that the police have more important cases to attend to so they can not assist them, TimesLIVE reports.

How did SAPS respond to the fake social media post?

SAPS took to their social media channels to call out the viral post as fake news. They also urged people not to share the social media post further as it has created panic amongst South Africans, which they do not want to escalate.

“The SAPS refutes this and ensures our members remain committed to ensuring a safer festive season and beyond," they said in a statement.

SAPS also reminded South Africans of certain safety tips regarding scams, such as not stopping to listen to strangers on the street, as theft under false pretences has been increasing in many parts of the country. Their statement is as follows:

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Reactions to SAPS slamming fake news on social media

Baba Ka Azania Zulu asked:

"Are you bored?"

Drew Wicher said:

"Well, looking at the SAPS track record of victims trying to lodge cases of GBV, I thought this post was actually true."

Phumelele Phumza Mahlaba shared:

"Can't believe some people actually took this seriously."

Titus Markorlah said:

"It's fake news, but it makes sense."

Limpho Mokorosi believes:

"Fake or not, women should listen to it anyway."

Stranded girls saved by officers after losing a tyre on the highway

Yesterday, Briefly News reported that Zoë Salzwedel shared her amazing experience with the South African Police Service in the #ImStaying group on Facebook.

She and her friend Anaïs Strauss were travelling along the N3 late at night when their tyre burst at around 10pm. Zoë is a wedding photographer and Anaïs works with her, they were on their way back from a wedding.

Anaïs and Zoë called their family members to let them know what had happened but they were at least 35 minutes away from them. So the police came to their rescue.

Source: Briefly News