Khayelitsha

Photo: Screenshot from Twitter

Watch: Law Enforcement officers drag man from Khayelitsha home

The City of Cape Town is facing a barrage of outrage after Law Enforcement officers forcefully removed a naked man form his Khayelitsha home.

Khayelitsha

Photo: Screenshot from Twitter

Warning: The content contained within this article features graphic imagery of a violent nature which some readers may find disturbing.

Disturbing footage has emerged on Wednesday 1 July of City of Cape Town law enforcement officers hauling a naked man out of a home in eThembini, Khayelitsha, during an operation to remove illegal occupants from municipal land. 

The footage shows approximately eight officers pushing, kicking and pepper-spraying the naked man, with an investigation launched by the City into heavy-handedness

Watch: Nude man hauled out of Khayelitsha home by law enforcement officers:

City launch ‘urgent’ investigation into treatment of Khayelitsha man

City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said that the actions of the officers are being investigated as a matter of urgency, but insisted that the operation to remove occupants of the land in question are appropriate. 

“The actions of officers involved in this matter is being investigated with urgency, including other footage which the City has [in its possession], and once the investigation has been completed the appropriate action will be taken,” the City said on Wednesday

“The land in question belongs to the City of Cape Town and the City has conducted various operations to prevent illegal land occupation.”

They said that occupant continue to return to areas after they are removed, and said that they have a mandate to observe in terms of a court interdict allowing only 49 of the households in Khayelitsha to temporarily remain on the land until after the lockdown.

“After removed, new attempts are made to invade again on a daily basis,” they said. 

“The land is earmarked for installation of services to serve the broader community in the area.”

“The City must also maintain this recent court order.”

City of Cape Town under fire for heavy-handedness

The City has come under fire for numerous incidents in which a lack of compassion is displayed towards occupants of illegally inhabited land, and their actions have led to an outcry on social media. 

In June, Law Enforcement and South African Police Service (SAPS) members were condemned for the manner in which they carried out operations to remove residents in municipal properties in Hangberg, with rubber bullets fired and the operation carried out in the middle of a brutal cold front.