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South Africa police suspended for evicting naked man

 

 

Four police officers in Cape Town are to be suspended after dragging a naked man from a house in an eviction caught on video.

Footage shows the man being thrown to the ground and stopped from re-entering the shack in Khayelitsha settlement.

When he manages to break free and run into the home made of corrugated iron, its front wall is ripped off leaving him exposed.

South Africa’s housing minister Lindiwe Sisulu called the incident “inhumane”.

“We wish to condemn with the strongest terms an act which sought to degrade an individual like what we have witnessed,” she said, adding it “has no place in our democratic South Africa.”

In a statement on Wednesday evening, the city of Cape Town’s safety and security chief Richard Bosman said: “We are in the process of suspending four staff members involved in the incident, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Media captionNamhla’s ‘illegal’ home was demolished by the South African authorities.

“The suspension also ensures that staff are not targeted while on duty. We are saddened by the conduct depicted on the video footage, and we do not condone any forceful and dehumanising conduct by our staff members.”

Local media report that the part of Khayelitsha where the video was filmed is subject to an eviction order and has been earmarked for redevelopment.

Only 49 homes are allowed to “temporarily remain on the land until after the lockdown,” Mr Bosman said.

“After the removal of illegal structures, new attempts are made to invade again on a daily basis.”

South African law dictates that once a court order is secured, evictions “must be conducted in a humane manner” and in some instances, such as cases where the resident cannot find somewhere secure to live, “the state must provide temporary alternative accommodation”.

 

BBC.COM

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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