Former Action Society director of community safety, now newly appointed Portfolio committee on Police Chairman, Ian Cameron says the entirety of the South African Police Service should access non-lethal ammunition in response to crowd management.
Cameron was responding to video clips circulating on social media where the community of Hanover Park, in the Cape Flats are seen allegedly attacking police officers.
On the slowed 12 second version of the video posted by the chairman on X, three police officers can be seen cornered on the wall with most residents on the scene scatteredly standing, one person standing closer to the police can be seen slapping the police officer in the middle on the chest. It can also be seen another officer standing on the left holding the hand of the person behind the one who slapped the officer in the middle. the person's hand was lifted up with what seems like a wooden object holding it .
It can also be seen another person standing on the right bending in an attempt to reach for something close, somewhat below the two officer’s knees standing next to him, the man stands up, reaches for the previously chest-clapped officer’s firearm in his hands, a brick is thrown from the officer's left side, hitting the officer on his head while resisting with the firearm . Another resident throws another brick, hitting another police officer in position as the brawl between the police and the residents on site began.
In a longer version of the video circulating online, right after the brawl intensified, a shot was fired injuring a woman as the crowd dispersed. the policemen can be seen retreating to their vehicles where a second shot went off. One police officer stayed behind. The residents bombarded the officer’s vehicles with stones as they drove off, leaving the site.
Cameran says on such occasions, the Public Order Police are not near to offer their assistance, “it is infuriating to often see communities complaining about policing, but then when law enforcement agencies do attend, they face this kind of hostility” he added.
According to an Independent Online article, Mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, says the community’s interference in “these gang-related violence” is “unacceptable” and anyone assisting the “criminals” are also criminally guilty and should be treated as such , “a law enforcement officer was injured when community members attacked staff in Hanover Park earlier, at approximately 09:11 am, ShotSpotter detected numerous shots fired in the area of Johndown, Lonedown, and Ryburg roads.
Metro Police and Law Enforcement officers responded and saw an armed suspect running away. One of the law enforcement officers pursued him on foot, the suspect turned around and took aim at the officer, who then reached for his weapon and opened fire. However, at this point, a group alleged to be gang members, started hurling stones at the officer, he sustained head injuries, and a patrol vehicle too was damaged. The officer has since been taken to a medical facility for treatment”, said Smith
Commenting on the injured civilian during the shooting, Smith said he was aware of the incident and that the woman was transported to the hospital with a private vehicle.
It is yet to be known whether the woman was shot with a lethal or a non-lethal weapon.
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