The City of Cape Town says photographic evidence shows three people who each lost an eye during last week’s violent clashes in Hangberg had stoned police officers.
Showing several slides, mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said the city wanted to give a “full picture” of last week’s events.
In the pictures, taken by city officials, three of the badly injured protesters are shown either holding or hurling rocks at police officers down a slope.
Smith said he welcomed an investigation by the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), and if the city’s employees were implicated, they would be dealt with.
“We are dismayed that anyone was injured,” he said.
“It’s regrettable because it could have been avoided,” said Smith.
“The people who claim to have been injured by the police placed themselves at risk.”
Asked if the trio’s participation in the stone-throwing justified their losing eyes, Smith said: “Absolutely!”
“They (police) were absolutely justified in shooting at the protesters. They know the lines (to be crossed) and it required a certain reaction,” he said.
“It’s not a competition – if someone pelts police with rocks they will be shot,” said Smith.
He added that police officers had not purposefully aimed at the heads of three victims.
Smith said: “The fact that law enforcement officials suffered more injuries, despite their protective clothing, shows the level of violence they were dealing with.”
Cosatu’s and the ANC’s “inflammatory” statements in the aftermath of the protest were unnecessary, their only purpose being to score political points, said Smith.
He said Premier Helen Zille, who had been blamed by some of the locals for the violence, had called him throughout the operation, wanting to know whether anyone had been injured.
“If we could do it all over again, we would do it so that no one gets hurt,” said Smith.
He said metro police and SAPS officers were ambushed at the entrance of Hangberg and had in no way provoked the violent response from some of the protesters.
“Police officers were placed under fire with rocks and petrol bombs,” said Smith.
He claimed that community members, expecting their imminent removal by the city council, “stocked up” on weapons to ward off the action.
Auriol Cloete, who said in Monday’s Cape Times that she was inside a flat when she was shot, was seen in several shots standing with protesters, and in one frame she was pictured with a rock, about to launch it at police who were cowering lower down on the ridge.
Delon Egypt, pictured wearing a hooded top, is also seen cowering behind a makeshift shield, and later throwing rocks at the police.
Ikram Halim had also thrown rocks at the police officers, away from the main group who were standing just below Karbonkel Street in Hangberg.
But Halim yesterday insisted he was never involved in the rioting and questioned the authenticity of the photos.
“These are old pictures from two years back when there was a riot in Hangberg. I had taken part, throwing rocks at police.
“On Tuesday I was amongst the first people shot and had a cup of coffee in my hand,” Halim insisted.
Cloete, called by the Cape Times, said she had taken part in the protest and had hurled rocks at the police.
“Everyone in Hout Bay was there on that hill.
“I didn’t know whether my family would also be evicted and our house demolished,” said Cloete.
Smith said the city’s anti-land invasion unit had been involved in several operations in Hangberg but was forced out of the area in February after one of its officers was shot.
Acting against illegal land invaders was not something peculiar to Cape Town and was not often greeted with violence.
“(But) there is evidence of a (violent) criminal element that has moved into Hangberg,” said Smith, paraphrasing police crime intelligence.
The area had turned into a police “no-go zone”, and criminal “high-flyers” were seen there, with very few patrols in the area, similar to what had happened in some of Brazil’s favelas.
- Cape Times
Showing several slides, mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said the city wanted to give a “full picture” of last week’s events.
In the pictures, taken by city officials, three of the badly injured protesters are shown either holding or hurling rocks at police officers down a slope.
Smith said he welcomed an investigation by the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), and if the city’s employees were implicated, they would be dealt with.
“We are dismayed that anyone was injured,” he said.
“It’s regrettable because it could have been avoided,” said Smith.
“The people who claim to have been injured by the police placed themselves at risk.”
Asked if the trio’s participation in the stone-throwing justified their losing eyes, Smith said: “Absolutely!”
“They (police) were absolutely justified in shooting at the protesters. They know the lines (to be crossed) and it required a certain reaction,” he said.
“It’s not a competition – if someone pelts police with rocks they will be shot,” said Smith.
He added that police officers had not purposefully aimed at the heads of three victims.
Smith said: “The fact that law enforcement officials suffered more injuries, despite their protective clothing, shows the level of violence they were dealing with.”
Cosatu’s and the ANC’s “inflammatory” statements in the aftermath of the protest were unnecessary, their only purpose being to score political points, said Smith.
He said Premier Helen Zille, who had been blamed by some of the locals for the violence, had called him throughout the operation, wanting to know whether anyone had been injured.
“If we could do it all over again, we would do it so that no one gets hurt,” said Smith.
He said metro police and SAPS officers were ambushed at the entrance of Hangberg and had in no way provoked the violent response from some of the protesters.
“Police officers were placed under fire with rocks and petrol bombs,” said Smith.
He claimed that community members, expecting their imminent removal by the city council, “stocked up” on weapons to ward off the action.
Auriol Cloete, who said in Monday’s Cape Times that she was inside a flat when she was shot, was seen in several shots standing with protesters, and in one frame she was pictured with a rock, about to launch it at police who were cowering lower down on the ridge.
Delon Egypt, pictured wearing a hooded top, is also seen cowering behind a makeshift shield, and later throwing rocks at the police.
Ikram Halim had also thrown rocks at the police officers, away from the main group who were standing just below Karbonkel Street in Hangberg.
But Halim yesterday insisted he was never involved in the rioting and questioned the authenticity of the photos.
“These are old pictures from two years back when there was a riot in Hangberg. I had taken part, throwing rocks at police.
“On Tuesday I was amongst the first people shot and had a cup of coffee in my hand,” Halim insisted.
Cloete, called by the Cape Times, said she had taken part in the protest and had hurled rocks at the police.
“Everyone in Hout Bay was there on that hill.
“I didn’t know whether my family would also be evicted and our house demolished,” said Cloete.
Smith said the city’s anti-land invasion unit had been involved in several operations in Hangberg but was forced out of the area in February after one of its officers was shot.
Acting against illegal land invaders was not something peculiar to Cape Town and was not often greeted with violence.
“(But) there is evidence of a (violent) criminal element that has moved into Hangberg,” said Smith, paraphrasing police crime intelligence.
The area had turned into a police “no-go zone”, and criminal “high-flyers” were seen there, with very few patrols in the area, similar to what had happened in some of Brazil’s favelas.
- Cape Times
No comments:
Post a Comment