By Odwa Bafana Mkentane
The City of Cape Town has responded to allegations of excessive force by its law enforcement officers during incidents in the Kensington and Factreton areas in March 2023 and February 2025.
The City says officers were responding to complaints of illegal land invasions despite an existing court order and that staff members were attacked during both incidents.
It maintains that rubber rounds were discharged in response to these confrontations, adding that during the March 2023 incident, officers were allegedly pelted with stones and petrol bombs, while two officers were bitten by a dog. The response comes amid renewed calls from the Factreton Informal Settlement community for justice and accountability over the alleged shootings and injuries.
“Law enforcement performs its function independent of political interference, and where instances of the use of force are used, it is entirely fact-specific on the nature of each incident. These matters are investigated by either IPID or the SAPS, and the city has no control over the outcome of the investigation or prosecution of the offences. This falls to the NPA and investigating authorities. The law permits the use of force that is reasonable and proportional to either ward off an attack or, in terms of section 49, to affect an arrest. Besides conducting internal investigations into whether any of the incidents amount to misconduct, the City of Cape Town does not investigate any criminal cases. This is independently investigated by the SAPS/IPID (depending on whether Metro Police or law enforcement were involved),” says Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason.
Dyason added that law enforcement officers place their lives on the line every day to protect and serve, and this media briefing by the Factreton Informal Settlement community unfortunately seeks to discredit the work they do.
Photo: VOCfm
