As shootings continue to plague Hanover Park on the Cape Flats, tensions reached a boiling point on Friday when residents turned their anger towards City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement and Metro Police officers.
The conflict resulted in a Law Enforcement officer sustaining head injuries.
A video of the altercation, widely circulated on social media, shows a chaotic scene. In the footage, a man lies on the ground, seemingly shot, surrounded by residents and law enforcement officers standing nearby. The crowd’s frustration quickly escalates, leading to an attack on the officers.
Hanover Park residents attacking Cape Town Law Enforcement Officers pic.twitter.com/dBh2PEv4DC
— Ota Benga (@MmuiWabatho) July 19, 2024
The video captures the moment a man hits an officer across the head with a piece of wood, followed by another individual throwing a brick onto the roof of a nearby house, causing panic among the gathered crowd. As officers retreated to their vehicles, they were pelted with stones by the residents, forcing them to drive away.
Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, condemned the attack, expressing concern over the escalating violence.
“A Law Enforcement officer was injured when community members attacked staff in Hanover Park earlier. At approximately 9.11am, 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,” Smith said.
Smith also noted that the suspect managed to evade capture. In the ensuing chaos, bystanders reportedly seized the suspect’s firearm and disposed of it.
The incident highlights the volatile and dangerous environment in Hanover Park, exacerbated by ongoing shootings and gang-related violence. The attack on law enforcement underscores the challenges faced by authorities in maintaining order and protecting both residents and themselves in such high-risk areas.
