The African National Congress (ANC) in the City of Cape Town has called on the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate an incident in which a wheelchair-bound man was allegedly manhandled by two Metro Police officers.
The incident has gone viral on social media.
The City of Cape Town has described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the officers have been suspended.
City suspends Metro Police Officers with immediate effect.
“I want to apologise unreservedly to the member of the public, whose name is not yet known to me, for what he experienced this morning.” – Executive Mayor, Dan Plato
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— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) November 19, 2020
The ANC says it is outraged by the cruel and inhumane behaviour of Metro Police officers.
The party has called for Mayor Dan Plato, Mayco Member, JP Smith and Metro Police Head, Robbie Roberts, to step down.
ANC Caucus Spokesperson Fiona Abrahams says: “We are shocked by this cruelty which reminds us of the human rights abuses of the apartheid police. We have seen other examples of this callousness from the Metro Police, which is led by a person who cut his teeth in the old police force. We all do we remember the undercover police officer who was shot and killed in Long Street, as well as the naked man who was turfed out of his shack. Just like the apartheid police, the Metro Police behaves with impunity.”