Khayelitsha man undressed to avoid eviction, says Cape Town mayor

Cape Town mayor Dan Plato has accused Khayelitsha resident Bulelani Qholani stripping naked as a tactic to delay eviction.

Qholani – a 28-year-old man who resided at an informal settlement inside the township – made headlines earlier in the week when video footage of him in a scuffle with law enforcement went viral.

Naked tactics 

In the video, the man is seen dragged out of his house naked by police officers, who were carrying out an eviction order under the instruction of the City of Cape Town.

City officials have come under fire following the incident, which has been condemned as inhumane.

However, Plato – who earlier issued out an apology to Qholani – told eNCA that stripping naked was common practice when it comes to evictions in the area.

“It is common in many of the raids of structures that are illegal and need to be taken down that people stand in front of the structure naked, it is not the first incident and I do not believe it will be the last,” he said.

Dan Plato, Cape Town mayor

City of Cape Town under fire

Plato said reports from the site indicated that Qholani was fully clothed just moments before the officers moved to demolish his house.

Qholani, however, says he was taking a bath when the incident occurred.

His house was one of three structures demolished on the day.

Plato says the land where the structures were erected is earmarked for services that will benefit the surrounding community.

In the immediate aftermath of the eviction, Plato described the conduct of the officers involved as “shameful”.

“Having watched the video of law-enforcement officers responding to an illegal land invasion in Khayelitsha yesterday, I want to make it clear that this is not the type of conduct that we tolerate in this city,” Plato said in a statement.

“This is why we have immediately suspended four officers while the matter is investigated without delay. As the mayor of this city, I want to acknowledge that Mr Qholani’s dignity was impaired and I am truly sorry for what he experienced.”

Dan Plato, Cape Town mayor

He added that, while evictions are not permitted under lockdown regulations, it’s been made clear that municipalities have a duty to prevent illegal land invasions.