Cape Town Teen Loses Eye as Law Enforcement Clashes With Residents During Protest

A 16-year-old boy has lost his eye in a violent confrontation between Law Enforcement officers and residents of Factreton’s 18th Avenue informal settlement in Cape Town over the weekend.

The clash erupted as officers attempted to demolish structures deemed “illegal” on a privately owned vacant lot, leading to mass protests and multiple injuries.

Ward councillor Cheslyn Steenberg confirmed that among those arrested was former University of the Western Cape (UWC) professor Brian Williams. Residents claim officers stormed the settlement, indiscriminately opening fire on them to enforce an eviction order obtained by the landowner, the Ndabeni Trust.

Councillor Condemns ‘Heavy-Handed’ Law Enforcement

Steenberg strongly criticised the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement for excessive force, stating, “If an order was granted, such an order must be implemented by the South African Police Service (SAPS), not the City’s Law Enforcement.”

He urged residents who were shot or injured to open criminal cases against the officers involved.

Growing Calls for Justice

The violent eviction has sparked outrage, with activists and community leaders demanding accountability. Residents argue they were left with no choice but to resist as authorities attempted to dismantle their homes.

With tensions still high, calls for an independent investigation into the brutal crackdown continue to mount.

---

For SA Crime News Follow SurgeZirc SA on Facebook,  X and Instagram