ANC Youth League Western Cape condemns the undignified treatment and alleged assault of a poor blind guitarist by the DA-led City of Cape Town's Metro Police

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in the Western Cape condemns the DA-led City of Cape Town's Metro Police for forcefully dragging a poor blind guitarist through Green Market Square earlier today in full public view. The man has been earning his living for years by entertaining people with his music. To bystanders it appeared to be a case of police brutality when officers pumped and unceremoniously pulled dragged him despite outcries (see Cape Times report).

This attack by the Metro Police on the dignity of a blind artist trying to earn a decent living undermines the essential values of respect for the most vulnerable which young people expect Government and the police to uphold and promote.

This behaviour further illustrates that the DA is uncaring. The incident is yet another example which indicates that DA-led City's Metro Police is a rogue force with little regard for human rights. The Metro Police must be immediately incorporated into the South African Police Service. The DA-led City has little control of its wild and ill-disciplined Metro Police against whom strings of complaints are laid to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

The DA's Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security JP Smit and Mayor Patricia De Lille should tell us which vile crime this blind musician committed to be treated in this manner.

Statement issued by Muhammad Khalid Sayed, ANC Youth League Western Cape Provincial Task Team (PTT) Convenor, July 8 2013

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter