Cape Town - A 40-year-old man is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court this morning on a charge of murder after allegedly stabbing a homeless man in Sea Point.
An argument that had broken out between the two men – one a resident of the homeless “Tent City”, and the other a visitor to the settlement – turned violent, and the visitor was stabbed with a knife.
The man who had been stabbed ran across the road to the police station, but he collapsed and died on its doorstep.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing incident were under investigation.
“According to reports, the Sea Point SAPS detective commander was in his office when he heard a fight and shouting that seemed to be just outside his office window.
“He witnessed a male running towards the Sea Point community service centre with another holding a sharp object in his hands just behind him. Shortly thereafter, the unknown male (the deceased) collapsed in the doorway of the community service centre,” he said.
Van Wyk said the alleged murder weapon had been found and handed in as an exhibit. The identity of the deceased had not yet been determined.
Freedom Front Plus PR councillor Paul Jacobson said that before the incident a video of another two men fighting in a local parking lot had been widely shared on social media.
“I’ve been pleading with the mayor to give us a true version of what’s going on with his 100 law enforcement officers promised to this area. They have not been seen, but just sporadic odd officers.
“The Atlantic Seaboard is one of the biggest amenities for public use in the Western Cape, and its public spaces are used 80% by people outside of this area. We have a responsibility to proudly invite people to make their stay memorable without traumatic experiences like this,” he said.
Ward councillor Nicola Jowell said “Tent City” was privately leased and not under the management of the City. She said the leaseholder had been working with the authorities to try and secure alternative accommodation for the people living there.
Jowell said the City had set various legislative processes in motion to address the problems in the area.
“Through this process, we have moved a couple of the people to a safe space, plus through the leaseholders' efforts there have been additional people moved out of the site.
“The site has not increased in size for at least five months, in terms of the number of people living there,” she said.