A 40-year-old suspect is due to appear in the Cape Town Magistrates Court following the fatal stabbing of a homeless man in Sea Point earlier this week.
The incident followed an argument between the deceased and suspect in the “tent city”, where the stabbing took place, before the victim ran to the local police station for help only to collapse and die on the doorstep.
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While the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing remain unclear, police spokesperson FC van Wyk said that the matter was 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,” Van Wyk explained.
“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.”
Van Wyk added that the alleged murder weapon had been found and handed in as an exhibit. “The identity of the deceased had not yet been determined.”
Meanwhile, IOL reports that Freedom Front Plus PR councillor Paul Jacobson claimed that a video of another two men fighting in the local parking lot had been widely shared on social media prior to the fatal stabbing.
“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,” said Jacobson. “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.
Speaking to IOL, ward councillor Nicola Jowell added that the “tent city” was privately leased and not under the management of the City.
According to Jowell, the leaseholder had been working with the authorities to secure alternative living arrangements while the city had set various legislative processes in motion.
“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.
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Picture: Cape{town} Etc Library