The Chester Street community in Rondebosch is demanding justice for Dumisani Joxo, the homeless man who was killed by a City law enforcement officer.

He was shot in the mouth when a scuffle broke out over an open flame that a homeless person was set to use to cook breakfast. The Leap officers demanded that they extinguish it. Civil onganisaiton Ndifuna Ukwazi says the 22-year-old Luvolwethu Kati apparently had his firearm drawn before this.

The organisation’s attorney Daniellé Louw says the City is guilty of using excessive force to address a by-law offence. She adds that using a loaded firearm to threaten someone to extinguish a small fire used for cooking, is disproportionate and irresponsible.

The Chester Street community has demanded that Kati be immediately suspended and a thorough investigation be conducted into the incident. They also want an investigation into the City’s Law Enforcement Unit in relation to its legislative basis, the training of its officers, and the existence of an oversight mechanism. Their final request is for the City to arrange and pay for Joxo memorial and burial in the Eastern Cape.

The officer who faces a charge of murder is out on a R1000 bail.