The battle for Rolihlahla Park

A 13-year old girl weighing 73kg. Photo by Thembela Ntongana.

Daneel Knoetze

25 August 2014

On Friday 22 August, Public Order Police battled residents of Rolihlahla Park, who fiercely resisted being evicted from a piece of private land off Sheffield Road in Philippi East. The City of Cape Town’s Anti-Land Invasion Unit demolished dozens of shacks during the course of the morning. Police meanwhile provided cover, by firing rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas cannisters. Residents responded by stoning police. At least one protester was shot with live ammunition from, according to eyewitnesses, a police service pistol.


Rolihlahla Park, Philippi East, Cape Town.