Cape Town mayor Dan Plato has faced widespread backlash over his shocking behaviour during a planned walkabout in Ocean View, Kommetjie, this past week.
Watch: Dan Plato caught in scuffle with Ocean View resident
As reported by IOL News, the mayor was surrounded by armed police officers and other City officials as he walked about in the Kommetjie neighbourhood.
Residents of Ocean View caught wind of the mayor’s visit and saw a grand opportunity to probe Plato on a number of issues. In the video you will see below, produced by Must Watch TV, residents could be heard airing out their frustrations with the way the City of Cape Town has blatantly ignored their calls for a symposium to discuss issues related to land grabs.
Most importantly, Ocean View residents wanted Plato to know if his office had received a memorandum that was sent without confirmation of receipt, a long time ago.
However, Plato was in no mood to entertain the constant prodding of a man identified as Aslam Richards.
As Richards was walking behind the mayor, firing away with questions, Plato quickly turned around with rage filled in his gaze. He stood close to Richards, waving his fingers in the man’s face in an intimidating manner.
Before things could escalate any further, Richards — who was not the aggressor in the confrontation — was dragged away by the scruff of his neck.
The confrontation starts at the 02:35 mark.
EFF gives Cape Town mayor an ultimatum
From what we understand, Richards has vowed to lay a formal complaint against the mayor. The EFF in the Western Cape, on the other hand, has called for Plato to either apologise or resign for his shocking conduct.
“Not so long ago the same mayor made insensitive remarks when the Western Cape was mourning the death of young children who had fallen into a sand hole near N2/Borcherds Quarry intersection. We call for the mayor to apologise for taking away the constitutional right of a citizen to ask a question. If he is unable to apologise for his behaviour he must do the right thing and resign,” provincial EFF spokesperson Wandile Kasibe said.
Neither Plato nor the City has issued a statement on the mayor’s conduct.