Naked gunman sparks chaos at High Court

Cape Town witnessed a bizarre turn of events when a naked man, believed to be homeless, managed to wrestle a gun from police and fired shots outside the Western Cape High Court yesterday.

Footage of the scene made its rounds on social media, which showed the naked man standing on the pavement, firing random shots on the ground, which scared off passersby and even police.

People can be seen running for cover and screaming - one woman can be heard saying: “Oh gosh, he is gonna shoot himself.”

Members of the Cape Town Central Improvement District (CCID) also fled the scene.

The naked man can be seen looking at the gun and opening fire, and then looks around him, while police are cautiously trying to get closer to him and shout at him to “put down the gun.”

But fortunately, after much deliberation, two brave police officers can be seen running closer to the suspect, tackling him to the ground, retrieving the gun, and he is then placed into the back of the police van.

The scene was then cordoned off by the police officers.

 Provincial police spokesperson Lieu Colonel Malcolm Pojie said the man was arrested and charged with robbery of a firearm, discharge of a firearm in a public space, and public indecency.

“On arrival at the scene, they found a young naked man who refused to cooperate and cover himself. A scuffle ensued during which the man took the firearm from one member and discharged shots; fortunately, no one was hit.”

The suspect is due to appear at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court once charged, he said.

The CCID’s spokesperson and safety and security manager, Jurie Bruwer, said that its members were called to the scene but withdrew as soon as police officers got the situation under control.