Goodman Nono has been busking in Greenmarket Square, between St George’s Mall and Long Street for almost 20 years. Goodman is blind, and makes between R300 and R400 a day from small donations and CD sales. He’s become something of a city institution.

Here’s Goodman playing his guitar in his usual spot.

But according to the DA’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith Goodman has failed to adhere to the actually-existing approved busking hours in the City Of Cape Town, and has been warned multiple times by city officials to cease his melodies.

Additionally, the Central City Improvement District (the company who manages the “security guards” in black pants and green vests) noted that multiple surrounding businesses had complained about Goodman’s busking.

Lord knows, blind buskers are a real menace in central Cape Town. The racket they make is incredibly disruptive to the hundreds of daily drug transactions in and around St George’s Mall and Long Street.

So, obviously it makes complete sense that a group of Cape Town Metro Police stormed Goodman yesterday, beating him on his back, dragging him from the square and smashing his guitar, and fining him R1,500.

Here’s a picture of Goodman wrestled to the ground, his guitar broken in pieces.

Apparently two bystanders have bought Goodman a new guitar.

Goodman has opened a case with the police.

JP “Rules And Regulations” Smith, strikes again!

[Source : IOL]