Footage of the incident went viral on social media, prompting members of the public to contribute to a fund to buy Nono a new guitar

A social media storm of outrage has followed the manhandling in central Cape Town of a blind busker by metro police officers – who destroyed the man’s guitar in full view of pedestrians.

The confrontation on Monday morning was reported in Tuesday’s Cape Times, which named the busker as Lunga Goodman Nono (51). The incident happened along the busy St George’s Mall in Cape Town.

During the fracas, furious bystanders protested as no less than five metro police officers swooped on Nono, broke his guitar and forcefully removed him from his regular spot on the corner of St. George’s Mall and Green Market Square. He was put in a police van and driven off. According to the newspaper, Nono is facing a R1 500 fine for contravening a by-law by busking outside his permitted time and refusing to stop when ordered to do so.

Footage of the incident went viral on social media, prompting members of the public to contribute to a fund to buy Nono a new guitar. In response, Rolling Stone has set up an account to assist the musician. If you would like to contribute to the “Lunga Goodman Nono Guitar Fund”, you can do so by making an EFT to 3iPublishing, First National Bank, Gardens Branch.

Branch Number: 201-511, Account type: Cheque, Account Number: 62393824597. Reference: “Nono-Guitar-Fund”.