Victory in Court While Evictions Continue Outside

Abahlali baseMjondolo has just won a major court victory against evictions. But outside the court the eThekwini Municipality is currently demolishing shacks in the Siyanda settlement. There is no court order and so, according to South African law, these demolitions are illegal and criminal acts. Media are urged to rush to the scene.

The shacks that are being demolished were built a month ago after renters in the area were left homeless when shack owners were moved to RDP houses and the renters illegally left homeless. This happens in every relocation or upgrade in Durban and in South Africa it is a completely illegal and in fact criminal act to leave someone homeless. The people who have been made homeless again today, just after being made homeless last month, will rebuild again. What else can they do? This is the cruel reality of the government’s plans to eradicate shacks: give houses to shack owners and leave shack renters, the poorest of the poor, homeless and desperate.

While the Municipality was engaged in its illegal and criminal attack on the Siyanda settlement the final judgment in the Arnett Drive eviction case was handed down in the Durban High Court at 9:50 a.m. Abahlali baseMjondolo won the case. The City is permanently interdicted from ever demolishing homes in Arnett Drive without an order of the court. For background information on this case and to see the full text of the judgment see http://abahlali.org/node/3235. This court victory is an important step forward in the ongoing struggle to force the eThekwini Municipality to cease its criminal behaviour towards shack dwellers.

The Siyanda settlement has not been affiliated to Abahlali baseMjondolo. But they been battling against evictions, corruption, police assaults, the tyranny of top down planning and their councillor for a long time. They organised major road blockades in December 2006 and in July 2008. But today the Municipality sent in men with guns to smash their homes. Their views and their struggle count for nothing in this city. Last week 50 residents of the new shack in Siyanda joined Abahlali baseMjondolo. The movement will stand strong with the people of Siyanda.

For on the scene comments on the in progress criminal attack on the Siyanda settlement contact Mzo Dlamini at 0738701244 or Thembi Zungu at 0724042330.

For comment on the important victory against the eThekwini Municipality in the Durban High Court this morning contact:

S’bu Zikode: 0835470474
Senzo Nsingo: 0767423397