Hundreds of Squatters Take to the Streets in Durban

http://www.sapa.org.za/secure/view.cfm?id=1963473

BC-PROTEST-LD-SHACKS
PROTEST-LD-SHACKS
DURBAN Feb 27 Sapa
HUNDREDS OF SQUATTERS TAKE TO THE STREETS IN DBN

Hundreds of squatters took to the streets of Durban over poor
housing on Monday after the Durban High Court overruled a council
decision not to allow the protest.
Police stopped the marchers earlier in the day, claiming their
action was illegal.
However they were allowed to proceed to the Durban City Hall —
under a heavy police presence — to hand over a memorandum of
grievances after the court’s ruling in favour of the Shack Dwellers
Movement.
Earlier, the movement accused Ethekwini City Manager Mike
Sutcliffe of banning the march even though it fulfilled all
requirements for a march.
The reasons the municipality gave the court for disallowing the
march were not “good enough”, said the movement’s spokesman Sbu’
Zikode.
“The organisers of the march were told that some information on
their notification to march was missing. In fact, the information
was submitted on February 3, but had been returned to them by the
police.
“Abahlali then submitted all the additional information on
February 17 and informed the authorities that three days was not
sufficient for them to organise a march, they therefore would hold
the march on February 27.”
Sutcliffe said the group had initially applied to march on
February 20.
“We held a meeting to decide on a date and they walked out of
that meeting. We did ask for more information and while we were
preparing the document that they could march on the 20th, they
changed the date to the 27th,” said Sutcliffe.
“Last week they said they don’t care about what the city does
and that they will go ahead with the march. This morning when we
said it was illegal, they went to court. We respect the court’s
decision, but we will question it.”
Sutcliffe added that the City never banned the march.
“We just wanted to go through the proper processes and ensure
that it was safe. Anything can happen during a march.”

Source : Sapa /am/yr/clh
Date : 27 Feb 2006 15:35 OrigID : LP6705