Police Attack on Pemary Ridge – 13 arrested, at least 15 injured

Update, 16 November 11:45 – All charges against the Pemary Ridge 13 were dropped in the Pinetown Magistrate’s court this morning.

Update, 14 November 12:55 – The Sydenham Police continue to deny repeated explicit requests from the prisoners, and their families and comrades, for the injured detainees to receive medical attention.

Emergency Press Update from Abahlali basePemary Ridge
14 November 2009

Police Attack on Pemary Ridge – 13 arrested, at least 15 injured

The attack on Abahlali baseMjondolo continues.

The first van from the Sydenham Police Station arrived at the Pemary Ridge settlement at 8:00 p.m last night. The police officers went to a woman’s tuck shop and kicked down the door saying that they were looking for alcohol. At the time, a man was walking by, and the police assaulted him – they struck him, and swore at him. His sister, who saw the attack, screamed in terror. When members of the community gathered around to see what was happening, the police opened fire, and started shooting at people at random with live ammunition (we have the casings from the bullets that they shot at us). Some residents ran to the river to hide fearing a shoot to kill operation. Others assembled at the top of the road, and began burning tires in protest. More police arrived and they attacked the people protesting on the road opening fire several times. They then went from shack to shack kicking down the doors of residents’ homes and assaulting people in their homes. People were beaten bloody with fists and batons. Some were also pistol whipped. The police fired several live rounds into Philani Zungu‘s shack.

At least 15 people have been badly injured but we can’t give the final figure yet as many people scattered into the bush down by the river and some are too scared to return to the settlement.

15 people were arrested but two were released. The remaining 13 people and are being held without charge in the notorious Sydenham Police station where many Abahlali baseMjondolo members, and other poor African people, have been badly assaulted, and at times even tortured, over the years. Most recently the Kennedy Thirteen were severely assaulted in the Sydenham Police Station. Many of the people who have been arrested were visibly injured when they were arrested and community members saw them being beaten further as they were arrested and put in the vans. But the police are denying that they are injured and have denied them medical attention.

The Pemary Ridge Eleven will appear in the Pinetown’s Magistrate’s court on Monday. It is not yet clear what they will be charged with. Visiting hours at the Sydenham Police station today start at 12:00.

This is the third attack on the Pemary Ridge settlement by the Sydenham Police since the attack on Abahlali baseMjondolo in Kennedy Road. The last two times they came and arrested people for connecting themselves to electricity. This was an attack on the whole community. Before they left the police said “This is a lesson – tell the others.”

The total number of people arrested since the attack on Abahlali baseMjondolo began on 26 September 2009 is now 32.

There is no democracy for the poor in Durban.

In this city if you are a poor person the police are dangerous criminals and you must fear them.

The whole of this, and last month, is just reports of the police shooting. 2010 has arrived, and by by the time the tournament comes, the stadium will be full of bullets.

A full and detailed statement will be issued after the whole community has met to discuss the police attack and to plan our response.

eThekwini kukhala abangcwele.

S’bu 076 7438427
S’bongile 0797433572

The police also harassed AbM members in Motala Heights on Friday. At a mass meeting the next day, Saturday, 144 more people in Motala joined AbM. Contact Shamita Naidoo for more details on 074 315 7962