Metro Police Destroy a Home in Motala Heights

22 January 2011
Abahlali baseMotala Heights

Metro Police Destroy a Home in Motala Heights

The Metro Police attacked Motala Heights today. They came with axes and succeeded to destroy Mr. Buthelezi's home before the community could mobilise. They then attempted to destroy a second home but we mobilised quickly and stopped them from destroying any more homes.

The remains of Mr. Buthelezi's home after the Metro Police destroyed it on Saturday

They have threatened to return tomorrow.

We will defend our community. The police must know that we are organised, we can mobilise in minutes and we have excellent pro bono lawyers, the same lawyers that defeated the Slums Act in the Constitutional Court, on our side.

We will not allow the rich or the government to drive the poor out of Motala Heights. We are determined to make Motala Heights a community for all. If the government is failing to build homes for the poor it has no right to stop us from building homes for ourselves on unused government land.

The media must be aware that any eviction without a court order is an illegal eviction.

For more comment and up to the minute information please contact:

Shamita Naidoo (Motala Heights B Chairperson): 071 622 1330
James Pillay (Motala Heights B Spokesperson): 084 703 4694