Tuesday, 13 August 2013
Abahlali baseCato Crest press statement

Housing corruption, eviction and demolition in Cato Crest right now

After Nkululeko Gwala was murdered for speaking against corruption and for calling for a fair and transparent allocation of housing in Cato Crest, activists in the area have continued to receive death threats.

Yesterday a local ANC member who is also in an ANC local committee was illegally allocated a house. Like so many others he was rewarded for being loyal to the party. Abahlali noted this and started questioning the rightfulness of this ANC member to get a house. As always our members were threatened and special party meeting was held to discuss how the ruling party should deal with out movement. Residents were in fear the whole night as the intimidation of those who speak out continues.

The eThekwini municipality has failed to bring about fair allocation of houses in this area. The murderers of Nkululeko are enjoying their freedom and continue to celebrate their 'victory'. No one is arrested for these crimes as they implicate high political leadership. If those who govern kill the governed, who are they going to govern tomorrow? We do not receive answers yet.

Those Abahlali members who worked closely with Nkululeko had to occupy a piece of land as our shacks were demolished without a court order and without regard to all the safe guards that the national legislation provides. Right now the Land Invasion Unit are demolishing our shacks again. And as always they have no court order. They expect us to respect the law that they cannot even respect. We are dealing with a criminal state.

We ask the media to rush to the area just next to Cato Crest Sports Grounds to witness how eThekwini Municipality breaks the law in broad day light. Today, we have no RDP houses as they have been given to party cronies and party connected buddies. Today we do not even have shacks as the Municipality is illegally destroying them. Yet we are now told to vote for our oppressors.

Similar threats of eviction and demolition are currently taking place in the shack settlement situated at 90 Electron Road Springfield Park.

Please contact:

Malindy at Cator Crest 072 7493693
Abahlali office at 031 3046420