The three comrades arrested for public violence were bailed out last night

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press statement
06 September 2013

The three comrades arrested for public violence were bailed out last night

Yesterday three Abahlali baseMjondolo members were arrested after Bellair Road was blockaded in protest at more illegal and violent evictions in Cato Crest. These evictions violated the law, the Constitution and an order of the court. The three comrades who were arrested are Sibongile, Nokulunga and Mr Mzinhle.

After the arrests the leadership of Cato Crest branch, together with the Abahlali baseMjondolo leadership, went to the Cato Manor Police Station to negotiate bail for our comrades. We were glad to have secured police bail for them without any objection from the police. 

It is a shame that both Nokulunga and S’bongile were brutally assaulted in police custody. As they were being beaten they were asked who is behind their political act. This is incredible. The Municipality is destroying people’s homes, stealing their property and beating them. Their leaders are being assassinated. At the same time it is said that the reason for the housing crisis in Durban is the presence of people from the Eastern Cape. Yet when people decided to protest it is thought that someone else must be thinking for them, telling them what to do. Politicians, police officers and some NGOs, academics and middle class activists are all failing to understand that as poor people we can think for ourselves and build our own politic. It is our decision to refuse injustice and the denial of our humanity that lies behind our politic.

Nokulunga and S’bongile were refused medical attention while in police custody. They have had to go to a District Sergeant for medical attention.

The three comrades had appeared today in Durban Magistrate Court, in F court. Their appearance was then moved to the Durban Regional Court in Court 10. We are told that the charge of Public Violence is now so serious that it has to be held in District Court. This has not surprised us because we know that there are politicians behind the police. We fear that such politic may infiltrate the court. The matter was adjourned to the 03th of October 2013 for the state to bring before court the valid evidence that these victims have conducted themselves to violence act.

Concurrent to that Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement S.A together with the community of Cato Crest are fling court papers to hold the Municipality in contempt of the High Court. It must be remembered that the City has just ignored its own undertaking to stop its illegal evictions in Cato Crest and the High Court Interdict forbidding them from carrying out these illegal evictions.

They are clearly saying that they are governing and that therefore that give them the rights to violate or humanity and the Constitution of the Republic.

For more information please contact:

Ndabo Mzimela Abahlali baseMjondolo Cato Crest Chairperson : 072 4015974
Lindiwe Mazibuko Abahlali baseMjondolo Cato Crest Activist: 072 7493693
Bandile Mdlalose Abahlali baseMjondolo Secretary General: 084 5575090