Sowetan: Residents threaten to destroy bulldozers

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=844809

Residents threaten to destroy bulldozers

17 September 2008
Canaan Mdletshe

The Abahlali Basemjondolo movement has threatened to destroy any bulldozers sent to demolish their newly built shacks at the Foreman Road settlement outside Durban.

Municipal bulldozers were yesterday expected to demolish shacks that had been rebuilt by residents after more than 2000 were burnt down at the weekend. One resident died in the fire.

Abahlali spokesman Mnikelo Ndabankulu warned that the bulldozers were not welcome. He said residents had waited since Sunday for the bulldozers to clean up the area after the fire, but when they did not arrive, the residents started rebuilding their shacks.

He said the bulldozers were sent to demolish the structures the residents had erected after the fire destroyed their original shacks.

Local councillor Yacoob Biag told Sowetan that a meeting had been scheduled for late yesterday between residents and the municipality in a bid to end the dispute over how to house the residents.