George Galloway and Cape Town Abahlali

A large crowd of Grassy Park shackdwellers loudly proclaimed themselves as Abahlali base Mjondolo outside the Cape Town High Court this morning, singing the songs of Durban comrades. They persuaded George Galloway who had come along to support them and visit other shackdwelling communities to represent them in court when their lawyer didn’t show up! Galloway gladly agreed but at the final moment the lawyer appeared and the eviction was put on hold.

Cape Town Anti War Coalition wrote:
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2006 11:51:15 +0200
From: “Cape Town Anti War Coalition”
Subject: Press Alert: Mayor Zille’s attempt to evict Grassy Park residents fails!

Zille Rain Heights Association Press Statement
Friday 8th December
11am

HIGH COURT, CAPE TOWN – Mayor Helen Zille’s attempt to carry out a second forced removal of over 300 people from Grassy Park, one week before Christmas, has failed, with British anti-war Member of Parliament George Galloway attending the High Court case this morning.

MP George Galloway was about to stand up in court and speak out on behalf of the people when the judge ruled that Zille’s application for an eviction order be postponed until January 25th 2007. The community has until January 8th 2007 to file opposing affidavits.

Zille hired expensive senior counsel and briefed them to achieve an eviction order today no matter what. She was then intending to send the Sheriff of the Court to the community a week before Christmas to carry out the eviction order. It is a measure of her arrogance that she expected the High Court simply to hand her the eviction order without hearing the viewpoints of the affected community members.

MP Galloway told the residents that he would continue to take up their case when he returns to England.

The Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign protested outside the High Court in support of the Zille Rain Heights residents.

In 2007, the Anti-War Coalition is planning to unite with all communities facing eviction, and all groups of street based workers and homeless people, to stop the City from passing repressive laws that will see people forcibly removed to the wastelands “Happy Valley” and Macassar. We want Happy Valley shut down completely and to see an end to forced removals of any type in the city.

../ends

For comment: George Galloway on 082 7865666; Eleanor of Zille Rain Heights on 072 4490436; Lorraine of Zille Rain Heights on 083 4319794; Gary of the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign on 072 3925859 or Luthando of the Anti-War Coalition on 0844512505.