Cape Town Municipality Tries to Deny the Right to March

Press Release

With or without the permit from the city our march to Cape town high court then to the city of Cape Town goes ahead. in terms of gatherings act when we want to march, the law says we must notify the city and SAPS within 7 days. And the law further suggests that if the city refused to grant permit they need to provide us with written reasons, and they have not done it yet, so we are going to stick to the law and go ahead with our march. It's up to the city if they want to make relevant authorities to be present during our march. Till then Aluta Continua

1. The poor communities of the Western Cape will no longer dance to the tune (service delivery) of government. Which mean the poor will take their land in South Africa.

2. On 27 July poor residents of Mitchell’s Plain will be appearing in the High Court because the City of Cape Town has failed to provide land and housing for the poor.

3. Poor communities will be showing solidarity and support of the residents of Mitchell’s Plain by marching to the High Court and City of Cape Town.

4. An interim communities committee comprising of Communities for Social Change, Abhalali baseMjondolo, Anti-Eviction Campaign, Mitchell’s Plain Backyard Dwellers association and Mandela Park backyarders association applied to the City of Cape Town for a permit to hold the march

5. A meeting between the communities and the City was scheduled for 12h00pm on the 25 July 2011

6. The City was not willing to meet with the delegation of 12 community representatives and wanted to dictate who should on behalf the communities.

7. The communities delegation advised the City that it had been mandated to attend by their organisations and cannot be dictated to by the City.

8. The City called off the meeting which means that no permit has been issued for the march.

9. Despite the attitude of the City the poor will still be coming to court and to the City of Cape Town to hand over a memorandum to the Mayor.

10. The City must take full responsibility for anything that might go wrong on Wednesday.

11. As community organisations we remain committed to meet with the City on behalf of the poor to ensure that the march is well organised and is peaceful.

For further info contact

Mario Wanza – Communities for Social Change – 0824137600
Charles – Mitchell’s plain backyarders and residents association – 0746895980
Mary – Mitchell’s Plain backyarders association – 0733761850
Mncedisi Twalo – WC anti-eviction campaign – 0785808646
Khaya Xintolo – organiser of Mandela Park backyarders – 0780241683
Mzonke Poni – Abahali baseMjondolo – 0732562036