With or Without a Permit our March Goes Ahead

27 July 2011
Abahlali baseMjondolo of the Western Cape

With or Without a Permit our March Goes Ahead

Today the Mitchell’s Plain backyarders, supported by Abahlali baseMjondolo Western Cape, Communities for Social Change, Western Cape Anti Eviction Campaign, Mandela Park backyarders, and many other community based organizations will appear in front of Cape Town High Court to oppose the interdict from the City of Cape Town, which follows occupation of unused piece of Land by M/ Plain backyarders 2 days before 2011 local government election (May).

17 members of ABM WC from Langa Temporal Relocation Area will also appear in front of Magistrate Court at Bellville follow their illegal arrest by police during occupation of empty RDP houses at DELFT Last month.

Last month more than 100 ABM members occupied empty bond houses at DELFT, after they were thrown out of houses by police just few hours after the occupation, The following day they went straight to occupy empty RDP houses and 17 members were arrested and charged with public violence, and all 17 were refused free bail, R500 bail was granted to each person, as a results of that 5 members had to spent 3 nights at Pollsmore because they did not have money for bail.

For comment and full details on on these matters please call Cindy, the spokeslady for Langa TRA’s @ 076 086 6690

As an organization we condemn police repression into our activists, just few days back serious charges against our members at Durban were withdrawn due to a lack of sufficient evidence against them.

We understand that there’s is no charges against our members, and we are so disappointed to see that not all criminal charges are not treated the same, especially those that falls under schedule 1 of criminal offence. All of our members were first offenders in terms of law, they did not have any pending cases, all provided the court with valid home address and personal details and they did not pose any danger to anyone and all remain committed to the struggle for land and housing.

And we must say it we are very surprising to see people who participated on a peaceful occupation of houses without intimidating anyone, without burning any tyres but still being charged for public violence, and still the court becomes blind at interpreting these charges in terms of law, this raises many question about independence of our juridicial system.

In solidarity
Mzonke
073 2562 036
follow on twitter @mzonkep

“The struggle continues”

For the march that goes to City of Cape Town tomorrow, please call Charles at 074 689 5980.

And please note we are not going to ban our route. We are going to stick on our route as indicated on the application form which was sent to the city. We are not going to be intimidated by city of Cape Town by their cheap tactics that they are applying to illegally ban our march. As long as we submitted application form in advance, and as long as no valid reason given by the city of Cape Town in writing our event will continue as planned.

If it means we must also be arrested, and charged let it be and we are prepared to pay the price if being poor in South Africa that’s what it means.
But one thing for sure, we are going to remain united in our struggle for land and housing and if it means we must expose state tactics and abuse of power we will always do so, being in court or at street. We will remain strong and united.

Aluta