http://mpbackyarders.org.za/2012/01/10/khayelitsha-residents-arrested-for-protest-outside-new-khayelitsha-hospital/#more-562

Khayelitsha residents arrested for protest outside new Khayelitsha Hospital

10 January 2011
Statement on behalf of protesting Khayelitsha residents

Earlier this morning a group of Khayelitsha residents showed up in front of the brand new Khayelitsha Hopsital to protest against the refusal of hospital authorities to hire local people from amongst the recent estimated 70,000 job applications. Estimates are that only 2%-10% of staff hired at the hospital are from the Khayelitsha area.

http://mpbackyarders.org.za/2012/01/08/new-khayelitsha-hospital-under-threat-residents-vow-to-protest-and-will-prevent-employees-from-working-on-site-tomorrow-until-their-grievances-are-heard/

New Khayelitsha Hospital under threat: Residents vow to protest and will prevent employees from working on site tomorrow until their grievances are heard!

8 January 2012
Press statement on behalf of Khayelitsha residents

The Island settlement is not affiliated to AbM.

http://westcapenews.com/?p=3248

Protest sparked by attempt to cut illegal electricity connections

AN attempt by Eskom to disconnect illegal electricity connections in Khayelitsha’s Island Informal Settlement sparked violent protests yesterday.

A car was set alight by a petrol bomb and a shipping container was pushed into the busy Lansdowne Road throughfare as about 200 residents scattered rubbish, burnt tyres and stoned passing cars.

The protests, which started mid-morning and only began to simmer down in the late afternoon came after letters from Eskom were delivered to shacks in the settlement yesterday, ordering residents to disconnect their illegal electricity lines or face a fine of R5 000.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/de-lille-dodges-backyarders-meeting-1.1132388

De Lille dodges backyarders meeting

Landless peoples' group Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) has accused Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille of running away from a meeting with “backyarders” in Khayelitsha on Tuesday.

The group said it had mobilised the “backyarders” in the township, and many were excited to meet De Lille.

The City of Cape Town however cancelled the meeting at the last minute out of fear for De Lille's safety.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article1055304.ece/Two-killed-in-Cape-Town-shack-fires

Two killed in Cape Town shack fires
May 7, 2011 11:34 AM | By Sapa

Two people were killed in separate shack fires in Cape Town on Saturday morning, says the city's Disaster Risk Management Centre.

Spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said one man died and 115 people left displaced after a fire swept through an informal settlement in Khayelitsha.

"The fire started at 2am. Thirty shacks were burnt," said Solomons-Johannes.

http://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/makhaza-backyarders-invade-plot-1.1061131

Makhaza backyarders invade plot

April 26 2011 at 12:00pm

SIBUSISO NKOMO

Staff Reporter

HUNDREDS of Makhaza backyarders invaded a vacant piece of land, marked out plots and started erecting shacks until police intervened and stopped them from continuing.

Backyarder Mzukisi Mbipa said they started erecting their structures on the land early yesterday morning.

“We are tired of not having land. There were other people from another area that were allowed to build there, so we decided to join them,” said Mbipa .

Click here to watch a video clip of this report as a television broadcast.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/177069.html

Disillusioned South Africans mark Freedom Day

“Welcome to Hell”... That's how residents here describe their living conditions.

Celebrating the country's 17th year of democracy, President Jacob Zuma said this day marks the restoration of human dignity.

But in communities across the country people are holding what they call un-Freedom Day commemorations, highlighting the failures of the regime which toppled the Apartheid system.

http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=64808

Khayelitsha a ‘prized area’ for political parties

by Malungelo Booi

A political analyst on Friday said the Cape township of Khayelitsha is the focus of political activity due to a unique set of circumstances.

In recent days Cape Town’s oldest township has been characterised by scenes of service delivery protests ahead of May’s local government elections.

The area has seen several political parties coming and going in a bid to secure votes.

http://www.capetimes.co.za/do-not-vote-shack-dwellers-told-1.1061832

Do not vote, shack dwellers told

April 28 2011

A SHACK-DWELLERS’ movement, Abahlali Basemjondolo, has urged people not to vote in the May 18 local government election because “politicians are self-centred”.

“By voting you are giving away your powers to politicians. Your vote is not your voice and politicians use poor people as a ladder to enhance the rich and their interests,” its chairman, Mzonke Poni, said to loud cheers at a meeting of about 100 people in a tent in Khayelitsha’s QQ section.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article1040385.ece/Shack-dwellers-mourn-freedom

Shack dwellers 'mourn' freedom

Apr 27, 2011 9:55 PM | By PHILANI NOMBEMBE

Hundreds of protesting Cape Town shack dwellers yesterday threatened to boycott next month' s local government elections.

Thandiswa Gabula, of QQ section, an informal settlement in Khayelitsha, on the Cape Flats, was one of the people protesting against lack of services, including basic sanitation, while participating in a shack-fire meeting organised by the Abahlali baseMjondolo (shack dwellers') movement.