http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081220/BUSINESS/572436878/-1/ART

‘Memories of forced settlements’

* Last Updated: December 20. 2008 6:37PM UAE / December 20. 2008 2:37PM GMT

A Dubai developer intent on building the largest entertainment destination in Africa is coming up against a surprisingly formidable opponent in the form of about 3,000 Zulu farmers.

Ruwaad Holdings, a subsidiary of Dubai 9 Group, unveiled at Cityscape Dubai in October its plans to build the massive Amazulu World project in South Africa. Flanked by a Zulu king and the premier of the KwaZulu-Natal province, officials from the company said the project to be an entertainment and leisure mini-city would take 25 years and cover a 16,500-hectare piece of coast. In typical Dubai fashion, the multibillion-dirham project would include a theme park, golf courses and a giant shopping mall. A 106-metre-high statue of the Zulu warrior, King Shaka, would loom above the site.

(A longer version of this article is available here.)

http://www.businessday.co.za/weekender/article.aspx?ID=BD4A904592

Posted to the web on: 13 December 2008
A forced removal to allow for ‘progress’

The eMacambini community is challenging the government’s plan to build a theme park on its ancestral land, writes PETER MACHEN

THE north coast of KwaZulu- Natal is dotted with towns gradually filling up with strip malls and gated communities blocking the view . Tuscan, Balinese and modernist architecture have obliterated views of rolling green hills and blue sea.

http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4752960

Clan may go human rights route

December 09, 2008 Edition 1

NATHI OLIFANT

THE community of Macambini, near Mandeni on the Zululand coast, will seek the intervention of the South African Human Rights Commission in its efforts to repel the construction of a multibillion-rand development on their land.

The community last week blockaded the N2 and R102 routes in protest, raising fears that holidaymakers might not be able to reach coastal destinations.

http://www.isolezwe.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4747385

Uthuthuva aMacambi evala u-N2

December 05, 2008 Edition 1

Kwanele Ncalane

KUSUKE esinamathambo izolo amaphoyisa evulela ngezinhlamvu zenjoloba ejijimeza umphakathi waseMacambini obuvale umgwaqo onguthelawayeka u-N2 nobubhikishela uhlelo olwathulwa nguNdunankulu wesifundazwe, uMnuz Sbu Ndebele, lwenkampani yaseDubai, iRuwaad, lwentuthuko ka-R44 billion.

Amalungu omphakathi amaningi abelimele futhi enezibazi lapho eshaywe khona yizinhlamvu zenjoloba kanti amanye alale ebaliwe njengoba amaphoyisa eveze ukuthi bese kukhona ukucekelwa phansi kwempahla kanti nokuhlangana kwalo mphakathi bekungekho emthethweni.

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=899002

‘Stay off our land, Premier’ - angry protesters block highway

05 December 2008
Mhlaba Memela

Protests against the controversial proposal to develop vast tracts of Macambini land for tourism turned ugly yesterday when thousands of demonstrators blocked the N2 freeway and pelted motorists with stones.

Fifteen people were arrested and 12 others seriously injured, community leader Khanyisani Shandu said.

He accused the police of using “live ammunition” on his people and said KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sbu Ndebele “has declared war and ordered police to shoot innocent people who are only defending what is rightfully theirs”.

http://antieviction.org.za/2008/12/05/solidarity-friday-morning-update-on-emacambini-blockade/

Solidarity: Friday morning update on eMacambini blockade
5 12 2008
Abahlali baseMjondolo and Rural Network Press update
5 December 2008 at 09h50am

Reporting on the incident has not been good. Most reporters have only interviewed police officers and have failed to get statements from the residents themselves. This has led to a number of inaccuracies as police are scrambling to justify their intense and violent repression of the protest. Currently, there are no reports of any injuries to any motorists or police officers. It seems that only residents have suffered any injuries. Below are the facts from our investigations on the ground:

http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global[_id]=16977

POLICE officers had their hands full yesterday when the Macambini clan on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast blocked the busy N2 and the R102, burning tyres and throwing stones at motorists.

Close to 400 people were protesting against the planned multi-billion-rand development in their area by Dubai’s Ruwaad Corporation, which is backed by Premier S’bu Ndebele.

Scores of police officers were deployed and reinforcements were called in to stop the protesters from blocking the two busy roads. When they failed to cope a police helicopter was sent in.

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-12-05-cops-break-up-protest-over-kzn-development

Police used pepper-spray and rubber bullets to disperse 3 000 people who had closed off a section of the N2 highway on Thursday in protest against a R44-bn development in the area.

Early morning traffic was brought to a standstill as protestors burnt tractor tyres and logs on the national highway between KwaDukuza and Richards Bay.

Disgruntled residents from the eMacambini area on KwaZulu-Natal’s north coast were protesting against KZN premier Sbu Ndebele’s failure to respond to community concerns about the proposed development.