Update: The Anti-Land Invasion Unit and Law Enforcement of the City of Cape Town arrived once again this morning the 17th of May. They destroyed our homes again. As usual, no court order, no checking to see if the homes are occupied and lived in, no mercy. Actions were clearly illegal, immoral and just plain cruel. There have been three arrests. Residents also say that they saw one of the community members being tortured in one of the police Nyalas. Siphiwo – 0836842828, Nosibusiso – 0736128044, Masibu – 0603147788

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement
29 January 2013

Four Arrests in KwaNdengezi

During a protest on Sunday 27 January 2013 people of KwaNdengezi were threatened at gunpoint by an MK Veteran who is one of those who allegedly bought the corrupted RDP houses of the people of KwaNgendengezi. We opened a case of intimidation against this man but it was never investigated and he is still not arrested for that.

Yesterday at around 03:00 p.m.the same MK Veteran and the councillor of the area, Mduduzi Ngcobo, came with the police and pointed out which protesters they wanted the police to arrest. This is how it usually works – the councillors tell the police who to arrest.

Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Unemployed People’s Movement Press Statement

Update from Ward 88 in Umlazi, Durban

In all the confusion and urgency last night it was impossible to meet and prepare a clear statement explaining events. We are now in a position to do so.

Noxolo Mkwayi was shot in her bed in Zakheleni

Yesterday the Unemployed People’s Movement called a meeting in Ward 88, Umlazi. At this meeting it was resolved to stage a peaceful occupation of the Ward Councillor’s offices. The offices were duly occupied and commissions were then set up to hold discussions on various matters. There was a commission on unemployment, on housing and on safety (crime and shack fires).

25 June 2012
Abahlali baseMjondolo & Unemployed People's Movement Press Statement

Charges Against Bheki Buthelezi Withdrawn & the Zakheleni 18 Released

Today all charges against Bheki Buthelezi were dropped and the Zakheleni 18 were released on free bail at the Umlazi Magistrate's Court. It is clear that the arrest of the 18 was politically engineered. The arrestees clearly stated in court that they don’t know the reason why they were arrested. As the magistrate asked them why they were arrested they said they had no idea and that they were just having drinks with friends on a Saturday evening when the police simply came and arrested them. The 18 were released on free bail with the understanding that the police have no evidence against any of the accused, that they were not involved in any violence and they are all poor and unemployed.

Update - 25 June 3:30 p.m. The charges against Bheki Buthelezi have been dropped and the Zakheleni 18 have been released without bail. They are scheduled to appear again on the 16th of July.

24 June 2012
Unemployed People's Movement Press Statement

Another 18 People Arrested in Umlazi, Durban

Last night when the comrades from Abahlali baseMjondolo and the Unemployed People's Movement were protesting outside the Umlazi Police Station to demand the immediate release of Bheki Buthelezi the police said that they would be making further arrests to 'stop the burning of tyres in Umlazi'. They made the same threat to Bheki as he was released at the Adam's Mission Police Station far from the protest.

23 June 2012
Unemployed People's Movement Press Statement

Bheki Buthelezi Arrested in Durban This Morning

Bheki Buthelezi, from the Durban branch of the Unemployed People's Movement, was arrested at his home at around 6 this morning. His arrest follows a long struggle by the community in Ward 88 in Umlazi. There have been a number of protests in the area, including road blockades, which culminated in a large march on 8 June 2012.

People have been struggling for housing, electricity and water and against an unresponsive councillor and for participatory development. Even the ANC members in the ward don't want this councillor. The situation with the water is particularly serious as people are being forced to drink from polluted streams.

12 January 2011
Unemployed People's Movement Press Statement

Ayanda Kota Assaulted in the Grahamstown Police Station - Under Arrest

About 40 minutes ago Ayanda Kota was seriously assaulted by a group of police officers in the Grahamstown police station. He was dragged, bleeding from at least two wounds, and with his clothes torn from his body, to the holding cells.

For some months he has been under open police surveillance and at times has been threatened and insulted by the police. The police have been watching his mother's house and have searched it looking for him. Their behaviour has been very rude, threatening and aggressive.

Some good news in dark times - Mzonke represented himself at his trial and won, decisively. The police officers were exposed as liars under cross examination by Mzonke and all charges were dropped.

Mzonke Poni, Chairperson of Abahlali baseMjondolo of the Western Cape, is scheduled to stand trial on the charge of public violence on Tuesday 29 September 2009. The charge relates to a protest organised in opposition to state criminality against the Macassar Village Land Occupation. He has written this essay on 'public violence' in response to the charges levelled against him.

Update:The magistrate threw out all the charges against the Mandela Park 23.

Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Statement on behalf of the community of Mandela Park
Update: 23h00 on 20 September 2009

The ‘Mandela Park 23' to appear in Khayelitsha Magistrate's court tomorrow at 9am

What we know now:

*23 residents of Mandela Park were arrested by police today
*All 23 activists will appear in Khayelitsha Magistrates Court at 09h00 tomorrow morning (21 September).

Siyanda, 19 May 2009

Update: Click here to read the front page story in the Cape Times on the illegal evictions, police violence and arrests in Macassar Village and here for a video interview from the Siyanda transit camp.

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement
Tuesday, 19 May 2009

The Elections Are Over – The War on the Poor Continues