Monday, 13 August 2012
Unemployed People’s Movement Press Statement

Two Arrests Made in Connection with the Shootings in Umlazi, Further Threats to Bheki Buthelezi

On the 30th June Bhekimuzi Ndlovu was shot in the Zakheleni shack settlement following a series of protests against the Ward Councillor and for land, housing and other development. The case number is 225/07/2012.

Ndlovu had become close to Bheki Buthelezi and to the struggle that was being organised in the Zakheleni shack settlement. However he had been close to the local ANC and the councillor and so they saw him as a traitor. He was shot by supporters of the ruling party. They sacrificed him, like an animal. They thought that he was dead. After Ndlovu was shot the ANC supporters convened a meeting and said that Bheki Buthelezi was the one who had shot Ndlovu. It has become a typical tactic of repression for the ruling party to engage in violence against activists and to then blame the activists for this violence. However unbeknownst to the local ANC Ndlovu had survived the shooting and was in hospital.

30 June 2012
AbM & UPM Press Statement

Update on Repression & Resistance in the Zakheleni Shack Settlement, Ward 88, Umlazi, Durban

At around 4:00 a.m. this morning a group of around 50 heavily armed police officers arrived at Bheki Buthelezi's shack in the Zakheleni shack settlement in Umlazi and demanded to search it. When confronted with the fact that they did not have a warrant they retired and then returned at around 4:50 with a document stating that they had a warrant to search the entire settlement. But they only searched Bheki's shack. They found nothing. During the search a helicopter with a search light hovered over the settlement. Ten activists, all of whom have become leaders in the rebellion in Ward 88, and all of whom have been warned that the police and local party leaders after after them, slipped away during the police raid and are now in hiding.

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Charges Against Bheki Buthelezi Withdrawn & the Zakheleni 18 Released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: After sustained pressure, and a tense stand-off outside the Umlazi police station, Bheki Buthelezi was finally released just after 7 p.m.

18:27 23 June 2012
Abahlali baseMjondolo Emergency Press Statement

Unemployed People's Movement (UPM) activist Bheki Buthelezi was arrested at his home in Umlazi early this morning. Activists from the UPM and Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) immediately made their way to the Umlazi police station to demand his release.

The police have been playing ducks and drakes with the protesters at the police station all day. At first they said that Bheki would be released by 2, then at 2 they said that the protesters need a lawyer to get Bheki out. After tense negotiations R500 bail has been paid but now the police are saying that they don't have bail forms and that these have to be fetched from the Isipingo

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.