http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3896579

June 22, 2007 Edition 1

Sibusiso Mboto

A KwaZulu-Natal group representing informal settlements has accused the provincial government of neglecting the needs of its constituents after the passing into law of the Elimination and Prevention of the Re-emergence of Slums Act yesterday.

Local Government MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu said in Pietermaritzburg that the Act was not aimed at "the inhumane eviction" of people from where they lived, but was a revolutionary and long-term solution to the challenge of slums.

"(The Act) does not contain any provisions for the eviction of persons from land or buildings. Instead, it provides that any eviction must be carried out in accordance with the applicable provisions of the constitution and any other national legislation protecting the housing or occupation rights of people," he said.

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The shack dwellers' movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo, plans to influence the finer points of the recently passed KwaZulu-Natal Elimination and Prevention of the Re-emergence of Slums Act, which has not been signed into law by Premier S'bu Ndebele.

The organisation, which has been at loggerheads over housing with the eThekwini Municipality in the past, has expressed its intention to exploit the period until the Bill is signed and to challenge an Act which they feel would discri-minate against shack dwellers.

While the group had expressed reservations about the entire legislation, indications were that only minor adjustments could now be made.