Guguelthu AEC Press Statement
1st December, 2008 - For Immediate Release

Today, the Gugulethu AEC, with the support of church goers, students and other local businesses, will close down construction of the Gugulethu Mall at 11h30am.

Eyona tenants who have already been evicted and who still face the threat of eviction, are now joining in solidarity with poor residents of the Gugulethu Anti-Eviction Campaign. Both are now opposing the corruption, lack of consultation, and anti-local orientation of the new Gugulethu mall.

The development of the Gugueltu Square Mall will destroy local businesses, sideline informal traders, and undermine resident's ability to drive the development process. As much as big businesses would like it to have a human face, this near billion rand project will not benefit more than a couple residents from Gugulethu.

JUDGEMENT DAY ~ NO LAND, NO HOUSE, NO VOTE!
Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Release

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When: Friday 21st of November 2008
Where: Magistrate Court, Cape Town (between Buitenkant str & Parade Str)
Time: 08h30
Case: Gympie Street vs Pastor Dennis Robertson

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On Friday the 21st of November the Cape Town Magistrate's Court will give its verdict on the case against the Gympie Street residents. This latest legal battle represents yet another attempt by slumlord Pastor Dennis Robertson to evict the people of Gympie Street. He seems simply unwilling to accept that the people of Gympie Street have a right to adequate housing and dignity. Indeed, he has even been working with the City Council and the police to drive the people from the road. This has seen him collaborating with the City Council to cut off people's water and electricity, and working with the police to routinely harass and arrest people. It is clear that the threatened mass eviction of families who have been staying in the area for decades, is part of the gentrification process (linked to the World Cup) to clear the City Centre of the poor so that the landlords and the elite can profit and move into the area. As such, this latest legal action is about trying to DUMP the people of Gympie Street on the outskirts of the City. Nonetheless, like the three previous cases, the ruling of the latest case will once again be in favour of the people of Gympie Street.

Backyard-dwellers attempt to occupy vacant land and then march on Housing MEC's posh home in Gugulethu

Update on this weekend's attempted land occupation:

While attempting to occupy vacant land in Gugulethu (see original statement below), residents were interrupted by over 50 police officers who, at gun point, illegally stole residents' building materials and threatened to attack residents if they resisted. Angry about the situation, residents decided to march on Housing MEC Whitey Jacob's home in the upscale Malunga Park area of Gugulethu.

In order to get the attention of Jacobs who, like his predecessor, has not been listening to the grievances of Cape Town's poor, residents decided to clean up the trash from a near-by informal settlement and place it in front of the MEC's home. After Jacob's arrived in his brand-new volvo SUV with his body-guard and four police vehicles at his side, he was presented with this attached memorandum.

Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign
Press Alert – For Immediate Release

Thursday, 28 July 2008

Joe Slovo Residents to overnight in Symphony Way, in solidarity with Delft Pavement Dwellers

Date: Saturday, 30 August 2008
Time: 16h00
Location: Symphony Way, Delft

Delft – Following their trip to Johannesburg and attendance at the SA Constitutional Court hearing last week, residents of the Joe Slovo informal settlement in Langa, Cape Town will be visiting the evicted residents of the N2 Gateway Houses along Symphony Way in Delft this Saturday. In addition to sharing the lessons of their struggle against forced relocation to the city's Temporary Relocation Areasin Delft, Joe Slovo residents will also spend the night in the shacks along Symphony Way as a demonstration of solidarity.