Category Archives: arrests

One death and several injuries in Marianhill, three arrests in Kranskop

Tuesday, 13 June 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

One death and several injuries in Marianhill, three arrests in Kranskop

Today we came under serious attack from the Land Invasions Unit in eMansenseni in Marianhill. One person is confirmed dead, two are in a critical condition in hospital and a number of others are injured – all shot in the back. It was a war zone. The Land Invasions Unit didn’t talk to anyone. They just fired live ammunition. The intention was clearly to kill, to teach a lesson.

There was also an eviction in Kranskop resulting in three arrests. Continue reading

Comrade Nompilo has Just Been Arrested

3 June 2017
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Comrade Nompilo has Just Been Arrested

This morning Baby Jayden Khoza, killed during a police attack on the Foreman Road settlement, was buried in Inanda.

Now Comrade Nompilo has been arrested at a new land occupation in Mayville. The movement is currently mobilising to secure her safety and release.

The struggle goes on.

Land. Housing. Dignity.

For more information contact Comrade Zondi on 078 340 9972

The Times: More than 180 arrests in raid on Thembelihle informal settlement

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/04/30/more-than-180-arrests-in-raid-on-thembelihle-informal-settlement

Police‚ metro cops army and home affairs officials descended on the Thembelihle informal settlement near Lenasia on Thursday morning.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Kay Makhubela‚ who said Thembelihle had been identified as a hotspot for violent crimes‚ told RDM News Wire that‚ at the time of publication‚ more than 180 people‚ including illegal immigrants‚ had been taken into custody.

“It’s more than that [180]‚ much more‚ and we expect to make many more arrests for various crimes during the course of the day‚” said Makhubela. “We will be here the whole day.”

A media briefing with arrest statistics is expected to held later on Thursday. Continue reading

Our Struggle to be counted as Part of the Public Continues

Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Our Struggle to be counted as Part of the Public Continues

On the 5 of September 2013 Sibongile Msiya, Nokulunga Magobongo and Bhekani Mzinhle were arrested in Cato Crest. Their homes in the Marikana Land Occupation had just been illegally destroyed by the eThekwini Municipality. The residents responded by organising a road blockade. When the first police officers arrived on the scene the three comrades showed them a court order interdicting the Municipality from carrying out evictions. When the Superintendent, Mganga, arrived the three comrades were arrested on the spot. They were all charged with ‘public violence’. Their real ‘crime’ in the eyes of Mganga was that they were standing up for their rights and showing the police that the Municipality’s actions were illegal and criminal acts against the public.

Continue reading

Daily News: Rights group members freed

http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/rights-group-members-freed-1.1589819#.Ule701DI3UV


ND UMLAZI COURT1

INLSA

 

 

 

The three Abahlali BaseMjondolo members who were arrested during one of the many service delivery protests in eThekwini, have been released on warning by the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court.

Themba Msomi, Thembeka Sondaba and Fikiswa Mgoduka were among a group of protesters arrested on Friday and charged with public violence.

On Monday eight branches of the shack dwellers movement – including Clare Estate, Isipingo, Mayville, Shallcross, Siyanda and Umlazi – organised road blockades in various areas.

The protests were against evictions, arrests of their members and to demand housing.

Abahlali and Cato Crest residents have been in and out of court trying to prevent the city from tearing down their shacks.

They have applied for a contempt of court order against the city for ignoring previous interdicts restraining it from demolishing shacks.

There was a strong police presence at the court on Wednesday as Abahlali members protested outside the court gates.

The three are expected to return to court on October 23.

The movement’s secretary, Bandile Mdlalose, was released on R5 000 bail on Monday after spending seven days in custody. She is due back in court on October 28.

Meanwhile, support for Abahlali has grown.

The KwaZulu-Natal Church Leaders’ Group denounced the actions of the municipality and its failure in providing “the most basic necessities”.

The chairman of the group and Dean of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, Bishop Rubin Philip, said adequate housing was a human- and God-given right.

“The court keeps giving interdicts to protect these people, but local authorities seem to neglect authority and the rules of the court,” he said.

Philip, who was part of the Black Consciousness Movement, said the poor treatment of shackdwellers was deeply disappointing.

“It’s like taking a step back into apartheid. This is not what we fought for. We fought for peace, homes, jobs and for freedom,” he said.

He said that the church had opened its doors in case the movement required legal assistance through the church’s independent organisation, the Church Land Programme.

The group accused the city leadership of short-sightedness and dishonesty in its handling of housing, which it said sacrificed the lives of the poor to feed selfish political ends.

Last month the general council of the Bar of South Africa criticised the municipality for sending its land invasion unit to destroy shacks despite interdicts preventing this.

The city has insisted that it has been acting within the law. Houses were being built, but it took time and a process had to be followed.

Mayor James Nxumalo will brief the media on Thursday on the city’s housing programme and to “clarify issues surrounding the Cato Crest unrest and land invasions”.

Nxumalo said the city would be “clearing the misconceptions regarding the court order and demolition of shacks”.

Note: The City cancelled their press conference at the last minute.