Category Archives: evictions

City Attacks Community in Verulam

14 October 2019
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

City Attacks Community in Verulam

This morning at about 10 the Anti-Land Invasion Unit attacked a small community in Parkgate in Verulam in Durban. This community falls under Ward 102.

This is a community of about 75 people, including school going children, living in about 20 houses. This community has lived on this land since 2016.

A few days ago the City arrived and, without explanation marked ten houses with an ‘X’. Today they destroyed these ten houses, and then continued to destroy another 5 houses before the community was able to organise resistance and save the last five houses. Their belongings were also thrown out and destroyed. They have been left destitute. Continue reading

Violent Evictions in Cato Manor & Chesterville

Friday, 7 June 2019
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Violent Evictions in Cato Manor & Chesterville

Yesterday at about 10:15, while we were hosting a vibrant and very interesting political education meeting in central Durban, the Land Invasion Unit, the Metro Police, the Public Order Police and private security attacked the Azanian occupation in Cato Manor. Around 60 homes were destroyed. The ward councillor was present during the attack.

There have been repeated attacks on this occupation since February, when the land was first occupied. One person was recently discharged after being hospitalised for two months as a result of injuries sustained from the Land Invasion Unit during an eviction. The comrades rebuilt last night, working through the night and in the rain.  Continue reading

The Durban High Court Grants Abahlali baseKhenana an Interdict against eThekwini’s Notorious Land Invasion Unit

Thursday, 14 February 2019
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

The Durban High Court Grants Abahlali baseKhenana an Interdict against eThekwini’s Notorious Land Invasion Unit

Yesterday afternoon the Durban High Court granted us an interdict against the eThekwini Municipality’s repeated, vicious and illegal attack on residents of eKhenana land occupation in Cato Crest.

The Abahlali baseMjondolo Khenana branch has suffered violent and illegal evictions from eThekwini Municipality since October last year. The Municipality has repeatedly demolished people’s homes, confiscating and burning their building materials and other belongings. Women and children have suffered the most in the hands of the city that claims to be a caring city. Continue reading

Update on the Court Application to Stop Evictions at the eKhenana Land Occupation

Friday, 28 December 2018
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Update on the Court Application to Stop Evictions at the eKhenana Land Occupation

Yesterday our movement filed an application to prevent any further evictions in our eKhenana Land Occupation in Cato Crest. The court adjourned this matter indefinitely until further information from both parties is gathered.

The Municipality urged the court to give them time to formulate their supplementary affidavit. Even though the interdict was not granted, we consider the court’s response to be valuable because while the matter is in court the Municipality is not allowed to continue with the evictions and the community is not allowed to continue to build more structures.   Continue reading

Cato Crest residents battle continuous demolitions

By Nomfundo Xolo, GroundUp

More than 30 families sit destitute. People are crying. About 20 Anti-Land Invasion Unit officers as well as metro police have been burning and demolishing their shacks in Ekhanana, Cato Crest.

Friday’s eviction is the third in January. The shack dwellers movement, Abahlali Basemjondolo, believes the evictions are illegal following a court agreement with the eThekwini Municipality last year. GroundUp was not able to get comment from the municipality by the time of publication.  Continue reading