15 June 2007
Jo’burg: Evicted squatters torch building
http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=492261
Of course the squatters don’t speak in this article. But follow the link at the bottom to the pictures. They are very, very powerful.
Evicted squatters torch building
June 14, 2007
Squatters allegedly torched the defunct Durban Deep Mine hospital in Roodepoort today after they had been served with an eviction notice, Johannesburg emergency services said.
The blaze was extinguished after three fire trucks were given a police escort onto the site because “thousands” of people had tried to bar them, emergency services spokesman Malcolm Midgley said.
“Our guys did a very good job under trying circumstances. As soon as we’d put out the fire in one part of the building, they set fire to the opposite side and threatened us.” No injuries were reported.
East Rand police spokeswoman Superintendent Thembi Nkwashu said nobody was arrested and no force was used to get the protesting inhabitants to disperse.
She said the owner of the property was currently in talks with them.
To see pictures from the eviction and the resistance to the eviction go to http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/OnCamera/Article.aspx?id=492212