26 July 2017
Abahlali BaseMjondolo Movement SA Press Statement
Abahlali to seek a court interdict against the eThekwini Municipality
On Sunday the elected leaders of seven new Abahlali baseMjondolo branches were inducted into ubuhlali. The new branches are in Nagina (Phase 2), Metlock, eTafuleni, uMkomaas, Cato Crest and KwaNdengezi.
Tomorrow, on Thursday, 27th July, we will proceed to the Durban High Court to seek a court interdict against the evictions that are being carried by the eThekwini’s notorious Anti-Land Invasion Unit.
The eThekwini Municipality, under the leadership of Zandile Gumede, has been perpetrating organised and armed attacks on impoverished people across the city. These attacks are illegal and criminal attacks. Armed men are sent out to demolish people’s homes and burn their building material and possessions. Samuel Hloele lost his life during one of the evictions and and the many others have ben seriously injured. Today some of our comrades are living with bullets as a result of these violent evictions. Today many of our comrades are homeless as a result of these brutal evictions.
Our legal team is very confident that we will get this interdict that will issue an order preventing the municipality from demolishing people’s homes, and will also insist that they rebuild all the homes that have been destroyed.
While the ruling party talks about radical land reform they are attacking land occupations and destroying people’s homes and property with the aim of driving impoverished people off their land. As usual when we stand for our land and our dignity we face slander and serious violence, including murder. We will stand for the poor. We will stand for the land that we have occupied. We will stand for our right to the city.
We will continue the struggle for land and dignity in the streets, in the land occupations and in the courts. We will continue to name those who benefit from our oppression.
We invite the media and progressive movements who are in the same struggle to come and join us at the Durban High Court as we seek to get this interdict.
Contact persons:
Thapelo Mohapi – 062 892 5323
Sbu Zikode – 083 547 0474