31 January 2018
Death Threats at the eNkanini Land Occupation in Cato Manor
Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement
Death Threats at the eNkanini Land Occupation in Cato Manor
We continue to face serious intimidation and repression in our land occupations in Durban. Yesterday men driving Metro police vehicles, but not wearing police uniforms, arrived at the eNkanini Land Occupation in Cato Manor. They issued clear death threats.
The men were targeting our chairperson in the branch. They called his name and when he came out they told him that he will not last. They said that he needs to be killed in order to stop the occupation.
We are currently engaging the provincial Human Settlement Department to see if we can try and work towards an amicable solution in this matter. All our branches, across all the occupations in the city, will stand together against repression.
The intimidation that is taking place in Cato Manor is a tactic by the ANC led government to frighten impoverished people from occupying land in the city. Under the rule of the ANC the price of land for impoverished people is paid in blood.
We continue to take the view that the social value of land must be placed before its commercial value, and that democratically organised land occupations in the cities are a form of grassroots urban planning.
We will hold the land. We will defend our right to the city. We will stand firm with all our comrades facing repression.
Thapelo Mohapi 062 892 5323
Mqapheli Bonono 073 0673 274
Mlungisi Mokoena 065 238 2625