Brutal Armed Attack on the eKhenana Land Occupation

The eKhanana Land Occupation was founded in Cato Crest in August this year. Since then it has been subject to repeated armed attacks. The local ward councillor Ward councillor Mzimuni Ngiba has personally accompanied by the police and the Anti-Land Invasion Unit during at least one attack. The ANC leadership in the ward have made it clear that they will not accept the occupation and they have made it clear that they intend to continue to mobilise violence to destroy it.

Today at around 11 am the Anti-Land Invasion Unit, armed security and metro police arrived at the occupation. There were more than 200 of them and they were prepared for war. They attacked the occupation with serious violence including rubber bullets and live ammunition. A number of people were injured in the attack. Mthobeli Sinaba, Bhekokuhle Shezi and Lando Tshazi are currently in King Edward Hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the attack. Lando Tshazi was shot in the leg with live ammunition and the bullet is still stuck in his leg.

The hypocrites in the ANC continues to speak about land reform in parliament and in the media while violently evicting black people in the cities, like the apartheid government did. They do not recognise our humanity. We are treated like animals.

Talk about expropriation is just cheap talk aimed at winning votes. The reality is brutal armed attacks on people organising land reform, and undertaking urban planning, from below. Under the ANC we continue to pay for land with blood.

We continue to commit ourselves to democratic self-organisation and land reform from below. We continue to commit ourselves to defend our occupations. We continue to commit ourselves to defend our humanity.

Our comrades are currently rebuilding their lives after this brutal eviction.

The eKhenana occupation will be held, just as the eNkanini occupation was held.

Thapelo Mohapi 072 072 0686
Mqapheli Bonono 073 067 3274
Lindokuhle Mnguni 081 491 4027