Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign
23 October 2007
Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Release: Joe Slovo arrests, Hanover Park eviction, District Six high court eviction case tomorrow
JOE SLOVO INFORMAL SETTLEMENT – Joe Slovo Task Team leader, Mzwanele Zulu, and one other activist were arrested recently by the police. They were released shortly after with no charges being laid against them. It is clear that the police and the state are waging a campaign of harassment against Task Team leaders who are part of the mass community movement demanding free housing on the land of Joe Slovo, and an end to forced removals. It is unclear why Zulu and the other activist were even arrested in the first place. The Anti-Eviction Campaign demands that the harassment of Joe Slovo activists come to an end. The Campaign held another meeting at Joe Slovo on the weekend and resolved to increase the level of solidarity for the community. For comment call Mzwanele Zulu on 076 3852369
HANOVER PARK – The Newfields Village Anti-Eviction Committee is disgusted that an illegal eviction was carried out in the community today. A private indiviudal came along and threw out all the furniture of a single mother of two young children, who is currently in prison. This was done illegally since there was no eviction order, and only the Sheriff of the Court has the right to carry out an eviction. The Campaign immediately contacted the Cape Town Community Housing Company, which owns all the houses in Newfields Village, and was told by them that they condone such evictions. The Campaign is disgusted by this and has vowed to take action. For comment call Gary Hartzenberg on 072 3925859
DISTRICT SIX – The last remaining original households in District Six (17 families) will appear in the Cape High Court tomorrow. Their derelict houses are privately owned and the owner has been trying to evict the families for over one year. The owner wishes to sell off the properties ahead of the 2010 World Cup so as to make huge amounts of money. The families are all pensioners, have been living in the houses for decades and had a reasonable expectation that they would continue to do so until they died. The City of Cape Town has and the National Housing Department has consistently failed to make provision for poor renters of privately owned derelict accommodation. These kinds of families should have been allocated state housing along with the rest of the poor and working class citizens of the city, but they are now finding themselves out on the street at the age of 75 with nowhere to go. For comment call Ashraf Cassiem on 076 1861408 or Mrs George on 073 7068222
Dear Friends
The Cape Town Anti-War Coalition hereby invites you to a meeting this Saturday, 27th October at Community House, Salt River at 12h30.
We have invited Comrade Mzwanele Zulu from the Joe Slovo Task Team to address the meeting about the kind of support we can offer to their struggle.
Other items on the proposed agenda: (Please feel free to bring your own items)
1. Supporting the Anti-Eviction Campaign march to FNB Bank and Thubelisha Homes
2. Preparation for the international day of 60 years since the Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe of 1948 when the Palestinians lost most of their country)
3. Preparation for an event to mark 40 years since the youth taking Paris (in 1968)
4. Fundraising
5. Solidarity with the indigenous people of New Zealand, who are currently in prison facing bogus charges of “terrorism”
6. Next meeting
Please call 072 5036625 or 082 2020617 for more info. Taxi fares will be refunded if needed.