Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Release
February 26, 2008 at 22h15

The homeless residents of Delft condemn today’s arson by two men who have been supporting the DA.

According to residents, a number of DA supporters from section one have been threatening families saying “If you don’t stand with us [the DA], then we will burn your things down to the ground”. At about 20h30 today, two men from the section one settlement (where supporters of the DA are staying) were seen running away from one of the section two residents’ burning shack. The shack, being the last in the row and the closest to the section one settlement, is further proof that this was arson caused by DA supporters.

However, the section two residents have now rallied in support of this family who has lost their makeshift home and all their possessions. They have helped the family of five build a new shack to sleep in and are providing them with much needed moral support.

However, according to leaders in the community, the household still needs blankets and a mattress to sleep on.

Please show solidarity towards the homeless of Delft in this trying time of sabotage and suffering. No human being deserves to have their home and all their belongings burned down as part of a political war that the DA is waging against homeless Delft residents that refuse to do their bidding.

Please call 078-775-4687 for comment.

Urgent Media Update from the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign
Monday 25 February 2008
3:10pm

DELFT, CAPE TOWN – The Democratic Alliance (DA) controlled City of Cape Town along with scores of heavily armed police have just stolen four large tents donated by Islamic Relief to the homeless, evicted people of Delft, who are currently sleeping outside on Symphony Way.

The DA City of Cape Town claims that these tents are a “fire hazard”.

However, just metres away in the DA Councillor Frank Martin controlled section of Symphony Way, the City has actually provided the same kind of tents for the people. Needless to say, these “fire hazards” have been left standing by the DA.

The Anti-Eviction Campaign is deeply angered. These four tents were supposed to be used for the children to play in, and in case of rain.

This is a good example of how all the political parties are totally against the poor. The ANC said last week that it completely supported the eviction of the Delft residents from the houses they had occupied, even though it knew that these vulnerable people had nowhere to return to.

The DA, who supported the occupation, is now using the police to repress the majority of the Delft residents who have rejected their racist, self-promoting DA Councillor. The DA is now trying to starve these residents into submission by blocking food aid to them and exposing their small babies and children to the elements by removing their tents. However, there are no signs that the residents are willing or interested in giving up their peoples’ power to be used as pawns by the DA.

For comment from the scene please call 076 1861408