Cape High Court issues forced removal order against Joe Slovo settlement residents

Today, March 10, Judge Hlophe of the Cape High Court issued an order for the forced removal of the residents of Joe Slovo settlement in Langa, as requested by Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Western Cape Housing MEC Richard Dyantyi, and John Duarte and Prince Xanthi Sigcawu of Thubelisha Homes. By this order Hlophe and the others have declared war on the people of Joe Slovo and must take responsibility for the consequences. By this order Hlophe endorses the bureaucratic madness of forcibly removing Joe Slovo residents to Delft when they do not want to go there, and when there are thousands of backyarders in Delft who need the housing being built there by Thubelisha. By this order Hlophe, Sisulu, Dyantyi, Duarte and Sigcawu show themselves as insensitive to the needs of ordinary people as any of the ministers and judges of the apartheid era. The residents of Joe Slovo wish to make it clear that this is just the beginning of the struggle. They are aware of the collusion that allowed Thubelisha Homes to be aware of Hlophe’s decision before he announced it in court. The residents of Joe Slovo intend to appeal this decision to the Bloemfontein Court of Appeal and to the Constitutional Court if necessary. In parallel with this there is a resistance Plan B which will be revealed as appropriate.

For further information contact Mzwanele Zulu at 0763852369 or the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign at http:// westerncapeantieviction.wordpress.com