http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5390599

Shack dwellers vow to march

March 15, 2010 Edition 1

GUGU MBONAMBI

Abahlali Basemjondolo yesterday vowed to go ahead with a march on March 22 – despite the eThekwini municipality refusing it permission to do so.

The shack dwellers’ movement has also threatened to take legal action against municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe, who it blames for not being granted a permit to march.

Abahlali spokesman Mnikelo Ndabankulu said Sutcliffe’s office had responded that the city did not have sufficient police officers to provide security at the march.

“If the city does not have enough police to monitor about 20 000 people who will be marching for just four to five hours on one day, how can they say that Durban has enough police and the capacity to protect the whole world for a month when they come for the World Cup?” he asked.

Delay

Ndabankulu said it was common practice for the city to delay its response to Abahlali’s requests to march.

“In 2007, our movement was banned from marching because the city claimed that our organisation was not known.

“We took Sutcliffe and former KwaZulu-Natal transport and community safety and liaison MEC Bheki Cele to court and won the case. If we have to go to court again before marching, we will do so,” he said.

The movement wants to march to call for an investigation into the “double ownership” of RDP houses and for transparency from the municipality in their allocation.

Metro police spokeswoman Joyce Khuzwayo said: “We were informed by the city that all marches should be put on hold for now because they will clash with the city’s preparations for the World Cup.”

The Mercury was unable to get comment from Sutcliffe.