Police and MEC Madikizela in Mandela Park destroying brick houses
4 February 2011
Mandela Park Press Statement
According to reports from Backyarder members in Mandela Park, MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela was in Mandela Park earlier today with police and Anti-Land Invasions workers with the intention of destroying a number of brick houses built by poor community members.
As we speak, authorities are demolishing both brick houses and shacks. We think by the end of the day, we think 8 homes will have been destroyed
Community members used a huge amount of their savings to build these houses and the MEC is now threatening to put them back in shacks in other people’s backyarders.
Why is the MEC for Housing destroying our houses?
People are traumatised.
He is supposed to build houses for the poor but instead he is destroying our homes and our lives. What kind of government is this that instead of coming to us and talking to us, takes violent action against the poor? We are waiting for Madikizela who says he will be returning in two hours. We, as the community, will confront him.
The houses are located near Andile Nhose community hall and you can contact the numbers below for more details:
Banele @ 073 722 7268 (on scene)
Monde @ 078 186 2142 (on scene)
(we expect a more in depth press release this evening or tomorrow morning)