Anti-eviction group refuses to meet De Lille
Anti-eviction group, Abahlali baseMjonodolo says it will boycott a meeting with Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille today. De Lille is scheduled to meet backyard dwellers in Khayelitsha to discuss their concerns.
Chairperson for the organisation, Mzonke Poni says: “Many backyard organisations have been sidelined in the meetings. Secondly we also believe that the meeting will not be carried in good faith because there will be no engagement. That meeting will be dominated by the city of Cape Town officials and De Lille.”
Mayoral spokesperson, Solly Malatsi, says they hope the organisation will keep the interest of its members in mind.
“We did invite Abahlali baseMjondolo just like we invited all other backyarders associations. It is voluntary, whichever other organisation that is not interested in attending is practicing their rights. We are committed to working with any individual or organisation that has the best interest of backyarders at heart.”
In a press statement released Abahlali baseMjondolo says to invite three people per organisation of backyarders undermines the right of ordinary people to speak for themselves in finding solutions into problems that they face on a daily basis.
“We call on the mayor to do away with the system of representative democracy in finding solutions regard problems facing the poor as this system excludes ordinary voices from the ground.”