http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/protest-march-s-graphic-image-1.1186305

Protest march’s graphic image

The rain poured down, but the spirit among Abahlali baseMjondolo Youth League members soared as they threatened to march through the Durban City Hall doors if no one from the mayor’s office came to accept their memorandum of demands.

“We’re giving them 10 minutes and then we are walking into this building,” they shouted from the stairs despite the many police officers barring the way. 

Hundreds of marchers made their way from Botha’s Park to the city hall on Thursday to hand over a memorandum of demands, which included that the eThekwini municipality’s housing committee chairman, Nigel Gumede, be axed.

The memorandum also called for housing and infrastructure for informal settlements in Durban, and for tenants of a Hillary rental housing project to be allowed back into the flats they had been evicted from.

On November 1, Valley View residents were evicted after a year-long feud between tenants and Sohco, a company partly funded by government subsidies that provides affordable rental flats for families with a monthly household income of between R2 400 and R7 800. The march turned into a mock funeral procession, after which a cardboard coffin was placed on the ground at the city hall. A teddy bear in a dress, representing Gumede, was laid to rest atop the coffin.

“Today Gumede is buried and we dressed him this way because he is girl, and we hope he marries Gaddafi on the other side and he becomes Mrs Nigel Gumede Gaddafi,” said one of the march leaders as a candle was lit next to the coffin.

Reading from the memorandum, Abahlali founder Sbu Zikode said Gumede had lied to communities and he had failed residents of Kennedy Road and Hillary.

“He promised them houses by February last year,” he said.

He said Hillary residents should also be compensated for the damage to their property when they were evicted.

“Gumede also threatened the Abahlali leader in front of the mayor; this must be condemned,” he said.

Zikode said road access and refuse collection in informal settlements across Durban must be addressed by the municipality.

“It’s time we taught eThekwini municipality to respect our cause. It’s time the municipality stopped evicting those who can’t pay rent from flats,” he said.

He said the movement had evidence that RDP houses were being sold in Shallcross, Joe Slovo, Siyanda, KwaMashu, and Lindelani.

“We have told them about this evidence, but they have made no attempts to contact us,” he said.

Representatives of the mayor’s and premier’s office eventually made an appearance to sign and collect the memorandum. Contacted later yesterday, municipal spokesman Thabo Mofokeng said the mayor had not read the memorandum yet.

“Once he has read it and applied his mind, he will respond.”