Category Archives: Delft Anti-Eviction Campaign

AEC: The Heart of Struggle: A Pavement Exhibition

Leave a reply

Delft Anti-Eviction Campaign Event Invite

Event: The Heart of Struggle: A Pavement Exhibition
Date: Sunday 12 October, 2008
Time: 12h00-16h00
Venue: Symphony Way Informal Settlement

On Sunday, the Symphony Way Pavement Dwellers will be host to the first ever Pavement Photography Exhibition.

For over a month now Antonio Angelucci, an independent photographer from Italy, has been visiting the community and working with the children here on Symphony Way.

The kids have had to opportunity learn how to take photographs with both film SLR cameras and digital cameras. At the same time, the children have been teaching Antonio a thing or two about their lives and what it is like to live in an informal settlement. More importantly, Antonio has had the chance to experience the power of community solidarity as the Symphony Way Pavement Dwellers struggle for the homes they so rightfully deserve.

The Pavement Photography Exhibition, held on the barbed wire fence separating the community from the houses they once occupied, will present the professional work of Mr. Angelucci side-by-side with the amateur work of the children. Both Angelucci’s work and that of the children will be supplemented by short narratives about their respective experiences visiting and living in the settlement.

It will contrast an outsider’s viewpoint with that of residents, an adult’s viewpoint with that of children, a white viewpoint with that of non-whites, a privileged viewpoint with that of the poor.

The purpose of the event is to build bridges of creative solidarity in our struggle against oppression.

To see a slide show with some pictures and a statement by Antonio Angelucci, click here.

This statement has also been translated into Italiano, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa

For comment and directions to Symphony Way, please call Ashraf at 076 1861408 or Auntie Jane at 078 4031302

Basic directions from town:

*
Take the N2 towards Somerset West
*
Take the R300 towards Bellville
*
Take the first turn-off onto Hindle Rd and then take a left onto Hindle Rd
*
Hindle Rd will end at Symphony Way. Take a right turn into Symphony Way and go through the barriers until you get to the settlement.

AEC Political Prisoners released on parole after appeal is lodged

Delft Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Statement
9 October, 2008 – For Immediate Release

A few days ago, Jerome Daniels and Riedwaan Issacs were released parole after their lawyer lodged an appeal to the ruling of Magistrate Van Graan. Jerome and Riedwaan, who have been serving their sentences in Polsmoor and Goodwood prisons, where sentenced by Van Graan who argued that he needed to hold the defendants responsible even if they were not present during the incident and that he furthermore needed to “teach the Anti-Eviction Campaign a lesson”.

The AEC maintains that the ruling is both politically motivated and an attempt discourage poor South Africans from participating in social movements such as the Anti-Eviction Campaign. Residents of Symphony Way have stated that “if the justice system was fair, the Magistrate would never have sentenced Jerome and Wanie in what his judgment stated was in the interest of the community. Because if you ask anyone in our community, the judgment meant that we had lost two of our most tireless community workers. This was obviously not in our interest.”

AEC members went to welcome the political prisoners back home when they arrived out of prison. On their arrival, Jerome and Wanie thanked the Anti-Eviction Campaign and all the residents of Delft and Symphony Way who have continued to be there to support them. They said that they appreciated the petitions and pledges of solidarity from people all over the world.

Jerome also said that, though terrifying at first, the sentence was “a breeze” because he knew he had the backing of his wife, his children, and the community. They both said that the time in jail only made them stronger and they vowed to continue to fight against the continued oppression of their communities.

Unfortunately, Jerome and Wanie were not able to comment because the conditions of their parole preclude them from discussing the case. The AEC would also like to point out that, in addition to normal terms, their parole (in a political below the belt punch) prohibits them from working, in any way, shape, or form, with the Anti-Eviction Campaign.

For comment, call Ashraf at 076 1861408 or Auntie Jane at 078 4031302

–~–~———~–~—-~————~——-~–~—-~
For more, please visit the website of the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign at:
www.antieviction.org.za
-~———-~—-~—-~—-~——~—-~——~–~—

AEC: Police illegally destroy homes on Symphony Way

Leave a reply

Police illegally destroy homes on Symphony Way

Delft Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Statement
Saturday 4 October, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Yesterday afternoon, the Symphony Way community was once again invaded by about 15 police officers from the city’s notorious Land Invasions Unit. This time, they attempted to illegally destroy a resident’s home without a court order and without the permission of the City.

Under the direction of Loot Petersen, the Unit proceeded to destroy residents home. Even though it is clearly illegal to evict anyone without a court order, the Land Invasions Unit does this all over South Africa on a regular basis. Still, the people committing these illegal acts are never charged.

This incident was no different. When the police arrived, the Anti Eviction Campaign immediately called Mzwandile Sokupa (the City of Cape Town’s Manager of Informal Settlements) to inquire as to whether or not he had authorised the eviction. Mr. Sokupa then spoke directly to Mr. Petersen.

However, despite this, Mr. Petersen and his unit went ahead an demolished the shack.

The AEC is now calling for the immediate firing of Mr Loot Petersen for his illegal and immoral action on Friday. It is unjustifiable for any law enforcement official to circumvent the courts and take the law into their own hands.

The AEC would also like to point out that Mr. Petersen has also been accused numerous times of corruption when selling government built shacks in the nearby Temporary Relocation Area (TRA) aptly dubbed ‘Blikkiesdorp’. It therefore makes sense that Mr. Petersen would go to great lengths to intimidate and evict residents of Symphony Way in order to force them into Blikkiesdorp where he stands to make a quick buck.

Within an hour after the home was demolished, residents had already come together and collectively rebuilt the home.

Symphony Way’s defiant – though traumatised residents – will remain united!

For comment, call Ashraf at 076 1861 408 and Auntie Jane at 078 4031 302

Click here for some photos

To obtain high quality photographs for publishing, please contact us by email at webmaster@antieviction.org.za

AEC: Pavement Dwellers hold government responsible for hit-and-run

Leave a reply

Delft Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 28 June, 2008

Delft-Symphony – At 4 pm on Saturday 28th of June, 8 year old Charl Jacobs was hit from behind and knocked over by a drunk driver speeding down Symphony Way. Renee, a qualified nurse, and Vicky, a first aid assistant (who both live on the road), kept pressure on Charl’s head wound – keeping him conscious until the ambulance eventually arrived.

For months, the Pavement Dwellers of Delft-Symphony Way (who were violently evicted in February) have been emphasizing the danger of speeding vehicles such as taxis, trucks, ordinary cars, government vehicles and even aggressive police cars who insist on using Symphony Way as a shortcut to their destinations. This road is supposed to be closed to traffic because of the thousands of homeless people currently living on the road. This problem has been raised at all meetings of residents with the traffic department, government officials, and directly to MEC Richard Dyantyi. In fact, for months, city officials have promised that action would be taken to close the road.

But because officials fail to keep their promises, residents have attempted to take matters into their own hands by calling on drivers to slow down, partially barricading the roads, setting up makeshift boom gates, and finally, as a last resort, closing the road completely with burning tires. On Thursday, yet another city official promised to set up proper barricades by 4pm the day before the incident (the 27th of June). This, as with other commitments by officials, never materialized.

According to Renee, “Charl was running off to the store and the car hit him from behind. Thats when I shouted: He’s getting away!”. Rather than stopping after hitting the boy, Mr Xolile continued speeding down Symphony Way. When residents caught him at the corner of Modderdam and Stellenbosch Arterial, he was clearly intoxicated. Residents brought him back to the scene of the crime where police took him and a passenger into custody.

Thousands of angry Pavement Dwellers are holding the South African government directly responsible for this easily preventable accident. While residents, who are struggling to survive in the freezing cold weather, live directly across from empty houses that were meant for them, this tragedy is proof once again that no one in government actually cares about the safety and basic needs of the poor pavement dwellers.

The Delft Anti-Eviction Campaign is now looking into the feasibility of suing government for their inaction which has resulted in the near death of Charl and suffering of thousands who have, for years, been on the waiting list for houses.

For comment, please contact Ashraf at 072-503-6625

–~–~———~–~—-~————~——-~–~—-~
For more, please visit the website of the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign at:
http://www.antieviction.org.za
-~———-~—-~—-~—-~——~—-~——~–~—