Category Archives: Phumula Mqashi Land Occupation

Severe Police Assault, Evictions & an Arrest in Tembisa

Sunday, 5 August 2018
Phumula Mqashi Land Occupation Press Statement

Severe Police Assault, Evictions & an Arrest in Tembisa

This morning the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) returned to the Phumula Mqashi Land Occupation in Tembisa. They destroyed the people’s shacks and burnt their building materials, as well as their mattresses and clothes. They assaulted six people, men and women, pointed Lerato Ramorei with a gun and beat him severely. They then arrested Lerato. We are extremely concerned about his safety. Continue reading →

Tembisa land occupiers accuse police of brutality

Tembisa land occupiers accuse police of brutality

City says it is committed to building houses on the land

Bongani Siwela rebuilds his shack with paper after it was demolished by the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department during an eviction. Siwela, who is unemployed, makes a living by recycling plastic and paper. He moved to this area because he could not afford the R750 rent which he was charged in Tembisa to stay in a backyard shack. Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee

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Land occupiers in Tembisa say they have been at the receiving end of violent, persistent and unlawful attacks by police, with the most brutal attack taking place on Monday, 30 July.

Shack dwellers on the land, which they have named Phumula Mqashi, were allegedly stripped naked and beaten by both Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) and South African Police Service (SAPS) members from Tembisa. Their makeshift shacks were burnt. Continue reading →

Brutal Attack on the Phumula Mqashi Land Occupation in Tembisa

30 July 2018
Phumula Mqashi Land Occupation Press Statement

Brutal Attack on the Phumula Mqashi Land Occupation in Tembisa

The Phumula Mqashi Land Occupation in Tembisa on the East Rand was founded on 13 February 2018. It has been coming under sustained, illegal and often violent attack from the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD). Shacks and people’s possessions have been repeatedly burnt.

We have taken the EMPD a lawyer’s letter informing them that their actions are illegal but it has made no difference. They returned today, at around 10:00, and stayed until 12:50. They burned 266 shacks and assaulted almost everyone. They used tear gas and rubber bullets. They even chased elderly people and pregnant women. Many of us are injured. One person has been very badly assaulted. They undressed him and then started beating him up.They burnt all our belonging including mattresses, clothes and children’s stuff for school.

Continue reading →

Illegal Attacks on the Phumula Mqashi Land Occupation in Tembisa

Phumula Mqashi Land Occupation

Friday, 6 July 201

Phumula Mqashi Land Occupation Press Statement

Illegal Attacks on the Phumula Mqashi Land Occupation in Tembisa

On 13 February 2018 a large tract of empty land was occupied in Tembisa, on the East Rand. During apartheid the land was used by the army. Since then it has remained unused. There were more than 700 occupiers and they were members of various organisations and came from a number of areas including Jiyane, Vusimuzi, Sivana, Welamulambo, Mgantsa and Thafani Section. Some had been renting shacks and others were living with their parents or grandparents in four room township houses. Sometimes there are ten or even fourteen people living in these four room houses. Young people need a place of their own to raise their children. Continue reading →