Monday, 11 December 2006
Press Release from the Motala Heights branch of Abahlali baseMjondolo
More Illegal Evictions Threatened in the Motala Heights Settlement Tomorrow
‘Everywhere the Municipality is Running to Attack the Bahlali’
– Lousia Motha, Motala Heights Development Committee
The eThekweni Municipality’s ‘slum clearance’ programme is premised on systematic illegality. Contrary to the constitution evictions are carried out without court orders and without written warning; people are routinely not given a choice as to whether or not they want to be relocated (hence relocations are often forced removals); people routinely suffer damage to their property; the evictions are routinely carried out with casual violence and people are routinely left homeless. Shack owners are usually given relocation homes but tenants are most often left homeless. If you try and point out to the Municipality that their behaviour is illegal you are likely to be assaulted. This happened to Bheki Ngcobo from the Motala Heights settlement when he attempted to hand over a lawyer’s letter to the municipal security demolishing homes in his settlement early last month. He was pepper sprayed, knocked to the ground and kicked. It is clear that the Municipality’s rule is under the law rather than of the law when it comes to the poor.