Category Archives: reblocking

The Tembisan: A look at the Vusimuzi reblocking process

The Tembisan

Vusimuzi informal settlement was founded in 1995 and it has been seriously neglected by the government for years

A car drives past a reblocked street which is smaller than promised.

What started as a promise to deliver Vusimuzi shack dwellers from hardship, soon escalated into modern-day apartheid forced-removal tactics. In 2017, the City of Ekurhuleni came up with the reblocking programme, which came with the promise of a better life and development for residents living in informal settlements, such as Vusimuzi and Emandleni, located on the boarder of Wattville and Actonville in Germiston.  Continue reading →

Forced Development, Demolitions, Flooding & Threats in Vusimuzi, Tembisa

Wednesday, 11 April 2018

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Forced Development, Demolitions, Flooding & Threats in Vusimuzi, Tembisa

 Councillor Seloane in Ward 90 has forcibly imposed a reblocking project in the Vusimuzi settlement in Tembisa. This settlement has been seriously neglected by the state for years and years. People are living in inhuman and dangerous conditions. There are not enough toilets and taps, no drainage and uncollected refuse everywhere. People have to make their own electricity connections. The place is infested with rats.

But instead of the government working with the community, in a democratic and participatory way, to develop the settlement into a safe and well organised community Cllr Seloane has forcibly imposed a top down form of development that has divided the community, destroyed some people’s homes and possessions, and left many homes flooded in the recent rains. Continue reading →

ANC Government Forcefully Removes People in Tembisa

Sunday, 8 April 2018

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement


ANC Government Forcefully Removes People in Tembisa

The community of Vusimuzi in Tembisa, Johannesburg, is facing a forced development by the Ekurhuleni municipality. The municipality is currently demolishing people’s houses in the name of development. The reblocking project that is underway has been forced on the community. There has never been any consultation with the community with regard to this so-called ‘development’. This is government thuggery against impoverished people. When a community is vandalised in this manner there is no chance for democracy. Is this the freedom which our people fought for? Is this this how the ANC honour the struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela?   Continue reading →