Category Archives: siyanda

The New Age: Houses ordered for 38 families

http://www.thenewage.co.za/62905-1010-53-Houses_ordered_for_38_families

Houses ordered for 38 families

Chris Makhaye

The Durban High Court has ordered the Ethekwini municipality to relocate into proper houses 38 families from Siyanda, north of Durban, who are living in the transit camp also known as Tin Town. The city had 90 days to comply.

The court ruled in favour of residents who were removed in 2009 to make way for Dumisani Makhaye highway and put into the Richmond Farm transit camp with promises that they would be relocated within months. Continue reading →

M&G: Landmark evictions ruling poses a threat to municipal officials

http://mg.co.za/article/2012-09-19-landmark-evictions-ruling-poses-a-threat-to-municipal-officials

Landmark evictions ruling poses a threat to municipal officials

Municipal officials now face the very real threat of being fined or imprisoned over evictions following a judgment by acting judge Nigel Hollis.

by Niren Tolsi

Wednesday’s groundbreaking ruling at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court compelled eThekwini municipality officials to provide 37 families living in a transit camp with permanent accommodation within three months – or face a fine or imprisonment. Continue reading →

Court Victory Against the eThekwini Muncipality!

MEDIA STATEMENT
Issued by: Abahlali baseMjondolo and Socio-Economic Rights Institute of SA (SERI)
19 September 2012

VICTORY FOR FORGOTTEN SHACK DWELLERS

High Court orders eThekwini Mayor, City Manager and Director of Housing responsible for ensuring compliance with court order to provide houses to evicted Siyanda occupiers

Today the Durban High Court handed down a ground-breaking judgment in Mchunu and Others v Executive Mayor of eThekwini and others, following a hearing held on 17 September 2012. The decision, given by Acting Judge Nigel Hollis, requires the Mayor of eThekwini, the City Manager and the Director of Housing to take all the necessary steps, within three months, to provide permanent housing to 37 poor families living in a transit camp near KwaMashu, Durban. If they do not, they may be fined or imprisoned.

Continue reading →

Abahlali baseSiyanda vs eThekwini Municipality

18 September 2012
Abahlali press statement

Abahlali baseSiyanda vs eThekwini Municipality

The failure of the eThekwini municipality to comply with an order of the court that compels it to house the residents of Siyanda who have been left to rot in the Richmond Farm transit camp has clearly indicated that the City is law unto itself.

Yesterday the Court heard both the sides of Abahlali and eThekwini and held the judgment. The judge said it was going to handed down in few days. We have just received a call from our legal team saying that tomorrow, Wednesday, 19 September 2012 at 9am the judgment will be handed down at the Durban High Court.

Continue reading →

Daily News: Shack dwellers take city to court

http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/shack-dwellers-take-city-to-court-1.1385328#.UFiB0LLiax4

Shack dwellers take city to court

September 18 2012
By Rizwana Sheik Umar

Residents of a KwaMashu informal settlement and the shack dwellers’ movement Abahlali baseMjondolo have taken the eThekwini Municipality to court for failing to comply with a court order to provide homes for residents evicted from the area.

In 2009, residents of the Siyanda settlement near KwaMashu were evicted from their shacks by the Department of Transport and relocated to transit camps to make way for the construction of Dumisani Makhaye Drive. Continue reading →