Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Statement
Friday 20 June 2008 at 10am
Friday 20 June 2008 at 10am
GUGULETHU – A planned new multi-million rand shopping mall that is being built in Zone 1, on the site of the demolished Eyona Centre, may still be stopped, if mediation conducted by the Anti-Eviction Campaign fails at tomorrow’s public meeting.
The media are invited to attend a meeting between Gugulethu residents, the property developers, the city council and Anti-Eviction Campaign tomorrow (Saturday 21 June 2008 ) at 2pm opposite Eyona shopping centre in the Ekuphumleni Old Age Home.
The community is demanding to know exactly who owns this land and how it came to fall into the hands of Mzoli Developers (owned by businessman Mzoli Ngcawuzela, owner of the well known Mzoli’s restaurant).
Khula Enterprises, current landlord of the premises, will also be at the meeting.
No consultation, public participation or transparent processes have taken place and residents doubt that the new mall will create jobs or opportunities for existing small businesses in Gugulethu. The community is against a mall that will sideline small business and community based enterprises, and benefit a few rich corporations only as this does not add value to this impoverished township.
The Anti-Eviction Campaign will be chairing the meeting as we have been mediating a number of meetings that have been held behind closed doors, in recent weeks.
Last month, residents marched on the building site and shut it down for several days.
For comment, call Mncedisi Twalo of AEC on 078 5808646 or Thandiswa Kama on 082 495 8652 or Ranti Dlangamandla on 083 725 1377
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