12 | May | 2009 | Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign

Abahlali Protest for the 13th of May at 10:00 am at Macassar Village

12 05 2009

Update on May 13: There is a heavy police presence and people are being intimidated. Mzonke Poni is on the scene. he can be contacted for minute to minute updates on the situation at 073 256 2036.

Abahlali on New Mayor for City of Cape Town and Housing MEC for the Western Cape:

Abahlali baseMjondolo of the western cape welcomes the appointment of Madikizela as the new housing MEC of the western cape, while we welcome it but we are also clear as Abahlali that Madikizela will just be the face that represent MEC for housing for the Western Cape and we believe that Zille will be the one that will make and take crucial decisions about housing crisis within the Western Cape and Madikizela is just there to implement those decision.

That is also the same with the City of Cape, Dan Plato who performed very bad while he was the head of service delivery for the city and now become the new mayor for the city is also not given the job by Zille because of competence but because he is one of Zille’s loyalist and he will be please to take orders from his madam and implement them. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: Dan Plato, Housing MEC, Macassar Village, Madikizela, Theliwe Macekiswana
Categories : Archives, Macassar, News & Press Release, Poor People's Alliance

Message by ‘Yanda’ from Umtata

12 05 2009

Author : yanda

I totally agree with the anti-eviction campaign because very often leaders who are not from where they are leading take the people for granted and they do not see the urgency of ensuring service delivery from the government. I am from Umtata and the similar thing is happening where we have councillors who are from towns we do not know, they come with a capitalistic attitude and a result development in the city has dropped to zero, our town is dirtier than ever, roads have pot holes everywhere and this is so because our leaders do not know their people, they do not understand what we want and more over, they do not know the town!Such leaders should be removed because even when they are blamed for retarded development, they will not have a conscience as compared to a leader from the area who will even be ashamed to face the community if he or she engages in fraud and neglects our cries.

I’m glad that there are at least some people out there who are able to have the courage of standing up and saying enough is enough. this is a motivation to other communities as well.

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Tags: Umtata, Yanda
Categories : Archives, Solidarity

slums created by the government

12 05 2009

Monday, May 11, 2009

Source: Squatter City

Even with the best of intentions, here’s what you get when governments refuse to work with squatters to better their communities and instead evict them with the promise of permanent housing in the future: slums created by the government. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: Malaysia, slums created by government, Squatter City, Temporary housing, TRA
Categories : Archives, Mainstream and Other News

AEC in Athlone Magistrates court on May 13 and at Constitutional Court on May 14

12 05 2009

Upcoming Anti-Eviction Campaign and Poor Peoples Alliance events:

May 14 in Joburg – The AEC and other Poor Peoples Alliance members will be attending Abahlali baseMjondolo’s Constitutional Court challenge of the KZN Slums Act. See this previous press release. For more information, contact:

Ashraf Cassim AEC Cape Town 076 186 1408
Mnikelo Ndabankulu ABM-KZN 079 745 0653
Mbhekiseni Mavuso Rural Network KZN 072 279 2634
Mzonke Poni ABM Cape Town 073 256 2036
Maureen Mnisi LPM-Gauteng 082 337 4514

Morning of May 13 in Athlone – The Gugulethu AEC will turn out in numbers to support activists Mncedisi Twalo and Mbulelo Zuba for their final appearance in Athlone Magistrate’s Court. We expect the case to be thrown out for lack of evidence as it is a trumped up charge. If the case is actually heard, residents will be presenting damning accounts of police brutality and of ANC leaders such as Mcebisi Skwatsha’s harasment of residents. For more information, contact:

Pule at 073 6448 919 or 078 580 8646
Ashraf Cassim at 076 186 1408

Also in the news:

A damning audit report of the N2 Gateway housing project was released showing widespread corruption, mismanagement and criticising the government attempts to evict the poor.

New Zealand’s 60 minutes profiles anti-Apartheid activist John Minto’s trip to South Africa including his visits to the AEC communities of Gugulethu, Old Crossroads and Symphony Way. He also met with ‘high profile’ people such as Desmond Tutu and the former Springbok captain.