Inter Press Service (IPS) / Monday, 08 March 2010
Cape Town (South Africa) – While South African parliamentarians attended a swanky pre-International Women’s Day celebration at Cape Town’s International Convention Centre, a group of destitute women in decaying Kewtown, just seven miles away, worried about looming homelessness. Read the rest of this entry »
INFORMAL traders in central Mitchells Plain have clashed with police over permits.
Chaos erupted in the town centre yesterday morning when nearly 100 traders reacted angrily to the arrival of metro police who said they had been instructed by city officials to remove any structures which blocked the walkways. Read the rest of this entry »
World Cup, Olympics Harm Housing: UN
Published on Monday, March 8, 2010 by Agence France Presse (accessed at Commondreams.org)
A UN human rights expert blamed football’s World Cup and the Olympic Games for forcing thousands out of their homes, as host cities sought “beautification” often at the expense of poor residents. Read the rest of this entry »
Today in Mitchells Plain Town Centre, Traders were evicted, goods were confiscated, trading bays demolished and livelihoods shattered.
The Town Centre was lined with police and law enforcement vehicles as Traders non-violently protested as they watched their goods get thrown into dumpsters. Over 100 police and law enforcement officers were on the scene, as well as City Officials Randall Skrikker and Richard Holdstock. As each trading bay was broken down, Traders resisted in a non-violent manner.
Traders without permits are left without the ability to continue their businesses after many have been trading in the Town Centre for over 20 years. The community is behind the Traders and we will continue to fight for the rights we know we deserve. The poorest of the poor continue to be marginalised in a country that claims to be democratic. Traders ask for support and solidarity and all media is asked to speak to the following Traders individually to gain further insight into the events that took place today:
Jennifer at 0833522658, Nazeema at 0735790445, Desma Abrahams at 0787878702, Faldela at 0839252025, Ishmael Abrahams at 0837691653, Naiela at 0729050779
By Nomava Nobumba
07 March 2010
Traders of Mitchell’s Plain, Town centre have been evicted by Law Enforcement officials early this morning.
One of the traders who introduced herself only as Jennifer says at about 5am the city officials forced them to leave the area with no eviction letter.
“When I arrive at my stand, they started by vandalising it and confiscated my goods,” she said.
Spokesperson for traders Mischka Cassiem says their livelihood is at stake.
“We have to wait and see, and at this stage I can not comment further until we met with the city,” Cassiem said.
About 700 traders have been affected by the eviction.
The evictions of Traders in Mitchells Plain Town Centre have been calmed. Law Enforcement is still present in the area, but no evictions have taken place this morning.
After 7am this morning one Trader was mishandled and verbally abused by Law Enforcement. The officials approached her stand and removed her goods, vandalising her stand. She then willingly removed her goods, and will continue to trade this afternoon. She was verbally told she can’t trade today and City Official Randall Skrikker announced that she will also not be allowed to trade tomorrow.
Overall the Town Centre is calm. The perseverance of the Traders is apparent as we fight together for our livelihoods. All support and solidarity are requested from the public and media.
For more information please contact Jennifer at 0833522658 and Naiela 0729050779
At the moment, Traders of Mitchells Plain Town Centre are being evicted by Law Enforcement officials: goods are being confiscated and livelihoods are at stake. The City of Cape Town is moving forward with the renovation process that will see loss of livelihoods for at least 500 Traders. Many Traders still feel that this process is not for their benefit. We are appealing for the support of the community in and around Mitchells Plain. All media is invited to the Town Centre.
For more information please contact Mischka Cassiem at 0745257336
Freitag, 5. März 2010
Marx21.de | – Zwanzig Jahre nach der Freilassung Nelson Mandelas wird die Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft in Südafrika ausgetragen. Viv Smith wirft einen Blick hinter die schöne Kulisse und beschreibt die Auswirkungen auf die einfachen Menschen. Read the rest of this entry »
South African informal traders, such as this fruit seller in Johannesburg, are facing eviction in the lead up to the World Cup. (Photo credit: Creative Commons)
By Allyn Gaestel – Media Global
3 March 2010 [MediaGlobal]: South Africa is eagerly preparing to host the World Cup in June 2010, but the government’s preparatory development projects are negatively impacting the country’s poorest citizens.
Read the rest of this entry »
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