Case of ‘Mandela Park 23′ thrown out of court proving police had no evidence to make arrest

22 09 2009

AEC Press Alert – For Immediate Release

The 23 Mandela Park activists who were arrested on Sunday were released Monday morning after it was found that there was no evidence to arrest them in the first place.  Loyiso, a community leader, wrote the following message thanking everyone who showed support and pressured government to release them.

See his message below.

Loyiso can be contacted for comment about his experience at 073 766 2078.  Other contacts are: Mabhuti at 082-997-8475 and Sluja at 071-433-1101

Hi Comrades once again.

As Mandela Park Back Yarders we would like to forward words of thanks to all those who took part in offering their equal support at Harare Police Station on Sunday evening and Monday morning.  I think it must be clear to all that if there is no equal sharing of goods there can be no equal sharing of power. So for me this equal sharing of goods is crucial to the definition of democracy. If democracy is the right to have a decent life, health, education, freedom and security, then i am a democrat. But i doubt if this really the case in our country when we are still leaving under conditions we once saw before 94.

After the last night live debate at Radio Zibonele FM we met with the ward councilor Mr. Mkhutswana in trying to find solution to the matter. So we dicided to meet up for briefing tonight again to share this with Back Yarders before taking any further decision.

The new development today is that the MEC Madikizela went back to the police station in Harare in his attempt to get us back into jail. These are desperate actions by the MEC to free himself from his controversial announcement that led to the outbreak of anger from Mandela Park Residents.

We are also prepared to fight until justice is served.

One love ma-comrades.

By Loyiso
073 766 2078





The ‘Mandela Park 23′ to appear in Khayelitsha Magistrates court tomorrow at 9am

21 09 2009
Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Statement
on behalf of the community of Mandela Park
Update: 23h00 on 20 September 2009

What we know now:

  • 23 residents of Mandela Park were arrested by police today

  • All 23 activists will appear in Khayelitsha Magistrates Court at 09h00 tomorrow morning (21 September).

  • Residents will protest outside the court until their neighbours are freed

  • The senior prosecutor and the commissioner of Harare Police Station refused to let any of the 23 residents out on police bail even though they all agreed there was no risk in doing so.

Read the rest of this entry »





23 Mandela Park Backyarders Arrested Now

20 09 2009
Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Release
on Behalf of Mandela Park Backyarders
15h00 on 20 Semptember, 2009

23 Mandela Park Backyard Community Members have been arrested and are currently being held in a waiting cell in the Harare Police Station in Khayelitsha on wrongful assumptions by the police. Protests have occurred based on the false promise of housing by Minister Madikizele. Read the rest of this entry »








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