Police repression in Protea South an indicator of a national trend
5 September 2007
Issued by the Freedom of Expression Institute

The Freedom of Expression Institute's concern about police repression of protests – especially those organized by poor communities against the lack of service delivery – was heightened this week with the highly- publicized housing protest in Protea South which was violently attacked by police.

FXI staff were eyewitnesses to acts of police harassment against Protea South residents Monday morning. Maureen Mnisi, a community leader and Gauteng Chairperson of the Landless People's Movement, was arrested while trying to speak with the media. She and at least five other community members were taken into custody and released, without being charged, after spending the night in jail. FXI staff overheard a police captain admitting that he had "always wanted to arrest" Mnisi.

Anti-Privatisation Forum Statement (3 September 2007)

APF Service delivery protests by range of communities across the Vaal and Greater Soweto attacked by police early this morning

Community member in Protea South knocked down by car in road and killed instantly

8 arrested in Kliptown and 6 in Protea South. Scores shot at and chased into their homes. Journalists being harassed

In Vaal, heavily armed police everywhere firing randomly and are conducting house-to-house searches for community leaders who remain in ‘hiding’

From very early this morning, a range of poor communities - which include Boiketlong, Kanana, Dunusa and Sonderwater in the Vaal as well as Kliptown, Freedom Park and Protea South in Greater Soweto - embarked on a series of protests against lack of service delivery.

Zille Raine Heights Residents Committee Press Statement
Friday 6th July 2007
3pm

GRASSY PARK, CAPE TOWN - Ten vans of city police are currently breaking up a tiny unfinished shack belonging to Mr David Tarentaal (60 years old).

Mr Tarentaal is the father of the Zille Raine Heights Residents Committee Co-ordinator, Lorraine Heunis.

He has been living on the same piece of land, in a shack, for the past 57 years! He was three years old when his parents moved onto the piece of land. Over the past 57 years, five generations of people have come to live in the same small shack.

Mr Tarentaal's daughter, Zille Raine Heights Residents Committee Co-ordinator, Lorraine Heunis lives in the sme shack with her children and her grandchildren. Another child and her children also live there. There are more than 12 people living in this tiny shack.

http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/11357.php

October 2006

The Vice Chancellor
Professor Malegapuru William Makgoba
University of KwaZulu Natal
King George V Avenue, Glenwood
Durban
Fax Number: 262 2192

Dear Professor Makgoba

We write to you because of a growing concern that the Freedom of Expression Institute has had over the recent past regarding the state of freedom of expression and of academic freedom at the University of KwaZulu Natal. We
believe that free expression and academic freedom are in severe decline at your university and urge you to act expeditiously to stem this trend which is already derailing your vision of being “the premier university of African