http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=882476

Squatters’ shacks destroyed

12 November 2008
Michael Sakuneka

More than 20 illegal squatters living on the banks of the Letaba River in Tzaneen, Limpopo, were left homeless when their shacks were destroyed as part of municipality’s initiative to clear the banks.

When they woke up on Monday the squatters were greeted by the Green Scorpions, who set the shacks alight without any warning.

The demolition followed an eviction order from the Tzaneen municipality, which was ignored by the squatters.

Council lashed for ‘bulldozing’ houses

14 October 2008
Canaan Mdletshe

The Homeless People’s Federation, an NGO in Lamontville outside Durban, yesterday lashed out at the eThekwini municipality for demolishing homes it had helped locals to build.

The homes were flattened to the ground to make way for the municipality’s housing projects.

The NGO claimed this was in contravention of an agreement it had signed with the provincial and the national departments.

It says the homes built by the locals were superior to those planned by the municipality. Shacks were also bulldozed.

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=844809

Residents threaten to destroy bulldozers

17 September 2008
Canaan Mdletshe

The Abahlali Basemjondolo movement has threatened to destroy any bulldozers sent to demolish their newly built shacks at the Foreman Road settlement outside Durban.

Municipal bulldozers were yesterday expected to demolish shacks that had been rebuilt by residents after more than 2000 were burnt down at the weekend. One resident died in the fire.

Abahlali spokesman Mnikelo Ndabankulu warned that the bulldozers were not welcome. He said residents had waited since Sunday for the bulldozers to clean up the area after the fire, but when they did not arrive, the residents started rebuilding their shacks.

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=822553

Only six loos for more than 1000 houses

15 August 2008
Getrude Makhafola

SHOCKING SITUATION: Some of the people who have to make do with six toilets in Regorogile in Thabazimbi, Limpopo. photos: Mohau Mofokeng

NO TOILET: Neliswa Nkwenkwe in what was supposed to be the toilet in her house.

TOTALLY INADEQUATE : Sello Mmebe points to the communal toilets in Regorogile.

So people use nearest bush in veld

The stench at Regorogile township in Thabazimbi is overpowering and the foul smell does not only come from a burst sewage pipe or rotting carcass.

Shack dwellers told to get 'out'

08 August 2008
Katlego Moeng

A Soweto man who applied for a RDP house in 1996 is now being threatened with eviction from his shack in Soweto's Doornkop informal settlement.

Moses Sibeko, 37, has repeatedly renewed his RDP application and is also registered on the housing department's demand database.

On Friday, the word "OUT" was painted on Sibeko's shack. He was not at home and officials from the local municipal office told his wife that they must leave within two months.

The couple have four children. The eldest is aged eight.

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=810691

Residents' anger

29 July 2008
Sne Masuku

Protesters demand service delivery and RDP houses they were promised

Rush hour traffic came to a complete standstill yesterday morning when angry residents of KwaMancinza at Ntuzuma township in Durban blockaded the main roads and prevented buses and taxis from leaving the depot in the area.

They were protesting against poor service delivery and lack of housing in the area. Schooling and work were also disrupted as pupils and workers joined the march.

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=748143

‘Our houses are all ready to fall down’

15 April 2008

DANGER: Lucy Mahlangu and the collapsing wall. Photo: Len Kumalo

Maria Phakela peers through a gaping crack in her RDP house. It is so huge that she can see people passing in the street.

A resident of Sebokeng’s Zone 20, Phakela says dejectedly: “These houses are a danger to us and no matter how many times I repair it the cracks keep coming back.”

The cracks stretch from the roof to the floor.

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=746192

Eviction mayhem hits Jozi

Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi

AFTERMATH: Evicted people yesterday searched for leftovers in the rubble of their belongings in Plein Street, Johannesburg. PHOTO: VELI NHLAPO

Children, oblivious to their parents' plight, romped on mattresses in Plein Street, Johannesburg, yesterday as their guardians tried to piece together their lives.

About 100 people are living on the street after 600 illegal tenants were evicted from the hijacked Barclays building in the city centre on Wednesday.

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=744217

Sowetan 9/4/2008

Court says: rebuild shacks or go to jail

Alex Matlala

The Pretoria high court has found the Blouberg municipality in Limpopo guilty of contempt of court after it failed to comply with two of its orders to rebuild shacks it demolished.

The court has for the third time ordered the municipality to rebuild them within 14 days or else councillors will be imprisoned or fined.

Justice Classen said all councillors, including the municipal manager, would be arrested and stood to be jailed for 60 days or alternatively fined R25000 each if they defied the order again.

Summit discusses abuse of farm dwellers

Sne Masuku, Sowetan, 7 December 2007

Emotions ran high when community-based organisations met the ministry of land affairs at a two-day Land Agrarian indaba aimed at addressing problems of farm dwellers in Zululand.

The abuse of farm dwellers was high on the agenda. Land Affairs Minister Lulu Xingwana and KwaZulu-Natal MEC for agriculture and environmental affairs Mtholephi Mthimkhulu attended the summit that ends today.

Xingwana said she hoped the summit would find ways of resolving the issues of abuse against farm dwellers.