Are fires, a result of the state's refusal to electrify and to provide anti-fire measures such as hydrants, now being misused to 'eliminate' shacks? Certainly this is how the Municipality in 'Maritzburg sought to misuse the recent floods in the Ash Road settlement. Is Mabuyakulu trying to misuse this fire to turn Jadhu Place into one of his 'transit camps' and thereby weaken the community's hold on the land by rendering the occupation of a long established community much more precarious, unviable and 'temporary'?

Below are today's articles from The Mercury and Isolezwe. The story is also on the front page of today's Daily Sun and has been well covered by E-TV. The demand emerging from discussions within Abahlali is clear: "Resist all attempts to exploit disasters to evict! No transit camps! Rebuild the settlement with electricity!"