Police shooting at Marikana Land Occupation

Police are now shooting at the Marikana community while we have marched to Philippi East SAPS to secure the release of our arrested comrade. We are in front of Beautiful Gate on Stock Road. Friends and media are urged to rush to the scene.

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AbM-WC Press Statement
17h00 on 30 April 2013

Earlier today we sent out notice that the City's Anti-Land Invasions Unit, Law Enforcement and SAPS had arrived again at Marikana shack settlement to destroy our homes. This was the third time they destroyed our community.

This time they came with a few more police vehicles than on Sunday. People protested the police but were peaceful and restrained. Police proceeded to destroy all but a couple of our homes. Luckily, this time, no one was hurt or beaten by Law Enforcement. But, once again, they purposely broke people's belongings: beds, cupboards, stoves, etc. The City of Cape Town must be held liable for the illegal destruction of our property.

MEDIA STATEMENT
22 April 2013
Issued by:

Abahlali baseMjondolo
Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI)

Minister of Police to pay damages to Abahlali members for police brutality

Police ministry agrees to pay damages after police brutality against Abahlali baseMjondolo members in 2006

Today, the Durban High Court ordered the Minister of Police to pay a total of R165 000 in damages to two members of shackdwellers’ movement Abahlali baseMjondolo - Sbu Zikode and Philani Zungu – and one resident of the Kennedy Road informal settlement. The order, made by agreement, comes after officers from Sydenham Police Station illegally arrested and assaulted Zungu while he and Zikode were travelling to a radio debate with the then KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Housing, Mike Mabuyakhulu, in September 2006. Other officers from Sydenham Police Station then illegally shot a woman at the Kennedy Road informal settlement. The woman was part of a crowd which had gathered to demonstrate against the arrest of Zikode and Zungu.

20 April 2012
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Abahlali baseMjondolo case against the Minister of Police Returns to the Durban High Court on Monday, 22 April 2013

On the 12th of September 2006 S'bu Zikode and Philani Zungu, then the
chairperson and deputy chairperson of Abahlali baseMjondolo, were arrested on
their way to a radio interview and subject to severe assault in the Sydenham
Police Station. When people in the nearby Kennedy Road shack settlement
rallied in support of Zikode and Zungu they were attacked by the police and
Nondumiso Mke was shot in her knee with live ammunition. The arrest and

14 March 2013
Abahlali BaseMjondolo Press Statement

Victory for KwaNdengezi

Three comrades from KwaNdengezi had all charges against them withdrawn in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Their arrest followed a protest against the alleged selling of RDP houses by Nqola, the Ward 12 councillor. Four comrades were arrested to shield Nqola’s corrupt allocation of houses and his attempts to intimidate comrades organising in the area. Mandla Hlophe, one of the four, had all charges against him dropped on the 28 February 2013, by the same court. The three comrades who had all charges against them withdrawn yesterday are Cde Ephrame Hlongwane, Cde Mndeni Nene and Cde Cindy Mabaso.

6 March 2013
Woman’s League Press Statement

Abahlali baseMjondolo Women's League Marched into the Durban City Hall Today

Protocols are a waste of time for the poor; Appointments are delaying tactics while we suffer.

On Saturday 2 March 2013, Abahlali baseMjondolo Woman’s League had its General Meeting. The KwaNdengezi branch was present and shared their painful story of living under constant threat from their Ward 12 councillor and that they are not even sleeping in their own homes due to threats.

Thursday, 28 February 2013
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press statement

All Charges Against One of the KwaNdengezi Four Dropped

All charges against Mandla Hlope were withdrawn in the Pinetown Magistrate’s ‘’C” Court this morning.

Hlope is one of the KwaNdengezi Four arrested on the 28th of January following protests against corruption and intimidation in the area. Residents of the area have accused the local councilor, Mduduzi Christian (Nqola) Ngcobo, of corruption and intimidation. Ngcobo ordered the police to arrest the four. Hlope was charged with public violence and assault.

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement
29 January 2013

Four Arrests in KwaNdengezi

During a protest on Sunday 27 January 2013 people of KwaNdengezi were threatened at gunpoint by an MK Veteran who is one of those who allegedly bought the corrupted RDP houses of the people of KwaNgendengezi. We opened a case of intimidation against this man but it was never investigated and he is still not arrested for that.

Yesterday at around 03:00 p.m.the same MK Veteran and the councillor of the area, Mduduzi Ngcobo, came with the police and pointed out which protesters they wanted the police to arrest. This is how it usually works – the councillors tell the police who to arrest.

The community of Sweet Home near Cape Town have been lobbying for better living conditions for much of 2012. Claudia Dijkkamp investigated.

7 December 2012
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

March Gets Underway Despite ANC Intimidation in Clare Estate this Morning

From early this morning Ward 23 councillor Themba Mtshali went from shack settlement to shack settlement in Ward 23 intimidating people and warning them not to participate in today's march - which was been unlawfully banned by the local SAPS. Mtshali was accompanied by his BEC and his (always armed) bodyguards.

There was also a large police presence in the area. The police were heavily armed and had two water cannons. In light of the fact that it was the police that unlawfully banned the march and their history of violence against our movement - and their support of violence against us from the ruling party - their presence there may also have been a form of intimidation. We know that their work is often to protect the politicians - not the people or what's left of our democracy. However the marchers were able to assemble and to begin the march. The police did not try to disperse them so it seems that they have backed down from their ban in face of the pressure. There is also a strong media presence. However ANC supporters have massed at the councillor's offices and are saying that they will block us from delivering our memorandum.