Guguelthu AEC Press Statement
1st December, 2008 - For Immediate Release

Today, the Gugulethu AEC, with the support of church goers, students and other local businesses, will close down construction of the Gugulethu Mall at 11h30am.

Eyona tenants who have already been evicted and who still face the threat of eviction, are now joining in solidarity with poor residents of the Gugulethu Anti-Eviction Campaign. Both are now opposing the corruption, lack of consultation, and anti-local orientation of the new Gugulethu mall.

The development of the Gugueltu Square Mall will destroy local businesses, sideline informal traders, and undermine resident's ability to drive the development process. As much as big businesses would like it to have a human face, this near billion rand project will not benefit more than a couple residents from Gugulethu.

http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4719651

Developments need to be based on partnerships
Without government and communities working together, even the best-intentioned projects can do more harm than good

November 19, 2008 Edition 1

Imraan Buccus

NATIONAL attention remains fixed on the unlovely aftermath of Polokwane and the new political party, Congress of the People (Cope).

At times like this, we often forget the ordinary people who keep the country going, and in whose name most of the major battles continue to be fought.

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.isolezwe.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4675234

Babhikishile abadilizelwe imijondolo

October 23, 2008 Edition 1

BAWINILE NGCOBO

BANCAMELE ukulova emsebenzini izolo abantu abaqashile emijondolo yase-Bottle Brush eMoorton, eChatsworth, bagcwala umgwaqo babhikisha bekhala ngokuba ngumtshingo ubethwa ngubani njengoba kudilizwa imijondolo abaqashe kuyo.

Lo mphakathi obungaphezu kwenkulungwane uhlanganele ehholo lendawo ufuna abaholi bophiko lwezindlu kuMasipala weTheku ukuthi bazothatha uhla lwezikhalo zabo.

The Honorable Cllr Obed Mlaba
Office of the Mayor of eThekwini
City Hall, West Street
Durban 4001
Republic of South Africa

Re: Forced relocation of shack-dwellers in Siyanda, KwaMashu

Dear Cllr Mlaba,

The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) is an international human rights non-governmental organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, with offices throughout the world. COHRE has consultative status with the United Nations and Observer Status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. COHRE works to promote and protect the right to adequate housing for everyone, everywhere, including preventing or remedying forced evictions.

http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global[_id]=15199

11 families evicted from New Hanover farm in rain by new owner

23 Oct 2008
Thando Mgaga

ELEVEN families are homeless after they were evicted from the Slavko Vukelic Farm in New Hanover.

One of the evicted people, Bongiwe Mabaso, said they have lived on the farm for more than 10 years and the eviction took them by surprise.

She said they have been engaged in a battle to stay on the farm since 2006. Their lawyer was informed about the eviction earlier this week and has been instructed by the Land Affairs Department to oppose it.

Police illegally destroy homes on Symphony Way

Delft Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Statement
Saturday 4 October, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Yesterday afternoon, the Symphony Way community was once again invaded by about 15 police officers from the city's notorious Land Invasions Unit. This time, they attempted to illegally destroy a resident's home without a court order and without the permission of the City.

Under the direction of Loot Petersen, the Unit proceeded to destroy residents home. Even though it is clearly illegal to evict anyone without a court order, the Land Invasions Unit does this all over South Africa on a regular basis. Still, the people committing these illegal acts are never charged.

http://www.baystatebanner.com/World21-2008-09-11

South Africans protest mass eviction order in court

by Toussaint Losier

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Dancing the toyi-toyi, stomping their feet and singing protest songs, more than 100 residents of the informal Joe Slovo settlement in Cape Town and their supporters rallied outside of South Africa’s Constitutional Court last month in support of the community’s right to adequate housing.