Thursday, 27 July 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Breaking News: The eThekwini Municipality has been interdicted from evicting Abahlali baseMjondolo

The Durban High Court has this morning granted Abahlali an interim interdict following ongoing vicious and illegal evictions by the eThekwini municipality.

The City is interdicted and restrained from demolishing, burning, removing or otherwise destroying and disposing of Abahlali housing structures or threatening to do so. Those whose homes have been destroyed have been given the right to rebuild them. The Anti Land Invasion Unit, which is the City’s armed force, has been terrorising at least seven communities at a gun-point and in brazen violation of the law. At least 241 families were unlawfully and often violently made homeless between February and July this year. Evictions have been continuing even after Abahlali have been rebuilding. What has been most shocking with these evictions is that the municipality has been burning people’s property into ashes. This conduct is not just unlawful but criminal.

We wish to thank our legal team from the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) for acting for Abahlali with such humility. We thank Abahlali members who have continuously and consistently stood firm for their right to the city, their right to the land and their right to dignity.

Thapelo Mohapi 062 892 5323

S’bu Zikode 083 547 0474