Gugulethu backyard dwellers who tried to occupy unfinished flats in Langa at the weekend, on Sunday told of the "horror" they experienced when people armed with knobkieries and bricks launched a violent attack on them.
Saturday's occupation, led by the Anti-Eviction Campaign (AEC,) was meant to be peaceful and to protest against the long wait for housing, but yesterday a number of its supporters told how the vicious attack left them with bruised limbs, fractured ribs and head injuries.
"I've got stitches in my head and the doctors told me I've got a cracked skull. They were shouting that the houses belonged to them and nobody else will have it.
"They started beating us and even called young boys to join them. We ran in different directions and some of us managed to get to Bonteheuwel station," Gugulethu resident Lennox Ntungo said.
He was among about 80 other backyard dwellers who had wanted to occupy unfinished flats being built as part of the city council's upgrading of the area.
Another protester, Feziwe Mtshoniswa, said: "They shouted 'kill them, kill them'. It was horrible the way they carried on. They beat us with sticks and it was clear they were determined to kill us. I could not get away. They threw me on the floor and beat me."
The attack had stopped by the time police arrived and she was taken to the Vanguard Day Hospital where she was treated for head injury, Mtshoniswa said.
At an Anti-Eviction Campaign meeting yesterday to discuss the incident, some speakers claimed that the attack was planned because news of the invasion had reached Langa before the backyard dwellers arrived.
Langa resident Signoria Tshabalala, who came to sympathise, said: "Together we all started this campaign for houses, but I'm against this brutal attack. I will support you."
Also injured were two Cape Argus journalists who were attacked by a mob, which smashed their company vehicle with stones and iron bars.
Anti-Eviction Campaign leader Mncedisi Twalo blamed the government for the housing crisis and said people were desperate for houses.
He said backyard dwellers who had been on the housing waiting list for years were overlooked while the government gave preference to squatters affected by fires in informal settlements.
Twalo vowed that the fight for housing would continue and that an alternative under consideration was to invade open spaces in the Gugulethu area.
"There is no turning back. There are many open spaces - next to Lansdowne Road and at NY 112. We won't discuss details now," he said.
Some injured backyard dwellers at the meeting claimed that their attackers were from the Joe Slovo informal settlement next to Langa, but Joe Slovo community leader Mzwanele Zulu denied this.
He said the informal settlement's residents were not expecting to benefit from housing opportunities in Langa.
Joe Slovo residents are fighting an attempt to have them moved to Delft and want houses built for them where they live.
Meanwhile, no further incidents were reported and police said they would monitor the situation. Only one criminal complaint was lodged, Langa police spokesman Odwa Makuphula said.
"There have been no arrests. We'll keep a close eye on the situation because we do not want people to get hurt," he said.
- Cape Times
Saturday's occupation, led by the Anti-Eviction Campaign (AEC,) was meant to be peaceful and to protest against the long wait for housing, but yesterday a number of its supporters told how the vicious attack left them with bruised limbs, fractured ribs and head injuries.
"I've got stitches in my head and the doctors told me I've got a cracked skull. They were shouting that the houses belonged to them and nobody else will have it.
"They started beating us and even called young boys to join them. We ran in different directions and some of us managed to get to Bonteheuwel station," Gugulethu resident Lennox Ntungo said.
He was among about 80 other backyard dwellers who had wanted to occupy unfinished flats being built as part of the city council's upgrading of the area.
Another protester, Feziwe Mtshoniswa, said: "They shouted 'kill them, kill them'. It was horrible the way they carried on. They beat us with sticks and it was clear they were determined to kill us. I could not get away. They threw me on the floor and beat me."
The attack had stopped by the time police arrived and she was taken to the Vanguard Day Hospital where she was treated for head injury, Mtshoniswa said.
At an Anti-Eviction Campaign meeting yesterday to discuss the incident, some speakers claimed that the attack was planned because news of the invasion had reached Langa before the backyard dwellers arrived.
Langa resident Signoria Tshabalala, who came to sympathise, said: "Together we all started this campaign for houses, but I'm against this brutal attack. I will support you."
Also injured were two Cape Argus journalists who were attacked by a mob, which smashed their company vehicle with stones and iron bars.
Anti-Eviction Campaign leader Mncedisi Twalo blamed the government for the housing crisis and said people were desperate for houses.
He said backyard dwellers who had been on the housing waiting list for years were overlooked while the government gave preference to squatters affected by fires in informal settlements.
Twalo vowed that the fight for housing would continue and that an alternative under consideration was to invade open spaces in the Gugulethu area.
"There is no turning back. There are many open spaces - next to Lansdowne Road and at NY 112. We won't discuss details now," he said.
Some injured backyard dwellers at the meeting claimed that their attackers were from the Joe Slovo informal settlement next to Langa, but Joe Slovo community leader Mzwanele Zulu denied this.
He said the informal settlement's residents were not expecting to benefit from housing opportunities in Langa.
Joe Slovo residents are fighting an attempt to have them moved to Delft and want houses built for them where they live.
Meanwhile, no further incidents were reported and police said they would monitor the situation. Only one criminal complaint was lodged, Langa police spokesman Odwa Makuphula said.
"There have been no arrests. We'll keep a close eye on the situation because we do not want people to get hurt," he said.
- Cape Times
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