Monday, August 25, 2008

Joe Slovo residents vow to fight removal

Joe Slovo residents are to decide this week on how they propose the Constitutional Court should settle the community's bid to have an eviction order overturned.

The proposal was requested by the Constitutional Court, which reserved judgment in the matter last week.

About 6 000 residents face eviction
The contested order was granted to national Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu by Cape High Court Judge John Hlophe in March and could see the community forcibly removed to Delft.

Last week the residents sent scores of their representatives to Johannesburg to attend the court proceedings and to hold a a demonstration to highlight their plight.

They are being supported by the Western Cape Anti-eviction Campaign, as well as other housing lobby groups.

On Sunday, residents gathered in their community after hearing that judgment had been reserved and that the court had asked them to lodge their proposal before Friday.

Mzwanele Zulu, Joe Slovo taskforce team spokesperson, said the national housing department and its agent, Thubelisha Homes, had "sidelined the community about the development of the N2 Gateway housing project", planned for the land on which they currently live.

'If they evict us, we won't vote'
He said residents remained optimistic about the Constitutional Court proceedings. But if they lost, they would visit the court again. About 6 000 residents face eviction.

"We are happy and following the case closely," said Damba Xolile, 35, who has lived in the area for nearly 15 years and works in Bellville.

He said the planned evictions would be painful since he was among those who had originally cleared the bush at Joe Slovo so people could build their shacks.

Zakhele Mqolo, 35, who works in Parow, said the ANC should not be surprised next year if people did not vote for it, adding: "If they evict us, we won't vote."

- Cape Argus

No comments: