Brutal and Illegal Evictions Continue to Undermine our Human Rights in New City, Marianridge

1. Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement
Brutal and Illegal Evictions Continue to Undermine our Human
Rights in New City, Marianridge
Abahlali in New City in Marianridge are under attack following the
Cityʼs continuous violation of a Durban High Court interdict. On
Monday, 19 March, at about 17pm, the Isambulo security guards
illegally and brutally evicted four families who are protected by the
court order. This act angered residents who were then forced to
resist. Three activists were seriously injured when the protest
intensified during the whole day yesterday.
Sisi Nonhlanhla Zungu broke her leg while fleeing the police. Sibusiso
Mngonyolo was shot with rubber bullets and sustained serious
injuries. A one month old baby Dimpo Mohale inhaled tear gas as the
police attacked activists in their homes (and not in the road where
protest took place). The baby was admitted to hospital too. We
remember last year that we lost baby Jayden Khoza as a result of
police attack on activists in their homes in the Foreman Road
settlement in Clare Estate. Comrade Noloyiso Ziyunguma was
arrested and still in custody.
The protest continues today. Now as we speak as comrades are
demanding the release of comrade Noloyiso. Her only crime has been
to demand umhlaba wokuhlala “land for living”.
Today, is supposed to be Human Right day on which we celebrate the
achievement of Human Rights for all. The Human Rights written into
the laws only exist on paper for people who are black and
impoverished. In reality we are impoverished, our homes are
destroyed, we are beaten, shot at, tortured, jailed and killed
Today we are supposed to be celebrating the sacrifices made by
many fallen heroes of our country. But the reality is that the ANC
government has decided to continue where the apartheid state
finished. We continue to be oppressed.
The ANC have decided that this Human Right day should be
dedicated to its members, its volunteers and to the elites. It is most
unfortunate that after twenty four years of democracy we are still
hunted as wild animals. After twenty four year of democracy we have
no land and we have no decent housing. After twenty four year of
democracy we remain locked in shacks and in ‘transit campsʼ. Clearly
there are no human rights for the impoverished in this country. This

2. day is now characterised by protests in many part of this country.
We note with great sadness that workers remain in deep poverty and
are still struggling for a living wage while working hard for this
country. Now new labour laws aim to undermine workers and
strengthen the position of the bosses. We stand in solidarity with
struggling workers today as they march in Johannesburg in search
for decent and fair labour practice. We join their call and we say
“scrap the new labour bills”. We also stand in solidarity with our
comrades from the Social Justice Coalition, Reclaim the City and
many more who are currently marching in Cape Town for “land for
living”. They march for “umhlaba wokuhlala”. We are saying your
struggle is our struggle. We are aware that the system that confront
us will require us to unite across different sections of our society. It
will require the impoverished and working class to build revolutionary
democracy and popular democratic power from below.
The Human Rights written on paper will not become a living reality
without communities, movements and unions uniting to build a
powerful and democratic mass movement from below for a just, equal
and peaceful South Africa. Human dignity must be placed before
profit.