The community of Vusimuzi settlement has been facing forced reblocking and demolitions imposed by their local councillor, resulting in damaged and flooded homes and threats of eviction. Over 170 shacks and toilets have already been demolished, separating families and damaging property, with around 200 more homes at risk of demolition. The community opposes the development, calling for participatory and democratic processes without intimidation or corruption when relocating is necessary.

1. Wednesday, 11 April 2018
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement
Forced Development, Demolitions, Flooding & Threats in Vusimuzi,
Tembisa
Councillor Seloane in Ward 90 has forcibly imposed a reblocking
project in the Vusimuzi settlement in Tembisa. This settlement has
been seriously neglected by the state for years and years. People
are living in inhuman and dangerous conditions. There are not enough
toilets and taps, no drainage and uncollected refuse everywhere.
People have to make their own electricity connections. The place is
infested with rats.
But instead of the government working with the community, in a
democratic and participatory way, to develop the settlement into a
safe and well organised community Cllr Seloane has forcibly imposed
a top down form of development that has divided the community,
destroyed some people’s homes and possessions, and left many homes
flooded in the recent rains.
Vusimuzi settlement was founded in 1995. There are thousands of
shacks here, with up to 8 people living in each shack. In November
last year people were forced to agree to the reblocking project.
They were told that if they didn’t sign they will be taken and left
homeless on the street. This is intimidation, not participatory and
democratic development. All of our letters to various officials and
all our attempts to meet with the Councillor have been ignored.
The demolitions started in January. The demolishing of homes, as
well as toilets, continued last week. Homes are not only being
demolished to open space for roads. Sections of homes are also being
demolished when they are said to be ‘too big’. People have been told
that the Councillor will open the space to new people. It is
rumoured that the new people have paid the Councillor, or his
followers, for this space. It has also been rumoured that access to
the nearby RDP houses was allocated on a corrupt basis.
A total of 174 shacks, as well as a number of toilets, have already
been demolished as a result of this project. As well as losing their
homes, or parts of their homes, people have also had their property
damaged. The demolitions have also resulted in many homes being

2. flooded as the water now runs where walls, homes or toilets have
been destroyed. Some people have been told to rebuild, in much
smaller spaces, over toilet holes left where toilets were
demolished.
Gogo Ndebele has lived in Vusimuzi for 23 years. She came here from
Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal. She works one day a week at a funeral
company and looks after five grandchildren. Over the years she had
slowly built a six-room shack with cement floors. The Councillor
told her that her house is ‘too big’, that she has ‘too much money’
and that she ‘must go and buy a house’. Four of the rooms in her
home were demolished. She had to sleep outside for seven days. Since
the demolition she is having heart pains and struggles to breath
sometimes. She can’t sleep at night. She doesn’t know who her new
neighbours will be.
Ntombifuthi Nxumalo also had her home demolished. The construction
workers trespassed in her yard and when she called the Councillor he
said that he ‘is not an informal settlements Councillor’. She
refused the construction workers to destruct her shack but they
promised to call the police. They gave her a smaller space. She went
to Cash Build to buy rafters, zincs and nails but now it is raining
and her washing machine and other stuffs are outside.
Nobubele Nkanga had her space reduced and three unknown people
brought into her yard. They opened a street behind her yard and
water has rushed in to her home. She has nowhere to keep her stuff,
like her washing machine. Her daughter has had to move out of her
shack due to lack of space. Families are being separated.
On Friday they attempted to continue with the demolitions. The
Councillor, a representative from Human Settlements, a construction
company and the police were present. Although there is no court
order and so these demolitions are illegal the police intimidate
people and threaten to arrest anyone who resists the demolition of
their home and damage to their property. We mobilised to the stop
the demolitions. Our mobilisation including closing the roads and
burning tyres.
A community meeting was called on Sunday but the Councillor refused
to engage with people at the meeting saying that people were
signing, and that he couldn’t address a meeting if Abahlali
baseMjondolo were present. This is not democracy. Yesterday, and on
Monday, we marched on the Councillor. He refused to engage us.

3. They have threatened to return today to continue the demolitions. We
estimate that around 200 homes are at risk. If they do return we
will oppose the demolitions with direct action. We are also seeking
legal support.
We are human beings, not dogs. We insist that all development must
be participatory, democratic and free from corruption. If there is a
good reason why people must move then this must be discussed and
decided democratically and not imposed from above with threats and
intimidation. People who need to move must be given alternative land
with basic services including water, electricity and sanitation.
Those who have had their homes demolished and their property
destroyed must be compensated. Development that is carried out at
gunpoint is oppressive and not democratic.