DUNCAN Village shack dwellers, caught up in Monday’s violent housing protests , say they still feel oppressed. “Our oppressors were once oppressed but now they have become greedy and corrupt and have forgotten about the rest of us,” said Mbulelo Nikelo, echoing the views of many.
Police were called in to quell the violence, and fired rubber bullets that injured many people; 14 were arrested for public violence.
The crowd of over 300 had barricaded the Mdantsane access road with burning tyres and rubbish, bringing traffic to a standstill for most of the morning.
“The government that we put in power 19 years ago is the same government that is forcing us to vandalise municipal property in order to get our plight across,” said Nikelo.
Earlier this month the Dispatch reported that 87 RDP housing beneficiaries from Florence Street informal settlement who had waited for their Reeston RDP houses for four years, were excited to receive letters from the municipality declaring them ready to be occupied. Many demolished their shacks and prepared to move in – only to find the houses were already occupied.
Residents said what happened during and after the protest this week was worse than in the apartheid era. Nongetheni Nqampu said she was not even part of the protest but police still fired at her.
“I was looking after my sick child ... when I heard screams and loud footsteps I went outside to see what was happening. I just saw crowds running towards me and I ran back into my shack and locked the door but the police kicked it down and when I tried to flee they fired at me.”
In another shack an 11-year-old and her three-year-old sibling were left alone after police allegedly kicked down the shack and arrested both parents. “The worst part is that their parents did not even participate in the protest,” said resident Nomfundo Mafuela.
Thandokazi Ndabayithethwa, 15, a Grade 10 pupil at John Bisseker Senior Secondary School, said she was already in her school uniform and went outside to brush her teeth when she was caught in the crossfire.
Esethu Nyanda and Aphiwe Siswane, both born-frees (born in 1994 or after), said they had been looking forward to casting their votes for the first time in the next election but now no longer saw the point. Nyanda, born and raised in a shack, said: “Our parents are fighting for what was promised to them – and they get shot at. So what is the point of voting and where is this freedom that everyone is talking about?”
Residents warned that if those arrested were not released today they would protest again, even more intensely. —
Shackland residents slam new oppressors
Police were called in to quell the violence, and fired rubber bullets that injured many people; 14 were arrested for public violence.
The crowd of over 300 had barricaded the Mdantsane access road with burning tyres and rubbish, bringing traffic to a standstill for most of the morning.
“The government that we put in power 19 years ago is the same government that is forcing us to vandalise municipal property in order to get our plight across,” said Nikelo.
Earlier this month the Dispatch reported that 87 RDP housing beneficiaries from Florence Street informal settlement who had waited for their Reeston RDP houses for four years, were excited to receive letters from the municipality declaring them ready to be occupied. Many demolished their shacks and prepared to move in – only to find the houses were already occupied.
Residents said what happened during and after the protest this week was worse than in the apartheid era. Nongetheni Nqampu said she was not even part of the protest but police still fired at her.
“I was looking after my sick child ... when I heard screams and loud footsteps I went outside to see what was happening. I just saw crowds running towards me and I ran back into my shack and locked the door but the police kicked it down and when I tried to flee they fired at me.”
In another shack an 11-year-old and her three-year-old sibling were left alone after police allegedly kicked down the shack and arrested both parents. “The worst part is that their parents did not even participate in the protest,” said resident Nomfundo Mafuela.
Thandokazi Ndabayithethwa, 15, a Grade 10 pupil at John Bisseker Senior Secondary School, said she was already in her school uniform and went outside to brush her teeth when she was caught in the crossfire.
Esethu Nyanda and Aphiwe Siswane, both born-frees (born in 1994 or after), said they had been looking forward to casting their votes for the first time in the next election but now no longer saw the point. Nyanda, born and raised in a shack, said: “Our parents are fighting for what was promised to them – and they get shot at. So what is the point of voting and where is this freedom that everyone is talking about?”
Residents warned that if those arrested were not released today they would protest again, even more intensely. —
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