Land invaders from Scenery Park, who clashed with police when their building materials were confiscated last week, yesterday returned to the land to set up their shacks.
This time residents returned with back-up in the form of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members.
The more than 200 residents, who currently live in backyard shacks in Ndlovini and Ndancama informal settlements, and EFF members have warned Buffalo City Metro City (BCM), their ward councillor and police to back off, “or else there will be war”.
They claim they have nowhere else to go to as they were being evicted by the owners of the shacks they occupy.
BCM law enforcement, who acted on a tip-off on the land invasion in progress, last week confiscated the shack dwellers’ building material.
This did not sit well with the residents who retaliated by stoning the officers. Police called to the scene opened fire on the group with rubber bullets and stun grenades.
The residents say they are prepared to fight back.
Nwabisa Mgxwathi said attempts to get their ward councillor, Zandisile Tokwe, to listen to their plea were ignored.
“We even called him to address us on the community radio station, but he said he was busy and our request was short notice,” said Mgxwathi.
Phatheka Mtebele said the ongoing RDP housing project was riddled with corruption as unknown people or people who are new to the community stand to benefit.
“We have lived here for decades but our needs are not catered for. If they cannot give us houses, they should give us the land,” said Mtebele.
EFF member in the community, Andile Faye, said the party was shocked by the actions of the police, the councillor and BCM and vowed to take the matter further.
“Government must stop lying and say this is a democratic country. There is no democracy in shooting and removing people from land that belongs to them.
“If these people are stopped from building their shacks on this land we will go and disrupt the housing project,” said Faye.
When called for comment, councillor Tokwe said he was unable to comment on the matter and referred questions to BCM’s communications department.
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said the area was being monitored.
“Any shacks being erected will be demolished and necessary actions will be taken against those found disrupting the housing project,” said Matebese.
Shack dwellers prepared to fight to stay on ‘their’ land
This time residents returned with back-up in the form of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members.
The more than 200 residents, who currently live in backyard shacks in Ndlovini and Ndancama informal settlements, and EFF members have warned Buffalo City Metro City (BCM), their ward councillor and police to back off, “or else there will be war”.
They claim they have nowhere else to go to as they were being evicted by the owners of the shacks they occupy.
BCM law enforcement, who acted on a tip-off on the land invasion in progress, last week confiscated the shack dwellers’ building material.
This did not sit well with the residents who retaliated by stoning the officers. Police called to the scene opened fire on the group with rubber bullets and stun grenades.
The residents say they are prepared to fight back.
Nwabisa Mgxwathi said attempts to get their ward councillor, Zandisile Tokwe, to listen to their plea were ignored.
“We even called him to address us on the community radio station, but he said he was busy and our request was short notice,” said Mgxwathi.
Phatheka Mtebele said the ongoing RDP housing project was riddled with corruption as unknown people or people who are new to the community stand to benefit.
“We have lived here for decades but our needs are not catered for. If they cannot give us houses, they should give us the land,” said Mtebele.
EFF member in the community, Andile Faye, said the party was shocked by the actions of the police, the councillor and BCM and vowed to take the matter further.
“Government must stop lying and say this is a democratic country. There is no democracy in shooting and removing people from land that belongs to them.
“If these people are stopped from building their shacks on this land we will go and disrupt the housing project,” said Faye.
When called for comment, councillor Tokwe said he was unable to comment on the matter and referred questions to BCM’s communications department.
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said the area was being monitored.
“Any shacks being erected will be demolished and necessary actions will be taken against those found disrupting the housing project,” said Matebese.
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