Politics behind Bonela violence?

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23 2017

POLITICS could be behind the land invasion violence that has engulfed Bonela according to the ward councillor, Warren Burne. Burne, who represents the DA in Ward 30, said he was trying to establish the root cause of the invasions that began three months ago at the corner of Blinkbonnie and Wiggins roads.

“There is no doubt there was a political element to it. I have been told so many times by sources and ward committees,” said Burne, whose ward covers Bonela, Grayleigh, Sherwood, Umkhumbane and Waterval Park.

Burne won the ward in last year’s local government elections. It was previously controlled by the ANC. But since the victory he has not been allocated an office by the eThekwini municipality and has had to conduct public meetings on the pavement.

The former ward councillor’s office is now occupied by the ANC PR councillor.

Sbu Zikode, chairperson of the shack dwellers’ movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo, blamed rogue elements for the violence and called it “politicking”.

Zikode said there was a misunderstanding when the eThekwini Municipality’s Land Invasion Unit began demolishing shacks in the area.

“The court order protects people who were on the land before the land grabbers emerged. Those families living there legally have now become targeted by the land grabbers,” Zikode said.

He was referring to an interim court interdict Abahlali obtained from the Durban High Court. In terms of the order, the municipality is prevented from demolishing the shacks of residents named in the order.

Yesterday, the eThekwini Land Invasion Unit, accompanied by private security guards, cleared the informal structures built on the land.