Shack dwellers group slams eThekwini
THE members of land rights group Abahlali baseMjondolo says the eThekwini Municipality’s acquisition of four Casspirs meant that it was prepared to use violent force against those land invaders instead of ironing out their differences.
The Casspirs, which are the first of their kind in the city, were delivered last week.
Abahlali’s deputy secretary, Noma Sizani, said the vehicles were purchased when the relationship between the city and the organisation was at its lowest point.
“The relationship is so bad that the municipality is destroying our homes almost every day. The municipality just does not like us,” she said.
Abahlali, whose members are shack dwellers, has been linked to most of the land invasions and violent service delivery protests in Durban.
“We need land to build our houses. Even if we can get employed in the city, we are nothing without land to build houses,” said Sizani.
The municipality had built thousands vehicles would assist police in the fight against land invasions and protests.
“Casspirs are a form of armoured vehicle that were developed for the apartheid military. The decision to bring them back to use against protesters and land occupations is disgraceful,” read an Abahlali statement.
The organisation said instead of the ANC-run municipality applying more force, it should have discussions with land invaders.
“But instead, they want to respond to our organisation, against our systematic exclusion and impoverishment, with military force, using the same tools as the apartheid state.
“The ANC talks about land reform while violently attacking land occupations. They want to repress rather than to engage the struggles of the oppressed,” read the statement.
Peer, who is charged with protecting city assets, including land, said the new vehicles were meant to protect city police officers when they were attacked while executing their duties.
“This is to enable the city police to assist the SAPS in volatile and dangerous situations.
“The intention is not to deploy Casspirs against the community, but to keep our members safe. As you know, when we have deployed our metro police in the past, their vehicles were stoned and burned and our members were injured,” she said.