[Onthebarricades] SOUTH AFRICA: Housing protests in Soweto, Langa

[Andy]

The wave of protests over services such as housing, water and electricity in 
shanty-towns has been ongoing pretty much since the end of the struggle 
against apartheid in South Africa.  In the most recent incidents, protesters 
from the Langa shanty-town near Cape Town blocked a major road, before 
coming under attack from police; and a protester was fatally run over during 
a protest in Soweto over housing services.

[Notice the state substitutionist discourse in one of these articles - the 
state stands for development, hence for everyone; hence the 
actually-existing people are "narrow individual interests"; notice also the 
use of threats - to cut people off waiting lists in retaliation for 
protests - the invalidatory discourses such as "thuggery" etc, and the claim 
that disrupting the economy is "unacceptable" - an explicit recognition that 
the right to protest is sacrificed by neoliberals for smooth economic 
functioning.]

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hSEiquLTQ7xlZe5riZQi0JoSasEw

One dead in Soweto housing protest
Sep 3, 2007
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - One demonstrator was killed and several others injured 
during violent protests against housing conditions in the Johannesburg 
township of Soweto, police said Monday.
The victim was accidentally run over by a bread van during clashes with 
police who had opened fire with rubber bullets and teargas during the 
demonstration which saw several hundred shack dwellers block a major 
highway.
Among those injured were two journalists, police spokeswoman Inspector Edna 
Mamonyane told AFP.
"Police had to use rubber bullets when hundreds of residents became violent 
during a protest," she said.
"Two journalists were injured when protesters started throwing stones and 
bricks at the police. A protester was run over by a bakery truck and killed 
on the scene, while we arrested seven suspects."
The clashes broke out as the protesters demanded to see a local councillor 
about their housing conditions in the sprawling township which was a hotbed 
of resistance to the former ruling apartheid regime.
Anger has been growing among Soweto residents over the continuing poor 
standards of housing since the African National Congress came to power in 
1994.
President Thabo Mbeki last week denied that there was "a crisis of service 
delivery" under questioning from the opposition in parliament.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gbmShc0LzJqyXcmHKseiAiBaUSsg

S.African police break up service delivery protest
Sep 10, 2007
CAPE TOWN (AFP) - South African police used rubber bullets to disperse 
hundreds of rioters on Cape Town's main airport route on Monday and arrested 
seven in the latest protest against government service delivery.
The group, which had erected burning barricades on a one-kilometre (mile) 
stretch of highway from around 0400 (0200 GMT), severely disrupting traffic, 
broke up some eight hours later when police opened fire with rubber bullets 
and stun grenades.
"The protesters started getting riotous. They were threatening the lives of 
people by throwing stones," police spokesman Captain Elliot Sinyangana told 
AFP.
In the morning, the group robbed and set alight a passing bakery delivery 
truck, and city traffic department spokesman Searle Johannes said they 
damaged several police vehicles.
Sinyangana denied demonstrators' claims that several were injured by 
close-range rubber bullet fire, saying one protester got slightly hurt when 
he fell.
Seven people were arrested for public violence and would appear in court on 
Tuesday, he said.
The demonstrators are residents of the Joe Slovo informal settlement, 
protesting their removal to faraway Delft to free up land to build the next 
phase of the government's low-cost housing project.
In a media statement, a group representing residents said they were angry 
over "their imminent forced removal to the wasteland of Delft, over 30 
kilometres (20 miles) away".
"We refuse to be moved there. It is far from our workplaces and also from 
places where we look for work."
Delft is a temporary relocation area.
The government of the Western Cape Province, of which Cape Town is the 
capital, condemned what it termed hooliganism and violence used by the 
protesters.
In a statement, the provincial housing department said removal to Delft was 
voluntary but essential if infrastructure was to be upgraded.
"The Joe Slovo informal settlement is a disaster prone area," it said, 
adding the area was often flooded in summer and susceptible to shack fires 
in winter.
"In order for the government to find sustainable solution to the problem, we 
need to provide proper infrastructure and formal housing."
Anger has been growing among South Africans over the continuing poor 
standards of housing and other government services since the African 
National Congress came to power in 1994.
President Thabo Mbeki recently denied that there was "a crisis of service 
delivery" in the country.
Last week, a demonstrator was killed during protests against housing 
conditions in Soweto, South Africa's largest townnship.

http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN030161.html

Seven face charges in Cape Town protests
Mon 10 Sep 2007, 14:33 GMT

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Seven protesters were charged with public violence on 
Monday after South African police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to 
break up a demonstration on a main Cape Town highway, police said.
Demonstrators burnt tyres and stoned cars early on Monday to protest against 
government failure to provide basic amenities.
"We used minimum force, launching stun grenades and shooting rubber bullets 
after protesters stoned police and motorists," police spokesman, captain 
Elliot Sinyangana, said, adding the protesters were expected in court on 
Tuesday.
Thousands of South Africans from mostly black townships and shantytowns have 
taken to the streets in recent months to voice anger over the lack of 
electricity, water and sewage and other services in impoverished 
neighbourhoods.
In some cases crowds have attacked and even killed officials of the ruling 
African National Congress, which has vowed to improve the quality of life 
for millions of blacks who continue to live on the margins of the country's 
booming economy.
Community activist, Luthando Zulu, told Reuters a large crowd of protesters 
had shut the busy road linking Cape Town with its airport.
"The crowd is uncontrollable. The police shot at us. About 20 people have 
been hospitalised," he said.
Police admitted they had fired at the crowd but said only one person had 
been injured.
Meanwhile, the Western Cape ANC condemned the demonstrations and urged 
members to protest within the law.
"The closing down of the N2 and the ripple effect this has on the economy is 
unacceptable," ANC provincial secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha said in a 
statement.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200709101369.html

South Africa: Scores Hurt in N2 Protest

Cape Argus (Cape Town)
10 September 2007
Posted to the web 10 September 2007
Murray Williams And Henri Du Plessis
Cape Town
The N2 area near Langa was a no go zone for hours this morning when police 
clashed with demonstrators who had disrupted traffic, leading to scores of 
people being injured and a number of protesters arrested.
Peak-hour traffic was thrown into chaos when traffic authorities closed the 
N2 when a demonstration by a crowd that grew to about 2 000 turned violent.

Police were shot at and pelted with stones as they battled to contain the 
protest and tried to reopen the highway.
Police fired rubber bullets into the crowd which began gathering at 4am and 
tried to set fire to houses in the N2 Gateway housing project.
A nursing sister in the trauma unit at Vanguard Day Hospital in Bonteheuwel 
said they had treated about 50 protesters by 11am. Most of them needed 
stitches and three had been referred to Somerset Hospital with serious 
injuries.
"We are very busy. People of all ages have been coming in, mostly with 
'rubber bullet cuts'."
The protest comes after residents of the Joe Slovo informal settlement 
demonstrated outside Parliament recently and threatened to close the N2 if 
their demands regarding housing were not met.
Joe Slovo residents, supported by the Anti-Eviction Campaign, demanded that 
the government stop forcibly relocating them to Delft to make space for the 
further development of the N2 Gateway.
This morning, national Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu cancelled a scheduled 
address at a Master Builders conference in Cape Town to attend to problems 
at N2 Gateway, said Monwabisi MacLean, chief communications director of the 
national Housing Department.
He said the government had been continually engaging with residents from the 
Joe Slovo informal settlement.
After a brief lull early this morning, violence erupted again as roving 
groups of protesters tried to access the N2 at Langa.
Pockets of Metro policemen sprinted from site to site firing rubber bullets 
to prevent the crowd reaching the N2 near the Langa indoor sports complex.
A massive bonfire was lit at the entrance to Langa, blocking traffic going 
in and out of the suburb.
The outgoing lanes of the N2 remained closed to traffic until mid-morning, 
when traffic resumed, albeit slowly, on the N2 where a long line of police 
vehicles were parked on the road shoulder.
Tension built yet again on an open space next to the N2 Gateway project 
where protesters gathered and were confronted by police, who at 11.15am 
issued an order for them to disperse.
Police formed a line with their backs to the N2. They held their ground as 
portions of the crowd sang, danced and marched up and down in front of them. 
Then rocks started flying through the air and police began shooting rubber 
bullets and stun grenades.
As the shots and stun grenades thundered around them, the crowd scattered, 
running between the houses beyond the open space as policement followed in 
hot pursuit.
Shortly later the ground had been cleared and policemen brought people they 
had arrested back to their vehicles.
A woman, wounded on the left side of her head and around her eye, cried as 
she was dragged back to the police line.
People hiding in bushes were found and arrested by police.
The chaos on the highway meant thousands of commuters were late for work in 
the city centre.
Approach roads to Cape Town International Airport were also blocked, but the 
protest did not have an impact on operations, said Airports Company 
spokeswoman Deidre Hendricks.
In this morning's chaos both incoming and outgoing lanes of the N2 were 
blocked between Jan Smuts and Vanguard drives.
Sections of Vanguard Drive were also closed to traffic.
Incoming commuters were stopped at Vanguard Drive and diverted to 
Klipfontein Road to the south and Voortrekker Road to the north of the N2.
Outgoing traffic was similarly diverted off the N2 at Jan Smuts Avenue, 
creating a nightmare for motorists bound for the airport.
The traffic back-up caused several cars to collide as vehicles travelling at 
120km/h suddenly encountered the congestion.
Mayor Helen Zille declined to comment on the protest or the reasons for it, 
saying that she was told it had to do with the N2 Gateway housing project 
and that it was an issue with which the provincial government had been 
dealing.
Housing MEC Richard Dyantyi described the protests as being about "narrow 
individual interests" that could not be allowed to stop the development.
Dyantyi said the development of the N2 Gateway pilot project "necessitated" 
the relocation of residents of informal settlements to temporary housing.
"Due communication processes have been followed with community leaders and 
residents.
"Development will continue and cannot be thwarted by narrow individual 
interests," he said. Additional reporting by Lindsay Dentlinger, Andisiwe 
Makinana

http://www.news24.com/Regional_Papers/Components/Category_Article_Text_Template/0,,433_2182797~E,00.html

13/09/2007 11:33 AM - (SA)
Housing protest goes awry
LINDA KABENI

DISTRUST in the allocation system for housing in Langa seems to be the main 
cause of the protest on Monday in which scores of people were injured when 
police opened fire on about two thousand residents of Joe Slovo in Langa, 
who had stormed the N2, setting tyres alight, with some throwing objects at 
moving cars.
Protest leaders made it clear during the interview that the system has 
already short changed them into being moved to an area far from where they 
originally built their shacks at Joe Slovo
The protest action has received harsh criticism from the ANC in the 
province.
The marchers said they did this to get the attention of national Housing 
Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to come and listen to their grievances over housing 
disputes.
ANC Provincial Secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha said 'the closing of the national 
road is unacceptable and based on either lack of information or unreasonable 
demands by a section of community,'.
In her response to the protest, Sisulu blamed the PAC, saying 'it would 
confirm our worst suspicion that opportunistic individuals or parties are 
using housing crisis to the advantage,'.
She said police had informed them that the protesters said they were PAC 
members and that councillor Joka had addressed them.
But the protesters were adamant that Sisulu had promised them that once the 
N2 Gateway housing project was completed, about 70% of the residents of the 
informal settlement would receive first preference for allocation of houses.
'Instead,' said the leader of the protesters, Mapisa Sifiso 'We saw people 
from other areas being accommodated,'.
Sifiso said also, during the construction phase, residents of Joe Slovo were 
asked to move to temporary houses in Delft.
'But when the houses were completed, people were told they will have to pay 
for their houses. We had thought we were getting free RDP houses,'.
Sifiso said at one stage, they tried to raise their dissatisfaction with the 
minister, and handed her office a memorandum which stated their fears and 
concerns.
'But we only learned later that the minister had responded to our grievances 
through a weekend newspaper,' he said.
In a statement released to the media, Sisulu said she recognised the right 
of people to express their views and protest, 'but the government is not 
going to tolerate indiscriminate violence where property is vandalized,'.
Residents of Joe Slovo must decide whether they want to cooperate with 
government, she said.
'In this way, they will qualify for housing opportunities,'.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=124&art_id=vn20070911032307914C333313

Halt protest or lose out, warns minister
September 11 2007 at 06:58AM

By Quinton Mtyala and Sapa

Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has warned that protesters who closed a 
freeway near Cape Town "will be removed completely from all housing waiting 
lists" if they continue their housing demonstrations.

She said residents of the Joe Slovo informal settlement in Langa had to 
decide whether they wanted to co-operate with the government and qualify for 
housing.

"If they choose not to co-operate, they will be removed completely from all 
housing waiting lists."

Sisulu said the Gateway project management had been interacting with 
residents, and the violence was "completely unjustified".

Protesters set up a burning barricade just off the N2 just after 4am on 
Monday, stoned police and their vehicles, broke up dwellings under 
construction in the N2 Gateway project alongside Joe Slovo and set a bakery 
delivery van alight.

Their reasons for protesting varied - from a refusal to be moved to Delft, 
where temporary housing units have been built so as to make way for further 
Gateway construction, to charges that residents of Joe Slovo were not 
consulted about planned new housing.

The Anti-Eviction Campaign described the situation as "absolutely terrible", 
saying police had opened fire on the protesters at close range with rubber 
bullets.

"They shot women and children, and people are seriously injured. Dozens of 
residents have been arrested and the police are refusing to say where they 
have taken them even though some are injured."

Western Cape Housing and Local Government MEC Qubudile Dyantyi described the 
protest as an "act of thuggery".

ANC provincial secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha said the blockade was unacceptable 
and that protesters were either uninformed or unreasonable in their demands.

Transport MEC Marius Fransman has called for anyone involved in protests on 
national roads to be arrested.

First National Bank and the Housing Ministry announced a partnership in June 
for 3 000 bonded housing units at sites in Joe Slovo and Delft. But 
residents are demanding free RDP homes, put off by a price tag of between 
R150 000 to R250 000 for the houses.

One resident claimed that no one from Joe Slovo was housed at the first 
phase of the N2 Gateway Project.

"Instead we have people living there from Khayelitsha, Gugulethu and other 
areas."

Luthando Ndabantu, who addressed the protesters, said people from Joe Slovo 
were promised houses after a devastating fire in January 2005.

"They moved us to Delft to live in those shacks made of asbestos," he said.

http://up191.apf.m2014.net/article.php3?id_article=212

UPDATE ON SITUATION FROM YESTERDAY'S SERVICE DELIVERY PROTESTS IN THE VAAL & 
GREATER SOWETO
Tuesday 18th September 2007 by natalie

Press Release Tuesday 4th September 2007: 23h30
The funeral of comrade Oupa Mpute (LPM Protea South branch secretary) who 
was killed in a hit-and-run accident by a delivery van in Protea South will 
take place on Sunday in Mapetla. The APF calls for police to immediately 
track down the person responsible for comrade Oupa's tragic death.
Of 19 community members arrested in Protea South and Kliptown, 10 have been 
released without charge. The remaining 9 have been charged with public 
violence and released on R500 bail each which has been paid by the APF. They 
will appear in court in late September.
APF leaders in Vaal continue to be harassed and intimidated by the police. 
On two occasions very late last night, several men claiming to be the 
police, but who refused to identify themselves, arrived at the homes of two 
APF leaders and unsuccessfully tried to enter.
An ANC councillor for Protea South as well as a ward committee member 
threatened the life of LPM Gauteng Chairperson and Protea South resident, 
Maureen Mnisi (and stated that her house would be burnt down) at a public 
forum this afternoon, in the presence of police. No protection was offered 
to comrade Mnisi. The APF has informed the Gauteng Ministry of Safety & 
Security of this situation.
ONCE AGAIN, THE APF STATES IN THE STRONGEST OF TERMS ITS CONDEMNATION OF 
POLICE CONDUCT IN THESE SITUATIONS. THE LEGITIMATE GRIEVANCES AND PROTESTS 
OF POOR COMMUNITIES AROUND SERVICE DELIVERY CANNOT BE SMASHED AND VOICES 
SILENCED. IT IS LONG PAST THE TIME FOR THE ANC AND GOVERNMENT TO LISTEN TO 
THOSE THEY CLAIM TO REPRESENT/SPEAK FOR AND TO START DELIVERING WHAT THEY 
HAVE PLEDGED TO DO FOR SO LONG.
For further comment/informationcontact:
IN PROTEA SOUTH: Maureen on 082 337-4514 IN THE VAAL: Patra Sindane on 
073-052-7005 and/or Mish on 079 812-4724 IN KLIPTOWN: Thabo Modisane on 078 
129-7797
OR CONTACT APF ORGANISER - Silumko on 072 173-7268

http://up191.apf.m2014.net/article.php3?id_article=211

HOUSING PROTEST IN ALEXANDRA!
Tuesday 18th September 2007 by natalie

Press Release Tuesday 4th September 2007: 19h00
RESIDENTS OF THE FAR EAST BANK WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE VUKUZENZELE CRISIS 
COMMITTEE, ARE CONTINUING TO OCCUPY OVER 60 EMPTY COUNCIL FLATS IN EXTENSION 
7: MARLBORO - ALEXANDRA. THEY HAVE BEEN CARRYING OUT THIS ACTION SINCE LAST 
NIGHT.
RESIDENTS, WHO HAVE LONG BEEN WAITING FOR PROPER HOUSING AND WHO HAVE MET 
WITH, AND MARCHED ON, JOHANNESBURG CITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS ENDLESSLY OVER THE 
LAST FEW YEARS, ARE FED-UP AND ARE DEMANDING THAT THESE EMPTY & HALF-BUILT 
COUNCIL FLATS BE GIVEN TO THE COMMUNITY IMMEDIATELY
THERE IS A HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE IN THE AREA. RESIDENTS HAVE VOWED NOT TO 
LEAVE UNTIL GAUTENG MEC FOR HOUSING - NOMVULA MOKONYANE - COMES TO ADDRESS 
THEIR DEMANDS. IN A PATHETIC AND UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THE 
RESIDENTS DEMANDS FOR PROPER HOUSING, THE CITY OF JOBURG, EARLIER TODAY, 
DISPATCHED 3 COUNCILLORS AND 2 JUNIOR HOUSING OFFICIALS TO THE AREA.
RESIDENTS RIGHTFULLY REFUSED TO MOVE UNTIL THE JOBURG MAYOR AND/OR THE 
GAUTENG MEC FOR HOUSING COME TO ADDRESS THEIR DEMANDS.
THE CITY OF JOBURG HAS PROMISED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN BY 09H00 TOMORROW 
MORNING. IN THE MEANTIME, THE RESIDENTS WILL CONTINUE THEIR OCCUPATION
For further comment/information on the scene contact:
FRIEDA DLAMINI on 083 983-3809

http://up191.apf.m2014.net/article.php3?id_article=210

Service delivery protests by range of communities across the Vaal and 
Greater Soweto attacked by police early this morning
Tuesday 18th September 2007 by natalie

Press Release Monday 3rd September 2007
Community member in Protea South knocked down by car in road and killed 
instantly
8 arrested in Kliptown and 6 in Protea South. Scores shot at and chased into 
their homes. Journalists being harassed
In Vaal, heavily armed police everywhere firing randomly and are conducting 
house-to-house searches for community leaders who remain in 'hiding'
>From very early this morning, a range of poor communities - which include 
Boiketlong, Kanana, Dunusa and Sonderwater in the Vaal as well as Kliptown, 
Freedom Park and Protea South in Greater Soweto - embarked on a series of 
protests against lack of service delivery.
In Protea South, one community resident taking part in the protest was 
knocked down by a car in the road and died instantly. Police began shooting 
randomly and chasing protesters through the settlement but residents fought 
back and forced the police back onto the main roads. While conducting a 
press interview, Protea South community leader, Maureen Mnisi was arrested 
along with 5 others residents. They are presently being held in Protea 
Police Station without charge.
In Kliptown, 7 residents alongside APF organiser, Thabo Modisane, have been 
arrested by a private security near the railway line. All these comrades 
were heavily beaten by these private security thugs. They are presently 
being held in Kliptown Police Station without charge.
In the variously mentioned communities in the Vaal, police forces 
immediately attacked community residents who had taken up positions on 
various roads, shooting randomly and chasing residents back into the homes. 
At present, although no one has been arrested, police are systematically 
conducting house-to-house searches to try and 'flush out' community leaders.
THE APF EXTENDS ITS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF THE COMRADE 
KILLED IN THE PROTEA SOUTH ACCIDENT
THE APF CONDENMS THE INDISCRIMINATE USE OF VIOLENCE BY THE POLICE AGAINST 
COMMUNITY PROTESTERS AND THE VIOLENT CONDUCT OF PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS
THE APF DEMANDS THAT POLICE IMMEDIATELY STOP THEIR CONTINUED HARRASSMENT OF 
JOURNALISTS AND GENERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STOP THE CONTINUED 
VIOLATION/INVASION OF RESIDENTS HOMES
For further comment/information contact on the scene contact:
IN THE VAAL: Patra Sindane on 073-052-7005 and/or Mish on 079 812-4724 IN 
KLIPTOWN: Thabo Modisane on 078 129-7797 IN PROTEA SOUTH: Virginia on 078 
473-3086
OR CONTACT APF ORGANISER - Silumko on 072 173-7268

http://up191.apf.m2014.net/article.php3?id_article=209

VICTORY x 2!!!
Tuesday 18th September 2007 by natalie

Press Release Thursday 16th August 2007
All those arrested in Boiketlong (Sebokeng) service delivery- housing 
protest on Tuesday were released an hour ago without being charged. Some of 
the injured still receiving medical attention.
Less than an hour ago, all 34 community residents arrested during Tuesday's 
protest in Boiketlong, were released from the Sebokeng Police Station 
without being charged. Police had held the residents since Tuesday morning 
and had initially intended to charge them in court this morning with public 
violence and illegal gathering. However, it become clear this morning when 
the residents were not brought to court that the Police had no case and 
after the expiry of the 48 hour period of holding those arrested that is 
allowed under law, all were released. At least two residents who were 
injured continue to receive medical attention and are considering opening 
cases against the police.
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), who provided legal support in this case 
through their Strategic Litigation Unit, have noted with concern the 
increase in the number of charges of public violence and the use of 
excessive force, reminiscent of practices utilised by the apartheid regime, 
against community members who demand accountability and answers on basic 
service provision from unresponsive elected officials.
The APF and the CAWP, along with the Boiketlong community hail this as a 
victory over those intent on smashing legitimate protest and arresting 
freedom of dissent. We thank the Strategic Litigation Unit at LHR for their 
excellent legal support in this case and all those social movements, 
community organisations, progressive NGOs and other individuals who have 
expressed solidarity. The Struggle Continues!!
For updates/comment on the continuing Boiketlong struggle contact PATRA on 
0730527005
Charges of public violence dropped against 17 members of the APF/Thembalihle 
Crisis Committee
Two days ago - Tuesday 14th August - charges of public violence were dropped 
against 17 members of the APF/Thembalihle Crisis Committee - who had been 
arrested on charges of public violence on 10th July following a community 
protest over lack of service delivery. Represented by the Strategic 
Litigation Unit at Lawyers for Human Rights, the 17 Thembalihle residents 
had seen their case postponed twice while police and the Public Prosecutor 
attempted to build case against them. At the court hearing on Tuesday, 
submissions by the LHR legal team succeeded in the already weak case finally 
crumbling. This victory is another important milestone in the ongoing 
struggle by poor communities for service delivery and human dignity.
For updates/comment on continuing Thembalihle struggle contact SILUMKO on 
0721737268
Background to the case and the struggle for service delivery & housing in 
Thembalihle Post-1994, residents waited patiently for visible signs of job 
creation, public housing construction, the provision of water and 
electricity and enhanced educational and recreational facilities but nothing 
was forthcoming. The community's repeated attempts to engage in meaningful 
dialogue with their local councillor and with the Mayor of Johannesburg fell 
on deaf ears. Instead, in 2002, the City of Johannesburg sent in the Red 
Ants to try and forcibly evict the entire community (to be moved to desolate 
and far-away Vlakfontein) and the community fought back, successfully 
resisting their removal. After this, they were promised that thousands of 
houses would be built and that basic services would be delivered - but yet 
again, the community was forgotten and little or no development has taken 
place in the last several years.
On 8th July 2007, the community held a mass meeting which demanded a report 
about the provision of housing and electricity in the area. Having received 
no answers from their councilor or officials in the City Council, the 
community took the resolution to engage in a peaceful march to the local 
municipal offices on the morning of 9th July so that officials could respond 
to their previous memorandums. Despite community requests for a meeting, the 
Johanesburg City Manager failed to meet with community members on two 
separate occasions on that day. The community decided to stage a blockade so 
that the Mayor of Johannesburg would come to address their grievances in 
light of the council's lack of accountability to the community. The 
demonstration went into the early hours of the morning, at which time the 
South African Police Service, together with the Johannesburg Metropolitan 
Police, opened fire on community protesters with rubber bullets. The crowd 
dispersed under heavy fire from the police and scores of people were 
injured. Seventeen community members were arrested randomly from their homes 
or on their way to the spaza shops. On 7th August 2007, the case was 
postponed for a week for the purposes of further investigation. On 14th 
August 2007, the case against the 17 members of the APF/Tembalihle Crisis 
Committee was withdrawn and all charges were dropped.
. DEFEND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PROTEST! SERVICE DELIVERY NOW!

http://up191.apf.m2014.net/article.php3?id_article=208

Service Delivery-Housing Protest by community of Boiketlong (in Sebokeng- 
Vaal) attacked by police this morning.
Tuesday 18th September 2007 by natalie

Press Release: Tuesday14th August 2007
35 arrested (5 of whom were injured by rubber bullets) charged with public 
violence and illegal gathering.
Heavily armed police continue to harass APF and community leaders and 
residents
Early this morning, over 1000 residents of the 'informal settlement' of 
Boiketlong (in Sebokeng - Vaal) - under the banner of the APF and the CAWP - 
embarked on a service delivery-housing protest. Instead of listening and 
talking with the protesting residents, police opened fire at random on the 
crowd. Many were shot with rubber bullets while running away, others 
arrested as they tried to return to their homes. In all, 35 people have been 
arrested (including five of those injured who are now receiving medical 
attention) and are presently being held in the Sebokeng Police Station. 
Police have indicated that they are being charged with public violence and 
illegal gathering and will appear in court tomorrow for a bail hearing (the 
police have refused free bail).
The APF/CAWP will post bail for those arrested and will fight the charges in 
court, as we have done with all other similar arrests of residents which 
have been made as a result of service delivery protests in several Gauteng 
communities over the last few weeks. Less than an hour ago, 9 APF and 
community leaders (including APF Chairperson, Bricks Mokolo) were then 
arrested for simply addressing a community gathering. They have been 
subsequently released without charge, However, heavily armed police are 
continuing to harass Boiketlong residents in an attempt to try and prevent 
them from meeting and discussing the situation and protesting the arrests 
already made.
Once again, the actions of the police have been wholly unacceptable and 
completely out of proportion to the supposed 'threat' posed by such a 
protest. What we are witnessing again and again in poor community after poor 
community, is that the police and government officials treating the 
legitimate grievances and protests over service delivery, of the various 
communities, with contempt and arrogance. The Boiketlong action was (as has 
been the case elsewhere) the latest in a series of attempts over the last 
few months, by community residents, to highlight the complete failure of 
government to provide housing and decent services in their community. 
Residents have used every available avenue to highlight/publicise their 
demands for service delivery, only and always to be met with a deafly 
silence and to be told that they must shut up and continue to 'wait' (as 
they have been doing for many years) for government to come back to them on 
their repeated promises of housing-service delivery. Indeed, the police are 
so determined to 'stamp out' any free expression of dissent, that they are 
now arresting leaders who are doing nothing more than addressing a gathering 
of residents. THIS MUST STOP! If things continue the way they are, we will 
soon have an effective police state existing in poor communities!
Problems around service delivery which are affecting hundreds of poor 
communities across this country are not going to go away because government 
doesn't like them or because police decided to try and smash any legitimate 
protest and resistance. There will only be more mass actions and protests as 
long as the government does nothing to seriously address the concerns and 
demands of those communities, and come up with concrete plans in which the 
communities and their organisations are included as an equal and legitimate 
partner.
STOP POLICE VIOLENCE AGAINST POOR COMMUNITIES! DEFEND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION 
AND PROTEST! SERVICE DELIVERY NOW!
For further comment/information contact: CAWP Organiser Patra Sindane (who 
has been arrested) on 073-052-7005: APF Chairperson Bricks Mokolo on 072 
175-8948 Community activist Mish on 079 812-4724

http://up191.apf.m2014.net/article.php3?id_article=202

Boiketlong-Sebokeng Protest-Arrests
Friday 14th September 2007 by natalie

Press Release Tuesday14th August 2007
Service Delivery-Housing Protest by community of Boiketlong (in Sebokeng- 
Vaal) attacked by police this morning.
35 arrested (5 of whom were injured by rubber bullets) charged with public 
violence and illegal gathering.
Heavily armed police continue to harass APF and community leaders and 
residents
Early this morning, over 1000 residents of the 'informal settlement' of 
Boiketlong (in Sebokeng - Vaal) - under the banner of the APF and the CAWP - 
embarked on a service delivery-housing protest. Instead of listening and 
talking with the protesting residents, police opened fire at random on the 
crowd. Many were shot with rubber bullets while running away, others 
arrested as they tried to return to their homes. In all, 35 people have been 
arrested (including five of those injured who are now receiving medical 
attention) and are presently being held in the Sebokeng Police Station. 
Police have indicated that they are being charged with public violence and 
illegal gathering and will appear in court tomorrow for a bail hearing (the 
police have refused free bail).
The APF/CAWP will post bail for those arrested and will fight the charges in 
court, as we have done with all other similar arrests of residents which 
have been made as a result of service delivery protests in several Gauteng 
communities over the last few weeks. Less than an hour ago, 9 APF and 
community leaders (including APF Chairperson, Bricks Mokolo) were then 
arrested for simply addressing a community gathering. They have been 
subsequently released without charge, However, heavily armed police are 
continuing to harass Boiketlong residents in an attempt to try and prevent 
them from meeting and discussing the situation and protesting the arrests 
already made.
Once again, the actions of the police have been wholly unacceptable and 
completely out of proportion to the supposed 'threat' posed by such a 
protest. What we are witnessing again and again in poor community after poor 
community, is that the police and government officials treating the 
legitimate grievances and protests over service delivery, of the various 
communities, with contempt and arrogance. The Boiketlong action was (as has 
been the case elsewhere) the latest in a series of attempts over the last 
few months, by community residents, to highlight the complete failure of 
government to provide housing and decent services in their community. 
Residents have used every available avenue to highlight/publicise their 
demands for service delivery, only and always to be met with a deafly 
silence and to be told that they must shut up and continue to 'wait' (as 
they have been doing for many years) for government to come back to them on 
their repeated promises of housing-service delivery. Indeed, the police are 
so determined to 'stamp out' any free expression of dissent, that they are 
now arresting leaders who are doing nothing more than addressing a gathering 
of residents. THIS MUST STOP! If things continue the way they are, we will 
soon have an effective police state existing in poor communities!
Problems around service delivery which are affecting hundreds of poor 
communities across this country are not going to go away because government 
doesn't like them or because police decided to try and smash any legitimate 
protest and resistance. There will only be more mass actions and protests as 
long as the government does nothing to seriously address the concerns and 
demands of those communities, and come up with concrete plans in which the 
communities and their organisations are included as an equal and legitimate 
partner.
STOP POLICE VIOLENCE AGAINST POOR COMMUNITIES! DEFEND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION 
AND PROTEST! SERVICE DELIVERY NOW!
For further comment/information contact: CAWP Organiser Patra Sindane (who 
has been arrested) on 073-052-7005: APF Chairperson Bricks Mokolo on 072 
175-8948 Community activist Mish on 079 812-4724