Cape Town: Woodstock March Against Evictions Friday morning

southern africa | community struggles | non-anarchist press Thursday July 31, 2008 00:20 by Anti-Eviction Campaign - AEC aec at antieviction dot org dot za

Event: March Against Evictions in Woodstock
When: Friday, 1st of August 2008
From: Gympie Street, Woodstock, via Sir Lowry Rd, into Buitenkant Str, turn into Barrack Str, turn right onto Parade Street to Court
To: Magistrate Court, Cape Town (between Buitenkant str& Parade str)
Time: Start point depart 7h30 arrival at Court 8h30

For four years now, we the people of Gympie Street have been living under the threat of evictions from our landlord. Different people have been coming around to us claiming to represent our landlord and wanting to collect rent. In the past our landlord has evicted us in the middle of winter, just like the previous apartheid regime. The landlord has also used all sorts of intimidation tactics, for example removing the water meters in our homes; working with the police to arrest and threaten residents; and collaborating with the City Council in a bid to cut off our electricity.

It is clear that the threatened mass eviction of families who have been staying in the area for decades, is part of the gentrification process (linked to the World Cup) to clear the City Centre of the poor so that the landlords and the elite can profit and move into the area. We also feel that the move to evict us from Gympie Street is part of the problem of Xenophobia in South Africa, because many of the residents were originally from other parts of Africa. Now the landlord has again taken court action against us to try and DUMP us and our families on the outskirts of the City.

For more information contact:

Willy Heyn 073 144 3619
Zehir Omar 082 492 5207