Eleven Abahlali Members Arrested In Kwandengezi

Eleven Abahlali Members Arrested In Kwandengezi; Nqola Assaults Activist

The Abahlali baseMjondolo KwaNdengezi branch have vowed to challenge the
authoritarian rule of the KwaNdengezi councillor Mduduzi Christian Ngcobo who
is known as Ngola.

Nqola continues to plan housing development in the area and to construct,
employ and allocate housing on his own without involving the community in any
decision making. He continues to intimidate and assault activists in the
community. He continues to give houses to the people that are not from the
community. In all of these actions he claim that he has the full support of
the eThekwini municipality.

Today, Sunday 19 May, the community protested against Nqola's corrupt and
undemocratic allocation of houses. During the peaceful protest the police
came, unprovoked, and arrested 11 comrades. Mandisi Shozi went to the polcie
station to try and see his mother and to check that she was ok. Nqola and his
izinkabi (hit men) assaulted him outside the police station. They have not
been arrested for this assault. Even though Nqola is still attending the case
of intimidation with a fire arm in the Pinetown Magistrate's Court he and his
izinkabi continue to intimidate and assault activists in KwaNdengezi.

Two of the eleven comrades arrested today have been released on free bail. But
nine comrades remain in custody. Their names are S'fiso Ngubane, S'bonelo
Ngcobo, Gano Shozi a 60 year woman, Njabulo Dlamini, Dombo Jali, Bonginkosi
Ntuni, S'fiso Dlamini, Sandile Ntinga and Dumisani. As usual they have been
charged with Public Violence and Damage to Property.

It is just disgusting to bring false charges of this nature against a 60 year
woman. It is a shame that that this corrupt state is waging a war against the
poorest of the poor.

The nine comrades are expected to appear in the Pinetown Magistrate's Court on
Monday 20 May 2013. The case number is 167/05/2013.

ENDS

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