Press Release: 27 August 2024
Ndifuna Ukwazi has urgently sought a high court interdict against PRASA following the illegal eviction on 19 and 22 August of occupiers who had been living in informal structures and tents on Transnet-owned land for over 20 years. PRASA Protection Services and other security officers demolished homes, confiscated building materials and confiscated occupiers’ personal belongings. The illegal eviction and the demolition of people’s homes, left the vulnerable occupiers without shelter and safety, exposed to the elements over a weekend of heavy rain.
Ally Al-Habsy’s injury
During the inhumane eviction, PRASA Protection Services and other security officers treated the occupiers with complete disregard for their human dignity. A 64 year old man was stabbed by a security officer during the illegal demolition of his home and is currently still struggling with pain as a result. Many other occupiers faced intimidation, threats of violence and xenophobic insults.
Ally Al-Habsy (photo by Ndifuna Ukwazi – Zacharia Mashele)
The illegal demolition occurred despite PRASA Protection Services and other security officers being unable to produce a court order authorising the eviction of the occupiers’ homes. This shocking act of brutality is in direct conflict with the Constitution and the Prevention of Illegal Eviction From and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act 19 of 1998 (PIE Act), which mandates that a court order considering all relevant circumstances must be granted before an eviction can be executed.
Yesterday, the occupiers, who are represented by the Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre, launched proceedings in the Western Cape High Court on an urgent basis for an order interdicting PRASA from carrying out further illegal demolitions of the occupiers’ homes and directing PRASA to return their confiscated materials and their belongings.
Ndifuna Ukwazi attorney, Dr Jonty Cogger said:
PRASA’s illegal conduct exposes a continuous and flagrant disregard for the law and for the dignity of vulnerable occupiers. PRASA has been unafraid to use physical violence to achieve its unlawful ambitions and must be held responsible for its conduct.
Read more here:
PRASA FACING LEGAL ACTION FROM CT HOMELESS PEOPLE FOLLOWING ‘ILLEGAL’ EVICTION
Confronting the ugly face of de facto spatial apartheid in central Cape Town
CALLS ON THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN TO RETRACT LETTERS OF INTENTION TO SELL THE LONG-STANDING FAMILY HOME OF A WORKING CLASS FAMILY IN ATHLONE
The post OCCUPIERS LEFT OUT IN THE RAIN AFTER ILLEGAL & VIOLENT EVICTION BY PRASA, RESULTING IN THE STABBING OF AN ELDERLY MAN appeared first on Ndifuna Ukwazi.
