Hundreds Resist Demolition of Shacks in South Africa

Hundreds of residents of the township of Tembisa in South Africa strongly resisted the demolition of the shacks in which they have been living for over two decades. The rat-infested Vusimuzi settlement, where up to 8 people were crammed in a shack, had no drainage or garbage disposal facilities and didn’t have enough water taps or toilets. But residents are furious that even this precarious arrangement they had for shelter is being destroyed despite their opposition.   

The demolitions began in January after the government forced the community to agree to a reblocking project in November, threatening those who did not sign the documents with eviction and being “left homeless on the street”, according to Abahlali baseMjondolo, a shack dwellers’ movement that campaigns against evictions and advocates public housing. Some of the few toilets the community had access to were also destroyed.

While some of the dwellings were demolished to make way for roads, others were torn down on the grounds that they were ‘too big’. Activists alleged that while the local councillor told the residents that they wanted to make space to accomodate more people, he or his followers may have accepted bribes.

Among those who were told their houses were too big was Gogo Ndebele, who has lived in the settlement for 23 years. The 60-year-old woman, who works one day a week at a company providing funeral services, also takes care of her five grandchildren. Four of the six rooms she had slowly built over many years in her cement-floored shack were demolished. The councillor, according to Abahlali baseMjondolo, not only told her that her house was too big but also that   “she has ‘too much money’ and that she ‘must go and buy a house’. Ndebele had to sleep outside for seven days and since the demolition, she has been suffering from heart pain and is having difficulty breathing, said the organisation.

Many families were separated as some members had to move out due to lack of space after their dwellings were partially destroyed, again because the structures were ‘too big’.  When another victim called the councillor on seeing construction workers arriving to demolish her house, she was told that he “was not an informal settlements councillor,” according to the statement by Abahlali baseMjondolo.     

“The demolitions also led to many homes getting flooded as water ran through the rubble. Some people were told to rebuild in much smaller spaces over holes that were left behind after toilets were demolished.”

Attempts made by the organization to engage the councillor in a discussion proved futile. After demolishing 174 shacks, last Friday, the councillor, a representative from Human Settlements, a construction company, and the police arrived at the settlement to proceed further with the demolition. At the risk of facing arrest, members of Abahlali baseMjondolo mobilized to blockade the road by burning tyres. Pointing out that there “was no court order”, the shack dwellers movement called these demolitions “illegal”.

Abahlali baseMjondolo expressed its willingness to cooperate if the demolitions were necessary to develop the area. “If there is a good reason why people must move, then this must be discussed and decided democratically and not imposed from above with threats and intimidation. People who need to move must be given alternative land with basic services, including water, electricity and sanitation. Those who have had their homes demolished and their property destroyed must be compensated. Development that is carried out at gunpoint is oppressive and not democratic,” the organization has said in a statement.

The community has been threatened with further demolitions on Wednesday. “We estimate that around 200 homes are at risk. If they do return, we will oppose the demolitions with direct action. We are also seeking legal support.”