PRESS RELEASE
NO EMBARGO
03 July 2020
Heartless and callous police action at informal settlement in Silvertown, Malmesbury
The callous police action against service delivery protesters on Wednesday at an informal settlement in Silvertown, in Chatsworth near Malmesbury has prompted the Al Jama-ah political party to seek a solution to inhumanity in the DA-led province.
“We have laid a complaint at the SA Human Rights Commission and we will take the matter further against the DA’s inhuman actions.
“The Al Jama-ah political party is appalled at the constant and persistent police brutality meted out against protesters in need of basic service delivery and the evictions in other areas which have escalated during winter and amid the Covid-19 pandemic,”
The Al Jama-ah leader and parliamentarian, Hon. Ganief Hendricks said, “On Wednesday, the City police arrested one of the leaders, Bulisani Nkosi Maphosa for so-called public violence. Maphosa was released soon thereafter. According to reports we received, City police shot teargas at inhabitants indiscriminately, entered their homes and shouted left, right and center, in complete disregard of little babies, the disabled and elderly. We condemn the police heavy-handedness and lack of restraint in dealing with the public.”
Lungelwa Noshe, secretary of Silvertown youth said: “The police treated us as dogs.
We have struggled with the municipality since 2014 for legal occupation and for service delivery.
“The land was bought from Cape Life Style in 2008 for half a million
For some reason there were some grey areas, resulting in losing contact with the owners in 2010.
The residents decided to occupy the land during May in 2010. We had nowhere to go, nowhere to go live. The Council don’t provide adequate housing.
“These lands these rich people stole and now own belonged to our forefathers and now they refuse to provide us with water, sanitation facilities and electricity. “We Silvertown residents had a peaceful march to the Swartland Municipality, where we were addressed by Joggie Scholtz, “ Noshe said.
“Scholtz insisted the land is zoned as agricultural property and falls on the urban edge. And, that’s why there is no basic services for us. It is useless to provide basic services since the court has authorized the eviction process. It will be a waste of money to provide services to us,” Noshe stated.
AL JAMA-AH has also lodged a complaint to the SA Human Rights Commission on the Silvertown matter.
Further information:
Lungelwa Noshe
Silvertown Youth: Secretary
Cell: 063 377 8423
Hon. Ganief Hendricks
AL JAM-AH Member of Parliament
Cell: 082 780 2573