[DEBATE] : Shack dwellers claim police harassment

[Richard Pithouse]

http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3493725

Shack dwellers claim police harassment
October 19, 2006 Edition 2 

Matthew Savides 

THE shack dwellers' movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo, yesterday claimed
a victory over police, who they claimed had been "harassing" them. 

Assault charges laid against two leaders were dropped in the Durban
Magistrate's Court. 

S'bu Zikode and Philani Zungu, President and Deputy President
respectively, were accused of assaulting a police officer on September
12. They had been sitting in a car and were about to leave for a radio
debate when the police approached them, claiming that the car had been
stolen. 

Because of their arrests, violence erupted as residents of the Kennedy
Road informal settlement protested and gunfire was exchanged. 

Zikode said the charges had been dropped soon after they appeared in
court at 10am. 

Abahlali members packed the courtroom and lined the corridors and
passages leading to the court. When they heard the charges had been
dropped, scenes of celebration erupted. 

Zikode added that they had pressed assault charges against the police.


matthew.savides at inl.co.za


Please find our Email Disclaimer here: http://www.ukzn.ac.za/disclaimer/