Press Statement – For Immediate Release
POLICE BRUTALITY IN HANGBERG
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Brian Bunting District (Cape
Town Metro) has noted with shock and disgust the excessive police brutality
meted out to residents of Hangberg in Hout Bay. We have witnessed the gross
abuse of state power by Helen Zille to suppress residents of Hangberg using
apartheid style tactics which is a subversion of the Constitution and its human
rights foundation.
Zille failed to engage in dialogue with the residents of Hangberg on Friday, 17
September 2010. Members of the community led by SACP cadres, for years, have
waged relentless struggles for basic services such as water, sanitation,
electricity, waste collection, basic amenities and housing. Instead of
resolving these challenges Zille threatened to demolish the housing structures
of the community without alternative accommodation as per legislation.
On Tuesday 21 September 2010 in the crack of dawn Zille, using the state
resources ie Metro Police, SAPS (flying squad, riot police, dog unit),
Emergency Services and all manner of public resources, began to demolish
people’s shelters which is reminiscent of the forced removals of the apartheid
era. The amount of money spent on this rein of terror runs into millions as
well as huge deployment of personnel who could otherwise have been doing
responsible work to respond to the needs of the people is untenable.
When the community, in defence of their rights, resisted, the police unleashed
rubber bullets and arrested scores of people. Activists and residents were
targeted and shot at for demanding basic services and respect for their rights.
Residents were shot at mercilessly (including elderly women) by ruthless police
acting on the instruction of Zille. Community life came to a halt ie schools
were closed, health facilities were closed and no access for public and private
transport into and out of the area. in addition, residents could not go to work
because of the brutal attack by Zille and company.
Thirty males and 16 females were arrested without any charges, there was no
court order authorizing Zille to evict people which is a blatant violation of
human rights and dignity of the residents of Hangberg and that of South
Africans. These huge numbers were confined into small holding cells.
Community life was disrupted on the against a simple issue of residents
entrenching good governance which Zille is unfamialr with. Residents were right
to demand answers concerning alternative accommodation before any relocation or
demolishing of property in accordance with legislation on Prevention of Illegal
Eviction and Unlawful Occupation of Land. Residents remain correct to demand
basic services in accordance with the Bill of Rights of our Constitution.
This is a betrayal of the gallant struggles waged by our forebears for a humane
society. Zille and the Democratic Alliance are showing their true colours as
enemies of the poor and our Constitution.
It was clear that this action was politically motivated based on the fact that
the leadership of the SACP and the movement as well as legal representatives
could not find anyone or agency in charge of the operation in order to get
answers. The Metro Police and SAPS did not want to take responsibility which
lays bare the challenge of dual command structures in our law enforcement
agencies. The SACP in the Brian Bunting District calls for an urgent review of
our law enforcement system. In fact there is no need for the existing duality
in our law enforcement system. The Metro Police have become a law unto
themselves and thus act with impunity. They must be disbanded and must fall
under one command structure, SAPS.
For enquiries contact:
Benson Ngqentsu – District Secretary
0827966400
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