POSTED ON June 22, 2020 BY admin
PADKOS NO 100
In our 100th padkos mailing1, we’re following up on the release of our research report into the evictions and demolitions in eThekwini – and giving you a way to support the campaign to stop them. A number of significant leaders from religious and solidarity formations that we’ve long worked with, have already pledged their strong support. We are very grateful to them, and we hope that their voice adds pressure to shame those responsible into stopping these outrageous lockdown evictions.
Now, you can also add your voice to the call by supporting the petition statement online if you haven’t already done so, here: http://chng.it/6PjVfszDv8 . And please, encourage as many others as you can to do the same!
The statement:
We the undersigned are outraged by the evictions and demolitions detailed in the recent report from the Church Land Progamme (CLP). Violent evictions and demolitions of poor black shack-dwellers homes in South Africa are ongoing and must be stopped immediately!
As the world rises against the brutalisation and murder of black people in the United States, it is equally important that the world acknowledges and fights the brutal actions occurring at the hands of the South African government, police, and military. During the course of just two months during the recent lockdown, over 900 people’s shacks have been illegally demolished in the Durban area.
The new independently-researched report from the Church Land Programme shows how shack settlements in the city of eThekwini have been targeted in a sustained campaign of violent evictions and demolitions during the Covid-19 crisis. The local municipality, councillors, the police, the army, and private security companies have driven this violence in defiance of basic decency and humanity, as well as the national law, international guidance, the Covid-19 lockdown regulations, ministerial proclamations, and the brave and concerted resistance of shack-dwellers themselves.
We the undersigned lend our voices to this report’s call:
STOP this! In the name of our shared humanity, our dignity, and our decency, STOP this!
Evictions and demolitions, especially at this time, are an attack on all of us.
We further endorse the call for:
* A public and unreserved apology from the mayor of eThekwini for what has happened, and an unambiguous commitment never to do it again.
* Fines and real consequences to be imposed upon all the managers, leaders, and others who have led, authorised, or condoned, these inhumane acts.
* Support for and solidarity with the people affected and the shack-dweller movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo.
Names of Signatories:
Bishop Purity Malinga – Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba – Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, and Bishop of the Diocese of Natal
Bishop Rubin Phillip – Former Bishop, Diocese of Natal, Anglican Church of Southern Africa
Cardinal Napier – Archdiocese of Durban, Catholic Church
Rev Dr Tom McKnight – President, Methodist Church in Ireland
Rev Thulani Ndlazi – SA Synod Secretary, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
Bishop Linda Mandindi – Natal Coastal District, Methodist Church of Southern Africa
Canon Janet Trisk – Diocese of Natal, Anglican Church of Southern Africa
Rev Mike Vorster – Director of Ecumenical Affairs, Methodist Church of Southern
Africa
Ruth Ogier – Head of International Programmes, War on Want
Rose Williams – Director, Biowatch
Sonto Magwaza – Director, Ecumenicl Services for Socio-Economic Transformation
Paul Tyler – Member of ACT (Action by Churches Together) Ubumbano Advisory Group
Simanga Sithebe – Director, Sinani KZN Programme for Survivors of Violence
Ashley Green-Thompson – Director ACT (Action by Churches Together) Ubumbano
Rev David Nixon – Convenor of Irish Methodist World Development and Relief
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PS – we’ll celebrate 100 padkos servings later in the year!