DISBAND ANTI LAND INVASION UNIT!

The City of Cape Town's Anti Land Invasion Unit (ALIU) must be disbanded and its resources reallocated to fighting crime in poor areas, says the Economic Freedom Fighters Western Cape Provincial Chairperson, Bernard Joseph.

After visiting Parkwood in Cape Town to meet with the families affected by last week's demolition of over 70 homes by the ALIU, Joseph remarked that the Patricia de Lille and the City of Cape Town had gone rogue on the Constitution of South Africa by using the resources of the city to conduct Apartheid era style forced removals.

"Patricia de Lille's Anti Land Invasion Unit is one of the most well resourced law enforcement units in the City Cape Town. The City has for the year 2015 / 2016 allocated R53 million more to Safety and Security for, among other things, countering what it terms 'land invaders'. When the poor build homes, Patricia de Lille's paramilitary thug unit in riot gear engage in operations against the poorest men, women and children with brute force. These are highly trained units who operate with military precision in 'repelling an invasion'. This is not law enforcement. This is a ground war against the poor.

"Patricia de Lille cares more about demolishing the homes of the poor than she does about uplifting the communities in which the vulnerable live. She inflicts violence on the poor instead of protecting them from it.

The Constitution of South Africa states that "No one may be evicted from their home, or have their home demolished, without an order of court made after considering all the relevant circumstances. No legislation may permit arbitrary evictions.

The City of Cape Town has in the past fallen foul of the minimum requirements as prescribed by law in enforcing evictions. Where this is the case, Mayor of Cape Town has been guilty of contravening the Constitution of South Africa.

The Freedom Charter states that "All shall have the right to occupy land wherever they choose". Land is a birthright, not a privilege that may be granted or withdrawn on the whim of a Mayor who hates the poor.

EFF Western Cape calls for

1. The immediate cessation of hostilities against the poor by the ALIU,

2. The ALIU to be disbanded and,

3. The resources of the unit be reallocated to fighting crime in all poor areas of the City of Cape Town.

Statement issued by Bernard Joseph, EFF Western Cape Chairperson, 29 February 2016