By Nadia Samie
22 November 2006
A Grassy Park community of about 300 forcibly-removed people plan to protest outside the Cape High Court next month, after they were summoned there to answer to eviction orders.
The residents say they were removed by force, on Cape Town Mayor Hellen Zille’s orders, from Lake Road in Grassy Park on the 19th of March this year, to a piece of land on the corners of Klip and Acacia Roads. The residents say they were only given plastic, poles and nails by the city council, and told to erect dwellings for themselves.
“Zille promised us she would never move us beyond the boundaries of Grassy Park. We have over 100 children in schools here, our churches are here and our whole lives are here,” said Eleanor Hoedemaker of the Zille Rain Heights Association.
According to the community, just before receiving the eviction orders, a Cape Town city official tried to force them to move Happy Valley, a location between Mfuleni and Blackheath, about 35 kilometres from the CBD.
Robert MacDonald, spokesperson for Mayor Hellen Zille, could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
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