Shaka’s Head squatters to march into Ballito to protest eviction plans

The shack dwellers’ group Abahlali baseMjondolo says it will lead a march to Ballito on Monday, in protest of the municipality’s plans to evict the illegal residents of Shaka’s Head.

Abahlali baseMjondolo is a socialist shack dwellers’ movement which primarily campaigns for land, housing and dignity.

The group’s poster advertising the protest says the match is a “Call to action against forced removals, evictions and racism.”

The march has been set to take place after 9am, and will end at the doors of the KwaDukuza Municipal offices on Leonora Drive.

Papers were served to those living illegally in the area by a sheriff of the court in August, and the case is expected to be heard in the High Court before the end of October.

While the municipality is confident of winning the eviction case, the situation closely mirrors that of Taffeni, an illegally settled township in Sheffield which won an historic court battle against the municipality in August last year.

KDM took the original 100 illegal occupiers to court in search of eviction in 2019 in order to start construction on a mixed-use municipal housing project.

The four-year court process dragged on as objections were made by legal representatives of the illegal occupiers until KDM eventually caved and settled with what had become 300 people last year. They must now be housed in the new project.

Umhlali police spokesperson, captain Vinny Pillay confirmed that police were aware of Monday’s march.

“Residents should prepare for potential traffic flow disturbance and are advised to make arrangements of getting to work or school early,” said Pillay.