The battle for Tafelsig

http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=66033

Police withdraw from invaded CT land
Rafiq Wagiet | 18 May

Cape Town police withdrew from the Swartklip Sports Field in Mitchell’s Plain on Wednesday after forcing illegal dwellers off the vacant municipal land.

The city secured a court interdict on Tuesday allowing it to evict the land invaders.

Wednesday’s stand-off was rather short and subdued compared to the violent clashes seen at the weekend when police were met with the barrage of rocks and in turn fired rubber bullets at the illegal occupants.

Media: Bricks, bullets fly in land grab

May 16 2011 at 12:59pm
By NATASHA PRINCE – Cape Argus

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City law enforcement officers, protecting themselves with body shields and face masks, advance on a group of Mitchells Plain residents who invaded an empty plot in Tafelsig. Picture: Henk Kruger

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• Gallery: Backyard dwellers invade Tafelsig

An open field in Tafelsig turned into a war zone yesterday as a group of land invaders pelted police and city law enforcers with rocks and bottles.

Mitchells Plain Traders Respond After March

Following a march that was held by the Mitchells Plain Traders on 03 June 2010 the City of Cape Town has responded through to both CHATA and the 5^th Avenue Traders Associations. The city has noted that the issues pertaining to CHATA and the 5^th Avenue Traders are distinctly different from one another. Mayoral Committee member Felicity Purchase has states that the process is not finalized and the allocation of bays will be revisited.

CHATA and other trades belonging to the other 6 different trader associations are not happy with the relocation. Although, it has been reported by the city that traders are extremely happy. This is an issue that CHATA will challenge with the city; traders are not happy. CHATA is requesting a meeting with all of the traders in the Town Centre, the Ward Councillor, the Sub-Council, the Mayor and Felicity Purchase.

In the Town Centre, the traders are not interested in gaining power or benefiting from the process, instead it is an issue of the livelihoods of traders that have been affected tremendously. Traders need to trade where there are feet and not on an island.

It was said that tourists would visit the Mitchells Plain Town Centre during the FIFA 2010 World Cup, but nothing is happening here for the traders and hawkers during this time. Instead, the nearby community is still supporting traders, as is the case on a daily basis.

One demand from CHATA was that reports from the tribunal and workshop that were conducted be made public documents. The city has not responded to this demand and we ask why? CHATA continues to pursue this demand as the public has a right to see what went on in these sessions.

For more information please call Mischka Cassiem (CHATA) at 0731286657 or Jasmine Page (5th Avenue Traders) at 0733688690

Press Release: Mitchells Plain Traders respond to march

Traders of Mitchells Plain marched to the city offices on Thursday, June 3, 2010. A memorandum from 5^th Avenue Traders and CHATA was handed out at the march to government official Mr. Paul Williamson. The memorandum addressed the eviction of traders in Mitchells Plain, the exclusion of traders due to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the harassment and intimidation to traders by law enforcement. CHATA and the 5^th Avenue Traders Association had a brief discussion regarding the traders who are not trading. Mr. Paul Williamson responded that they could only deal with these issues after the FIFA World Cup and that all the politicians and officials are in recess during this time. However, CHATA is very disappointed in the response from Mr. Paul Williamson and CHATA has also made it clear that the process was unjust and unfair. Councilor Natalie Bent has also admitted that the members of CAHTA have been suffering in having no income for so long. CHATA is also awaiting a response from Councilor Natalie Bent as she promised to engage with the Mayor regarding the evictions.

CHATA also sends out a message that there are traders writing letters claiming they are members of CHATA. CHATA requests that the executive confirm all letters sent on behalf of the association.

CHATA has also unified itself with the 5^th Avenue Traders Association who supports CHATA. The 5^th Avenue Traders Association is part of the Mitchells Plain Traders Umbrella Body.

For more information please contact Mischka Cassiem at 0782422263 or 0745257336

Mitchells Plain Traders: CHATA Arrests and Responses

On Saturday, 24 April 2010, one of CHATA’s members was arrested from the Town Centre market and her goods were confiscated. The city of Cape Town did not issue a confiscation or eviction notice prior to the arrest. Additionally she was trading on land owned by a private owner giving the city no legal ground for the confiscation of her goods. There needs to be more pressure put on the City of Cape Town and the government of South Africa for the mass actions being taken throughout the country against informal traders. Goods are being stolen every day and the government is defending this act by claiming they have the right to confiscate what they do not feel is being sold in the right manner. Legal action needs to take place against these acts.

Additionally, CHATA is responding to a newsletter that has been circulated by The Mitchells Plain Town Centre Merchants Association, discrediting CHATA in its fight for the poor. The chairperson for the MPTCMA is Dr. MC Roomaney, telephone number: 021 392 8130.

CHATA, in particular, is responding to targeted attacks and claims in the newsletter. The MPTCMA stated that “…we exposed these people for the selfish, greedy and obstructionist opportunists they are” in the workshop with the mayor help on 18 November 2009.

Press Release: Livelihoods and Business Lost for Mitchells Plain Town Centre Traders

The community of Mitchells Plain and the majority of Traders express disappointment at the local government in the way they have handled the allocation process in the Town Centre. According to the City they have followed procedure, but CHATA still objects to this claim as their grievances have not been listened or responded to.

The City claims CHATA has a membership of 15 people, when in reality CHATA’s membership is nearly 300 people each with a membership form completed in their own handwriting.

The situation in the Town Centre has not improved since the clearing of the lanes. Traders who have collected permits and are trading in city allocated spaces are extremely unhappy with the condition of the permits, the physical trading areas and they cannot sustain their livelihoods in the areas where they have been moved. Most Traders would agree that there has been a loss of business since the evictions on Monday, March 8, 2010.

The livelihoods of many people in Mitchells Plain were lost on Monday and the City must not continue to ignore the rights of the people.

For more information please call Mischka Cassiem at 0731286657 or Yasmeen at 0842875220

Traders Evicted in Mitchells Plain Town Centre

Today in Mitchells Plain Town Centre, Traders were evicted, goods were confiscated, trading bays demolished and livelihoods shattered.

The Town Centre was lined with police and law enforcement vehicles as Traders non-violently protested as they watched their goods get thrown into dumpsters. Over 100 police and law enforcement officers were on the scene, as well as City Officials Randall Skrikker and Richard Holdstock. As each trading bay was broken down, Traders resisted in a non-violent manner.

Traders without permits are left without the ability to continue their businesses after many have been trading in the Town Centre for over 20 years. The community is behind the Traders and we will continue to fight for the rights we know we deserve. The poorest of the poor continue to be marginalised in a country that claims to be democratic. Traders ask for support and solidarity and all media is asked to speak to the following Traders individually to gain further insight into the events that took place today:

Jennifer at 0833522658, Nazeema at 0735790445, Desma Abrahams at 0787878702, Faldela at 0839252025, Ishmael Abrahams at 0837691653, Naiela at 0729050779

Update on Mitchells Plain Traders: Law Enforcement present in Mitchells Plain Town Centre

The evictions of Traders in Mitchells Plain Town Centre have been calmed. Law Enforcement is still present in the area, but no evictions have taken place this morning.

After 7am this morning one Trader was mishandled and verbally abused by Law Enforcement. The officials approached her stand and removed her goods, vandalising her stand. She then willingly removed her goods, and will continue to trade this afternoon. She was verbally told she can’t trade today and City Official Randall Skrikker announced that she will also not be allowed to trade tomorrow.

Overall the Town Centre is calm. The perseverance of the Traders is apparent as we fight together for our livelihoods. All support and solidarity are requested from the public and media.

For more information please contact Jennifer at 0833522658 and Naiela 0729050779

Traders in Mitchells Plain Town Centre being evicted by Law Enforcement now

At the moment, Traders of Mitchells Plain Town Centre are being evicted by Law Enforcement officials: goods are being confiscated and livelihoods are at stake. The City of Cape Town is moving forward with the renovation process that will see loss of livelihoods for at least 500 Traders. Many Traders still feel that this process is not for their benefit. We are appealing for the support of the community in and around Mitchells Plain. All media is invited to the Town Centre.

For more information please contact Mischka Cassiem at 0745257336

March to Support Informal Trading

CHATA will be joining the Western Cape Informal Traders Coalition in a march on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. The march will begin from Kaizerchrat in Cape Town at 9am to proceed to the City Building. CHATA has encouraged its members not to collect their permits due to the conditions that will put the Traders out of business. Mitchells Plain Traders are outraged by the Media Release from the Mayor Dan Plato yesterday February 17, 2010. Many issues regarding trading in Mitchells Plain are unresolved. As far as CHATA is concerned, the tribunal has not responded to the main objections of CHATA.

For more information please contact: Mischka Cassiem 073128657 and Naiela 0729050779