April 28 2011 at 10:09am – Cape Times
DARK DAYS: Mzonke Poni consoles Nolusindiso Ketani, whose child now suffers a disability after injuries sustained in a shack fire in 2005, at the Shack Fire Summit in Khayelitsha. Community members demanded that the city supply their shacks with electricity to prevent fires. Picture: David Ritchie Read the rest of this entry »October 14, 2009 Edition 1 – Cape Times
Martin Legassick and Mzonke Poni
ON September 26 at 11.30pm, a group of 30 to 40 men wielding pangas, sticks and guns surrounded the community hall in Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban. Read the rest of this entry »
THE MACASSAR backyarders, propped up by a host of communities from Khayelitsha and Gugulethu, were expected to march to Mayor Dan Plato’s office this morning to demand delivery on services. The backyarders, who recently unsuccessfully attempted to invade city land, said the march was in support of their demand for land where they could put their shacks, among other things. Housing activist Mzonke Poni said yesterday that the communities planned to engage in “militant action” ahead of the march. – Staff Reporter
June 04, 2009 Edition 2
Staff Writer – Cape Times
A MACASSAR community leader who was detained on suspicion of inciting public violence has had his court hearing postponed for two weeks.
Mzonke Poni, chairman of Abahlali baseMjondolo (association of shack dwellers), says when he next appears in the Somerset West Magistrate’s Court on June 17 he will plead not guilty. Read the rest of this entry »
A HOUSING activist detained on Monday on suspicion of inciting public violence has been released on a warning and is due to appear in the Somerset West Magistrate’s Court today. Read the rest of this entry »
WIVL Press Statement
Workers International Vanguard League condemns the arrest and assault of Mzonke Poni, one of the Cape Town leadership of the Abahlahli base Mjondolo movement. He is allegedly being charged for ‘public violence’. This false accusation has become a standard act of the state against those who dare to lead the resistance of the masses for their legitimate demands for housing. In this case, the demand was simply a piece of vacant land to erect a shack. In the days when the NP ruled they used to label opponents as ‘terrorists’ now the ‘democratic’ state labels us as perpetrators of ‘public violence’. The real public violence is for the state (DA and ANC) to deny homeless people a chance to put up a shelter in the middle of the cold and rainy winter. Read the rest of this entry »
Note: Mzonke Poni is still being held. Police spokesmen have lied to activists and journalists about having already filed charges and him appearing in court this morning. At the moment, we are not sure when he will be charged.
June 02, 2009 Edition 1
MICHELLE JONES
THE leader of the Macassar backyard dwellers in their struggle for land for housing, Mzonke Poni, has been arrested soon after his organisation won an interdict against the city demolishing their shacks. Read the rest of this entry »
Press Update:
We have now been able to confirm the following:
1. Mzonke has, probably as a result of the fantastic national and international solidarity, been able to receive medial attention.
2. The woman who was arrested, with her child, along with Mzonke was subject to intimidation at the hands of the police and threatened to never return to the occupation and then released without being charged. We cannot yet give her name. Read the rest of this entry »
Emergency Update (18h15 on 1 June):
Mzonke Poni has been charged with public violence and will appear in court on Tuesday with the mother of the 1 year old baby. We would like to thank everyone who called in for helping prevent further assaults and beatings.
Emergency Update (17h15 on 1 June):
1. mzonke sent an sms moments ago to say that a women has also been arrested and that she has a one year old baby.
2. immediately after that mzonke’s phone was taken from him while he was on the line to david ntseng of the church land programme.
its time to face up to the fact that in cape town the local state is habitually violent and criminal. moreover when the courts extend some protection to the poor that are also treated with utter contempt Read the rest of this entry »
Update 19 May 2009 at 16h00:
Martin Legassick has been released unharmed. However the two other comrades are still being held by the police. There is now a march on the Macassar Village police station to demand the release of those two comrades.
Contact Mzonke Poni 073 256 2036.
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