MEDIA RELEASE

Inquiries: Tatu Mhlaba Nxasana Cell 0739180102 Mongezi S. Nkomo Cell 0791244513

Subject: Residents and Tenants tired of Public Works betrayal of ACCORD & illicit evictions!

Date: Friday July 04, 2014

From: Neighborhood Action Committee of Zone 7 Govt Flats & Across the Street (NAC Zone7)

The Property Management, middle and junior staff, in the Amathole Region, Dept. of Roads & Public Works , Eastern Cape are still illicitly evicting people. We had a January 27, 2014 “Hanker Accord”

This is a uncivil and heinous deed of throwing out families during cold winter people. This is done for a second time in this neighborhood, despite a call by Honorable Cabinet Minister Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, to all government entities to stop unilateral actions and to “cease and desist” the inhumane evictions of residents and tenants out of ANY government owned property .

Today, Friday July 04, 2014, a combined Executive Committee and Task Force team of delegates of NAC Z one 7 delivered a memorandum in Bhisho, at the General Manager, Ms Phucuka Malgas, Property Division, Eastern Cape provincial government. We left also additional background information to have a holistic analysis. This will show why people have lost faith in the Amathole Region Property Management HQ in East London.

Yesterday, Thursday July 03, 2014 an explosive situation was averted when an official from the Amathole Regional Property office, accompanied by SAPS from our local Zwelitsha Police Station, a private security guard crew and a locksmith began evicting occupants from the rooms in one Flat. When confronted by NACZone7 to produce an official letter or court order they had nothing.

The SAPS after consulting with NAC Zone 7 functionaries understood this was abuse of their mandate “to serve and protect” ordinary and poor citizens and residents. Another Lwandle, Western Cape was averted! But it was clear that the “tendering” private security guard had been ordered to evict four tenants. SAPS commander prevailed of the private security and the Property Maintenance staff from East London.

WE humbly gave Ms Phucuka Malgas seven (7) days to respond as our community is boiling with anger!

Both the Executive Committee and Task Force are going to address OUR RESIDENTS and Tenants on a “WAY FORWARD” and the “Neighborhood Jobs for Peace and Justice Campaign! SUNDAY 3pm, July 06 2014. This will be done at regular COMMUNITY FREEDOM SQUARE Zone 7 Flats, Zwelitsha Eastern Cape.

Si è tenuto in Inghilterra, gli scorsi 5/6/7 giugno presso la nuovissima sede di ACORN Bristol in Inghilterra, l’annuale meeting di ACORN International / Community Organizations International.
La location è stata scelta anche in omaggio alle nuove ACORN England ed ACORN Scotland costituitesi di recente.

Presenti i leader delle varie ACORN di ogni parte del mondo, naturalmente compresa anche l’Italia, mentre chi non è potuto essere presente come ACORN India, ACORN Messico, ACORN Kenya, ACORN Argentina ed altri si è collegato in videoconferenza via Skype.

Neighborhood Action Committee

(of Zone 7 Government Flats & Across the Street)

c/o C202 Block C Zone 7

Zwelitsha 5608

Eastern Cape

June 27 2014

EXACTLY six months representatives from the Directorate of Property Management, Amathole Region, Dept of Roads & Public Works (DRPW), Eastern Cape held meeting with the Executive Committee of the Neighborhood Action Committee of Zone 7 Government Flats & Street Across (NAC Zone7) . The outcome was morally binding but unofficial principled agreement we now refer to be neighborly as 27 January 2014 Zwelitsha Hanker Accord:

“Important notice to ALL OCCUPANTS of Zwelitsha Flats Zone 7”

Dear Occupant,

• Please be informed the Department of Roads & Public Works held a meeting with the Neighborhood Action Committee of Zone 7 Flats Monday with a view to work to gather in the management and maintenance of Zwelitsha Zone 7 Flats.
• The Department of Roads & Public Works is of the view that the (NAC 7) Committee represents the interests and welfare of the of tenants as well as well as those of the Zwelitsha Community at large.
• In order to ensure good management of these flats you are encouraged to support the effort of this (NAC7) Committee is making in improving the living conditions in and around the”

By order

SIGNED

Property Manager,

Amathole Region.

There is a critical break down of communication that undermines the Spirit of the Agenda and Way Ford of January 27, 2007 within our Committee and LOWER echelons of Staff in Property that reflects your January 27 January that the history and culture of corruption we are trying to help to stamp out has RE-EMERGE in last four weeks::.

This based on the following facts or allegations and hope they are not true:

v We have been told by Occupants that have been sent letters of 30 days notice to vacate EC DRPW Zone & flat:

v One of our own is alleged to be telling Occupants and community at large that “iKomiti ifile Mnye kuphela osebenzayo”

v We hope that these allegations are false because one of our Executive Committee members has been unilaterally breaking the spirit and practice of the accord o.

We hope and pray that this is not the same person who publicly acknowledged and apologized for same practice. In spirit of “individual freedom and community democracy” same member was accused in public and acknowledged and apologized while promising NEVER AGAIN. This was in Public Formal General Meeting.

We still reiterate that this ACCORD is not as Legal and Official but moral basis of Bato Pele ethics, morality & values of Ubuntu envisaged as part just the Rainbow Nation that will celebrate Nelson Mandela 67 minutes a month or so from now but also family cohesion, children & elderly welfare and public safety of ALL OCCUPANTS in Accord we define as follows:

v Female or Male adult head of family housed hold or individual who resides not lawfully there because of legitimate homelessness ie Blue Card Holders in RDP list;

v Female or Male head of household tenants with leases but who resisted paying rent in decaying state of flats as they SELF Fixing them;

v Paying tenants who want to pay but some could NOT DO SO because LEASE RECORDS were missing or non existing .

A four week period wherein we did not have WATER in the upper Second and Third floors gave opportunity for TE-emergence of a culture of Corruption by one Committee member as well as facilitations of BREAKDOWN because WE ARE TREAT AS VERMIN.

NB. It is clear that the NEC ZONE 7 Flats has been a tool for PUBLIC officials and Community resident RESTABLISH. During the ZONE 7 Crisis Breakdown began & corruption. The Property Manager could not assist us with assistance as promised.

WE ARE NOT PUPPETS OF THE COMMUNITY CRIMINALS NO PUBLIC CORRUPT OFFICIALS.

***

To who it may concern

Station Commander

Property Management, Amathole Region, Eastern Cape DRPW

Ward 41 Buffalo City Metro Council

ALL other stat e holders

My name is MPR Sifika lawful tenant and community organizer of NEC 7 attached in for. I do not ferar for my life but VERY MUCH concerned about criminal before of “activists & administrators in our organization. So please take not of the WARNING of another Lwandle.

Some residents and administration are benefiting for this. TAKE ACTION

Mongezi Sifika Saturday 27 June 2014.

A group of campaigners marched their way around estate agents in Easton on Friday to protest against “unfair” tenancy fees and rolling monthly contracts.

Members of the newly launched Easton neighbourhood branch of ACORN, a community social justice organisation in Bristol, have been canvassing residents to support the campaign and gained 500 signatures in just over a week.

The BS5 area has twice the average number of privately rented homes in Bristol, and generates more than 25 per cent of all complaints about privately rented homes in the city.

ACORN say that most rentals in the area offer only two to six months security and “rip-off” letting agent fees of up to £500 each time they move, leaving many tenants feeling “intimidated” out of complaining or campaigning by the threat of eviction.

The group is now campaigning for an end to tenancy fees, the implementation of 12 month fixed-term tenancy agreements over rolling tenancies and support of longer fixed-term tenancy agreements wherever possible.

The aim of Friday’s March was to encourage estate agents in the Easton area to work with ACORN to achieve those goals.

Agents were also invited to “explain themselves” to residents at a public meeting on Thursday July 3. More than 100 people have already registered to attend the meeting and two letting agents have already agreed to come.

Read more at http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Campaigners-visit-Easton-estate-agents-protest/story-21277964-detail/story.html#wg4V2SLBuGjgLHP9.99

Easton tenants to march against ‘rip-off’ letting agents

ACORN Bristol had their first action today. We marched to various estate agents to have the members deliver a letter with the campaign demands (no more tenancy fees and rolling monthly contracts) and inviting agents to a meeting on the 3rd of July. ACORN Bristol is definitely buzzing and today three different media groups came out (including the radio that did some interviews with our ACORN members).

Powerpont report from ACORN Honduras.