Abahlali baseMjondolo presents eNkanini Talent Show

︎ Feb 19, 10:00AM SAST

︎ Enkanini Hall, Entrance R5

︎ In-Person

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The eNkanini Occupation in Cato Manor, Durban, has survived years of brutal oppression including repeated attacks by the Anti-Land Invasion Unit and the police since the land was first occupied in 2017.

Many comrades were arrested, and many were seriously injured, during the initial stage of the occupation. Comrades were evicted from the land during at least twenty-two separate attacks. The City would burn their belongings and building materials after each and every eviction but they never gave up.

On 27 July 2017 the residents obtained a court interdict against the evictions. But the City continued to evict residents in brazen violation of the court order. At the end of that year they had to bring an application for contempt of court.

On 17 December 2017 two the comrades on the occupation, were shot by unknown men. One was seriously injured and the other, Soyiso Nkqayini, passed away. This happened a month after Sibonelo Mpeku, the chairperson in the Sisonke Village occupation in Lamontville, was kidnapped and murdered. Soyiso had been branch Youth League organiser in eNkanini. He was a very active militant who played a key role in the early stages of the occupation.

On 30 January 2018 men driving Metro police vehicles, but not wearing police uniforms came to the occupation and directly threatened the chairperson of the branch with death.

The comrades on the occupation didn’t just hold the land despite all this state intimidation, violence and criminality. They built their own homes and connected themselves to water, sanitation and electricity by themselves without the support of the municipality. They also built a hall, which was opened on 1 December 2018.

On 16 November 2018 the occupation came under massive police attack, including the use of a helicopter and police brought in for the attack from as far away as Bloemfontein. As individual homes were raided numerous people were severely beaten by the police. Teargas was thrown into homes without regard for who was inside and many children were affected. A pregnant woman lost her unborn child when she collapsed after inhaling teargas and was admitted to hospital for five days.

The price for land and autonomy is always paid in blood. But struggle is not only shared suffering. It is also shared life and joy.

On Saturday we celebrate our community, our strength, our beauty and our lives.