Criminal charges laid against Ses'Khona

17 July 2014

The Democratic Alliance has today laid criminal charges against a number of Ses'Khona leaders and ANC members in Cape Town.

The charges relate to several illegal activities that played a key role in the South African National Road Agency Limited's (SANRAL) winter eviction of people from private land in Lwandle, and also the suffering of residents thereafter.

We believe that not only did Ses'Khona illegally sell private plots of SANRAL land to Lwandle residents, but they also diverted Disaster Management resources away from affected residents when the evictions invariably took place.

A dossier including a number of affidavits, photos and other documents was submitted to the Cape Town Central Police Station today detailing how - 

- Ses'Khona played a key role in illegally selling private plots of SANRAL land to Lwandle residents, setting them up for the tragic winter evictions that followed

- Membership and illegal plot-selling was facilitated from a make-shift Ses'Khona office set up on SANRAL property

- City of Cape Town Disaster management resources such as food, blankets and baby kits were diverted away from evictees by Ses'Khona to address LP 81, Pholile Park (home of a Ses'Khona committee member)

- These basic necessities were then distributed as patronage to Ses'Khona members at the expense of Lwandle residents, despite desperate protests from those in need

We believe the SAPS should begin their investigation with Andile Lili and Loyiso Nkohla as the self-proclaimed leaders of Ses'Khona. Several other individuals named in the affidavits should also be investigated including ANC Lwandle Councillor JJ Maxheke and local Ses'Khona committee members.

The politics of Ses'Khona both creates and feeds off human suffering. Having profited from illegally selling SANRAL land, this so-called "people's rights movement" then proceeded to literally take food out of evicted residents' mouths to coerce them into joining Ses'Khona.

We trust that the SAPS will act quickly to bring these criminals to justice. Like vampires they have fed and profited off the plight of the vulnerable and should face nothing less than the full might of the law.

Statement issued by Makashule Gana, DA Shadow Minister for Human Settlements, July 17 2014

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter