Agang SA to help fund eviction fight

Durban19022014Mervin Govender of AGANG SA from Phoenix.Picture:Marilyn Bernard

Durban19022014Mervin Govender of AGANG SA from Phoenix.Picture:Marilyn Bernard

Published Feb 21, 2014

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Durban - Mamphela Ramphele’s Agang SA will help fund the eviction court battle of the Phoenix Tenants & Residents Association against a company linked to controversial Durban businessman Jay Singh.

Spokesman for Agang SA in KwaZulu-Natal and the association, Mervin Govender, confirmed Ramphele’s party was in their corner.

“So far we’ve been funding this court case on our own. Residents have all been putting money together, about R10 000 a month, for our legal fees. Agang has now decided to fund our transport and other costs like food when we are in court,” he said. “In August when Ramphele came to Phoenix and stopped an illegal eviction taking place, residents were very impressed by her.”

The former ANC member said he and many other residents joined Agang SA after seeing Ramphele in action.

Despite media reports that Agang SA was broke, Govender said Agang SA would donate about R15 000 to the association. “There has been no set budget. We ask Agang for money when we need it, until the case ends.

Govender said Agang SA was not buying votes by paying for the court case. “People living in the homes that Singh built are from various political parties; there are quite a few who now belong to Agang.”

The case was removed from the court roll late last month after acting High Court Judge Bulelwa Ndamase said the papers were similar to those submitted in December and she would not entertain them.

Residents had sought an urgent stay of eviction against Bambela Security and Wood-glaze Trading, a company owned by controversial businessman Jay Singh’s ex-wife, Shireen Annamalay.

Many residents at Shireen Mews in Phoenix said they did not know about Agang SA’s funding. One, who asked not to be named, said, “I know about the party but not about the money for our court case.”

Another resident, who gave her name only as Rowena, said she was a DA member; Agang SA’s money would not buy her vote.

Daily News

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