SOUTH AFRICA: PROTESTS AS ANC ENDORSES EVICTION OF ILLEGAL RESIDENTS

(24 Jan 1997) English/Nat

In South Africa the ruling African National Congress Friday endorsed the eviction of illegal residents in four townships.

The evictions erupted into running battles with police on Thursday.

Police armed with bird shot, rubber bullets and stun grenades opened fire on residents in the mixed-race township of Eldorado Park.

It started as a dispute over housing -- residents trying to hold back police efforts to evict them.

It ended in running gun battles through the mixed race township of Eldorado Park outside Johannesburg.

When police came to enforce an ordered eviction, angry residents started destroying houses, throwing stones and crates at windows.

When residents turned their anger on the police -- the police answered back with bird shot, rubber bullets and stun grenades.

Police say they opened fire on the residents after being fired upon from the surrounding apartment blocks.

Eldorado Park residents were told three months ago they had to leave but have been fighting the government order.

SOUNDBITE:
"We are a traumatised and dominated society and that is why we feel the Brown Peoples Movement should get involved to reverse apartheid that is practised by the government against our people."
SUPER CAPTION: William Volmink/Resident

The houses were promised to the residents before South Africa's first democratic elections three years ago.

But the homes remained only half built.

The residents moved in and finished the building themselves - but they were never the legal owners.

Now the authorities tasked with completing the development have evicted the residents from the buildings.

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