EMacambini
Encyclopedia
eMacambini is a rural area in the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa
which is mostly populated by members of the Macambini clan. It is near Mandeni
on the Zululand coast, just north of Durban
and close to the new King Shaka International Airport
.
In November 2008, the community of eMacambini held a 5,000 strong march of about 10 km to protest the proposed AmaZulu World development to be built by Ruwaad Holdings from Dubai. Earlier in the year, Ruwaad signed a memorandum of understanding with KZN Premier S’bu Ndebele. The planned R44m development by Ruwaad will occupy 16,500ha. In addition to the AmaZulu World Theme Park, plans include the largest shopping centre in Africa, a game reserve, six golf courses, residential facilities, sports fields and a statue of Shaka at the Thukela river mouth. To achieve this, the proposed development necessitates that the eMacambini community is going to be displaced from their rural land and rehoused on less land in a suburban township. If the plan goes ahead, 29 schools, 300 churches, three clinics and brand-new RDP houses will be demolished. Especially relevant to the community would be the demolishing of ancestral graves. In all, between 20,000 and 50,000 people in the region will be forcibly removed.
On the 4th of December 2008, the eMacambini community blockaded the N2 and R102 freeways to protest S'bu Ndebele
's non-reply to their memorandum handed over in a previous march. Police responded with rubber bullets injuring about 50 people and arresting 10. There were reports that many shot were innocent bystanders pulled out of their homes. There are also reports that many of the 10 people arrested were refused medical treatment. Police have justified their actions by claiming that residents threw stones at oncoming cars.
The community is working closely with The Poor People's Alliance and has also lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission and as of December 2008 has planned to challenge the legality of the proposed development.
On 16 January 2008 the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions
in Geneva
issued an open letter to S'bu Ndebele strongly condemning the proposed evictions and the violent police response to protests against it.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
which is mostly populated by members of the Macambini clan. It is near Mandeni
Mandeni
Mandeni is a small town in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.The town has many factories and attracts workers from afar. The biggest employer is Sappi, the largest paper manufacturer in South Africa....
on the Zululand coast, just north of Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
and close to the new King Shaka International Airport
King Shaka International Airport
King Shaka International Airport, also known as La Mercy Airport and abbreviated as KSIA, is the primary airport serving Durban, South Africa. Located at La Mercy, approximately north of the city centre of Durban, it opened its doors to passengers on May 1, 2010, just over a month before the...
.
In November 2008, the community of eMacambini held a 5,000 strong march of about 10 km to protest the proposed AmaZulu World development to be built by Ruwaad Holdings from Dubai. Earlier in the year, Ruwaad signed a memorandum of understanding with KZN Premier S’bu Ndebele. The planned R44m development by Ruwaad will occupy 16,500ha. In addition to the AmaZulu World Theme Park, plans include the largest shopping centre in Africa, a game reserve, six golf courses, residential facilities, sports fields and a statue of Shaka at the Thukela river mouth. To achieve this, the proposed development necessitates that the eMacambini community is going to be displaced from their rural land and rehoused on less land in a suburban township. If the plan goes ahead, 29 schools, 300 churches, three clinics and brand-new RDP houses will be demolished. Especially relevant to the community would be the demolishing of ancestral graves. In all, between 20,000 and 50,000 people in the region will be forcibly removed.
On the 4th of December 2008, the eMacambini community blockaded the N2 and R102 freeways to protest S'bu Ndebele
S'bu Ndebele
Sibusiso Joel "S'bu" Ndebele , is the current Minister of Transport in the Cabinet of South Africa...
's non-reply to their memorandum handed over in a previous march. Police responded with rubber bullets injuring about 50 people and arresting 10. There were reports that many shot were innocent bystanders pulled out of their homes. There are also reports that many of the 10 people arrested were refused medical treatment. Police have justified their actions by claiming that residents threw stones at oncoming cars.
The community is working closely with The Poor People's Alliance and has also lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission and as of December 2008 has planned to challenge the legality of the proposed development.
On 16 January 2008 the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions
Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions
The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions is a Geneva-based international non-governmental human rights organisation founded in 1994 by Scott Leckie as a foundation in the Netherlands .-Offices:...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
issued an open letter to S'bu Ndebele strongly condemning the proposed evictions and the violent police response to protests against it.