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Lwandle eviction hearings to continue

Johannesburg - Public hearings into the eviction of illegal shack dwellers in Lwandle, Cape Town, are expected to continue on Tuesday.

On Monday, Sheena St Clair Jonker, founder of the Access to Justice Association of Southern Africa (Ajasa), said a young man committed suicide and a woman miscarried after the evictions.

Jonker said the woman who was four months pregnant was kicked by a police officer carrying out the eviction, and she miscarried later that day.

A 21-year-old man committed suicide after he arrived at the scene to find his home demolished and his possessions gone, she claimed.

Jonker said she was called by Ses'Khona People's Rights Movement leader Loyiso Nkohla to consult residents and provide legal services.

The inquiry was investigating the eviction of people from SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) land on 2 June and 3 June.

Jonker said police "brutalised" and arrested residents who were asking questions about what was happening and trying to retrieve their possessions.

Inquiry member Butch Steyn said it was not in dispute that there had been some form of abuse, but he was concerned that Jonker had not verified a lot of the information coming from residents.

"It leaves me a little bit uncomfortable. Do you have affidavits to back this presentation? If you do, we need copies," Steyn said.

Jonker replied that gathering information had taken a while and she did not have affidavits. However, she had comprehensive consultation notes that could be converted to affidavits.
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