Charges laid against homeless squatters

The violence that flared up on the Cape Flats following a fire in the Joe Slovo squatters camp in Langa has led to charges being laid against some residents. Police have confirmed that Joe Slovo residents broke into and occupied empty flats at the N-2 Gateway. The residents face charges of vandalism and damage to property. Some 100 shacks burnt to the ground in the squatter camp early on Sunday morning and the residents then tried to occupy the nearby flats. Fences were cut and doors smashed in. The police moved in and forcibly removed the squatters.