The forum started with a welcome by Roland and prayers. Roland asked that one representative from each organisation represent on behalf of each organisation. At the end of the forum, people would have the opportunity to talk to one another to discuss their problems and exchange contact details etc.
There were representatives from a number of organisations/areas including Backyard Dwellers, Philippi, the TPA, Manenberg, Jacksonville, Grassy Park and Lotus River. From these brief presentations, various common themes emerged. People said that they were tired of paying rent and that they wanted houses. They had no water, electricity or sanitation. Furthermore, people were sick and their houses were flooding. Government had not delivered on its promises. These organisations, whether they represented shack dwellers or backyard dwellers, were all concerned with the common purpose of trying to obtain housing.
Roland
Even though the City of Cape Town had confirmed last week that it would be sending representatives from the relevant areas (Joe Slovo, Manenberg and Macassar) all of the representatives had withdrawn on Monday afternoon. There was representatives from the CCT and from the province who were there as observers and would be taking reports back to their departments.
Jerry – Informal Settlements Network
The Informal Settlements Network programme is operating throughout South Africa. The process started last year and aims to ensure that there is unity amongst the poor and that they are all heard with one voice. Groups of informal settlements throughout South Africa are participating in this process. We believe we must fight poverty on all fronts. Housing is one aspect of the cause we’re fighting for. Even where people obtained RDP housing, they are still living in abject poverty. They have small houses, and there are no community structures such as schools, clinics and jobs. If you only fight for housing you are giving the state a blank cheque – they’ll build a house for you in Delft even if you live in Joe Slovo. It is important to first find land close to where you work. The land must also be accessible to other forms of infrastructure.
In South Africa all townships are historically away from the city centres. People must be closer to the points of social infrastructure. We’d like to invite all those present to form a partnership or coalition to address the issues of poverty.
The state has national structures. We only have ourselves. There’s no point in fighting separately. We must come together. There cannot just be forums where people come forward to discuss their difficult circumstances. We need to discuss the way forward. While the context is political, the organisation is non-party political and is thus not aligned to a particular party. We need to put aside the nametags of ‘Fedup’, ‘PPM’ or ‘Backyard Dwellers’ and must look at the common factors that brings us together. We should fight the scourge of poverty.
Natalie – Grassy Park area (also part of Backyard Dwellers and another association)
Natalie discussed the development of the group. While they had been promised 6000 houses by the MEC, nothing happened after the elections. They will have a launch as soon as possible. They are currently in the planning process.
Melanie – Manenberg
We have created unity amongst all of the housing associations here and now just have one body. We are still waiting for results. Floods and fires affect all shacks no matter where they are situated. We (backyarders) are currently facing evictions. There is surplus land in Manenberg and we have requested to be able to put up structures. The land used to belong to Consol Glass and now belongs to the people. We don’t have the answers and government officials are not here. But we can empower ourselves and help ourselves. Even though government subsidies have increased, the criteria remain the same and some people who have been on the waiting list for years still do not meet the criteria. The government officials who were put in power don’t listen to us, but we can take the power back. Everywhere you look it’s a waiting process. We must stand together.
Representative from Manenberg
Informal settlements are being prioritised, but what about backyarders? We’re here to engage but government is not here and that’s not fair. Government must come forward.
Mzwanele – Joe Slovo
On 10 March 2009 there was a fire in Joe Slovo. We received assistance from iKhayalami, CORC and SDI. They made passages between the houses so that in future, fire fighters can pass by there. We can upgrade the settlement ourselves without waiting for government. The only problem is councillors who only represent themselves. We need councillors who are compassionate and who have the interests of the people in mind. Because we’ve started the Informal Settlements Network, even if it will take a few years, it will work.
Decisions are being made that are directly and indirectly affecting us, and are affecting us negatively. Since 2006 we’ve engaged with government. Things must change. Government is saying that Joe Slovo should be densified and in situ. Development is happening. We must be part of it. But the development in Joe Slovo is not intended for the people of Joe Slovo but for the middle-class people. We have engaged government to ask them to change the plans but we are told that they cannot be changed. This is duplication from apartheid. We must move away from this. We want development in situ. They can build 4-10 storey houses in Joe Slovo provided that it’s close to workplaces. We should be part of development in our communities and should be involved in decision making.
Government should have adhered to all of the principles that were set out in the judgment of the Constitutional Court. We still need the Constitutional Court to control government when they go astray. The province is writing a report about how development of Joe Slovo can be done (following the CC judgment). We are still waiting on this. The Constitutional Court is also currently facing a lot of its own issues.
Representative from Macassar
Everybody from backyard dwellers to informal settlements has the same story. There are no government officials to listen to these stories. We will fight with everything we have. At the end of the day we need to engage government.
Roland then gave everybody a chance to meet and exchange details. He also provided details of upcoming meetings that were taking place in different areas, and closed the forum.