9 December 2008
AEC: Five families from Symphony Way get their keys but refuse to move into their house
Pictures and links are on the AEC site from the link above
Five families from Symphony Way get their keys but refuse to move into their house
Delft Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Release
Monday 8 December, 2008
Today five Symphony Way Anti-Eviction Campaign families received their keys to their new houses in Delft 7-9. When on their way to inspecting their new houses, they were accompanied by about 80 other pavement dwellers who celebrated this exciting day. Each house was christened by friends dousing each family in water and then followed by a silent prayer in each of the five houses.
But despite this small victory, each of the five families remain unsatisfied. They want their own house, but they do not want their own house if all their brothers and sisters on Symphony Way do not get their own houses as well.
As the Symphony Way AEC, we realise that giving houses to only some of the families and not others is an attempt by the government to undermine the 10 month long protest that has included the occupation and blockade of Symphony Way. We demand an explanation as to why the MEC has reneged on a promise to allocate a percentage of houses to Symphony Way Pavement Dwellers who qualify.
As a result, each family has decided that they will not abandon their community on Symphony Way. Instead, they have undertaken to hang their keys up in the community office and make a commitment to not leave Symphony Way until every single family on the road is allocated a house.
For more information, please contact Ashraf at 076 1861 408 and Jane 078 4031 302
For more pictures, click here.
For a video of Brother Alfred Arnold’s commitment, click here.
For high quality pictures, email AEC webmaster.
Below are the statements by each family (the fifth family was not present because of a personal emergency but has agreed to hang up their keys as well).
Alfred Arnolds and his family in their new home
Alfred Arnolds and his family in their new home
I am very happy, as from today, 8th of December, I have received a house…but on the other hand, for all the time I am waiting, I am not going to stay in this house until everyone on Symphony Way are receiving their houses. This is how I feel due to the mandate we undertook to move together. I confirm today that I will remain on Symphony Way. Aluta Continua!
– Brother Alfred Arnolds
Ethel Abels and her daugther in front of their new home
Ethel Abels and her daugther in front of their new home
Ek is bly dat ek ? huis gekry, dat my kinders kan imbly. Nadat ek vir 17 jaar rondgebly het. Ek bid vir die ander mense wat nog op die pad bly dat hulle so gou as moontlile ook in hul huise sal wees.
I’m glad that I received a house for the sake of my children, I’ve been on the waiting list for 17 years, I pray that everybody will get a house very soon
– Ethel Abels
Jolene Arendse and her family in front of their new house
Jolene Arendse and family in front of their new house
Die reck hoekom ek nie in die huis gaan trek nie, is omolat ek voel om met almal die anders van die pad af te gaan. Want ons mandate was so gesê van die begin tot die einde.
The reason why I’m not moving into the house is because of the mandate that we took in the beginning of our struggle that everyone will move together.
Amandla!
– Jolene & Lewellyn Arendse
Theresa Boesak in front of her new home
Theresa Boesak in front of her new home
Ek Theresa Boesak besluit om nie uit Symphony uit te trek nie totdat almal van die pad af beweeg. Ek sal my sleutels in die kantoor op haner totdat ows almal huise gaan kry.
I Theresa Boesak undertake not to move out of Symphony Way until everybody move. I will hang up my keys in the office until everybody move.
Amandla!
Forward Comrades.
– Theresa Boesak