A Memorandum of Demands: 27 February 2006

A Memorandum of Demands
Monday, 27 February, 2006

We the shackdwellers of Durban, democrats and loyal citizens of the Republic of South Africa, note that this country is rich because of the theft of our land and because of our work in the farms, mines, factories, kitchens and laundries of the rich. We can not and will not continue to suffer the way that we do. Our voices cannot be stifled. Today, like every day, we braved heat, hunger, thirst, exhaustion and police repression. Today, we had our day in court. Today, we won a recognition of our right to speak. Today we march on the city because today we stand up for our right not only to speak, but to live, to breathe, to eat, to sleep and to work in dignity and safety.

Today, we demand adequate land and housing to live in safety, health and dignity.

Today, we demand the creation of well-paying and dignified jobs.

Today, we demand the writing-off of all rental arrears.

Today, we demand participation in genuinely democratic processes of consultation and citizenship.

Today, we demand safe and secure environments in which we can work, play and live.

Today, we fight HIV/AIDS and today we demand well-resourced and staffed health facilities.

Today our children are in danger, and today we demand attention to the needs of our communities’ youth.

Today we cannot afford electricity, and today demand that these services be made free for the poor.

Today we suffer without toilets or water, and today we demand our rights.

Today, people from around the city and the country are uniting in support of our struggle we express our support for our comrades elsewhere. We have stood with, and will continue to stand with our comrades in Chatsworth, Crossmoor, Marianridge, Merebank , Shallcross, eMandeni, Clarewood, and Wentworth in their fight against the eThekwini Municipality’s attempts to evict them from their municipal flats. We will also continue to stand with the people of South Durban in their struggle against environmental racism; with poor students facing exclusion from technikons and universities and with comrades all over the country fighting for land, housing, work, education, healthcare, safety and democratic development. We affirm that their struggle to resist eviction from their homes and to win basic services is just. We stand with them against the repression of their legitimate struggle.

Today, we demand answers. We have approached the municipality on many occasions, and have been promised the earth. Yet still we have no land. The municipality says it will house us. We demand to know when. We demand to know where. We demand to know how many houses. We demand to know who will be resettled. We demand all this today.

Today, we have fought and won. Today we beat Mike Sutcliffe. Today Obed Mlaba tried to silence us and we would not go quietly. Today the police tied us up, and we broke free. Today, and every day, until the government acts, we will raise our voices for the poor, and we will fight for justice.

Handed over by:______________________ on __________________ at
____________
Signature:_________________________
Received by:________________________
Signature:___________________________
TO FOLLOW UP PLEASE CONTACT: Mr. S’bu Zikode on 0835470474; Philani Zungu
0729629312; Fikile Nkosi 0842501446; Mnikelo Ndanbankulu 0735656241; Thandi
Khambule 0720979136; Moses Mncwango 0762250260, Chazumuzi Ngcobo 0722796588,
M’du Hlongwa 0723358966, Lungisani Jama 0737634967

For pictures of this march click here. For reports on the march see Also see: