Foreman Crisis: bulldozers stopped but government support only for people with ANC cards

Update:

22:32,Tuesday 16 September 2008

The City has agreed to support what ever the community decides with regard to the way forward (i.e. to rebuild themselves, to be be given tin houses etc).

An open assembly was held last night at which everyone in Foreman Road was invited, including the councillor to whom a small group of about 10 people remain loyal. Although the councillor didn’t attend the meeting it was well attended. The following decisions were collectively agreed to:

* No shack that survived the fire should be demolished.
* No rebuilt shack should be demolished without the consent of the people living in it.
* People who have not yet rebuilt should be allowed to choose between rebuilding themselves and having a temporary structure (a so called ‘tin shack’) erected by the Savings Grace Foundation (an NGO).
* State resources provided by the state to the victims of the fire should be allocated on the basis of need and not party political affiliation. (Please note that although the media had reported that the tents were provided by the Red Cross the City has now made it clear that they have provided the tents).

11:52, Tuesday 16 September 2008

Although the City bought so many police with them when they came to demolish Abahlali baseMjondolo has stopped the bulldozers again today. This is a victory for people’s power.

The City has agreed to a meeting with the whole community across all political lines to plan a way forward for the community with the community. They have promised that if people choose to rebuild rather than to accept the transit camp they will help with materials. The meeting will be held at 5:30 this evening. This is a victory for democracy. Abahlali baseMjondolo welcomes this decision and is prepared to work with the City to ensure that there is democratic decision making around the future of the settlement.

However the blankets, the tents, the food and the gell stoves that have been provided to the survivors of the fire are only being given to people who can show ANC cards and who are prepared to denounce Abahlali baseMjondolo. This is the politics of the Bantustans. This is the politics of Zanu-PF. This politics has no place in a democracy. We will never accept this politics. Everybody must be treated the same. Everybody has a right to choose their own politics. When people have made donations to Abahlali after the fires we have always divided everything up exactly equally between all the people who have suffered in the fires. We have never made any distinctions on the basis of politics or anything else. Each one counts for one. This is the only way to do things fairly.

According to the media the tents for the people left homeless were provided by the Red Cross. Yet people without ANC cards, people known to stand strong with Abahlali baseMjondolo, are being chased out of these tents! This is unacceptable. Do the Red Cross know that their donations are being used for the most dirty party politics instead of to help the people?

For up to the minute information contact:

George Bonono, Foreman Road Abahlali baseMjondolo Branch Chairperson: 0782245441
Mnikelo Ndabankulu, Abahlali baseMjondolo Spokesperson & Foreman Road Resident: 0797450653
S’bu Zikode, Abahlali baseMjondolo President: S’bu Zikode: 083 547 0474