Gugulethu community submitted grievances to municipality – vow protests if not heard!
The Gugulethu Anti-Eviction Campaign held a protest today which converged on Fezeka Municipality Offices in Gugulethu. Poor and unemployed residents came from all over Gugulethu, KTC, Crossroads and Nyanga to have their voices heard.
We submitted the following list of grievances to the municipality this morning.
On Tuesday, the 17th of May at 8:30am, the Gugulethu Anti-Eviction Campaign will mobilise in numbers and return to Fezeka. If we are not heard and our grievances addressed, we will protest and block the entrance to Fezeka. If the City claims to work for us, then they must start working with us.
No Dignity! No Vote!
Our Grievances
1. Poor communities here are experiencing many evictions, water cut-offs, etc under both the ruling party and the oppositions parties – the ANC and DA, etc
2. Many poor families in poor communities experience broken families and many children as a result of policies in the new South Africa become orphans and/or street children.
3. White owned and black elite shopping malls in townships are killing poor families’ small businesses, such as spaza shops and house shops.
4. Government institutions do not provide enough employment for our community. We demand jobs in all government institutions as soon as possible.
5. Private and government companies must stop keeping the land of the poor.
6. Poor communities are totally against the so-called building of cheap low-cost housing for the poor. We demand that government consults with us meaningfully on its housing policy.
7. There is lots of land in South Africa and in Cape Town but it is mostly owned by government or private owners to be used for speculation and big development projects. We demand that you stop saying that there is no land to build decent, adequate, strong and big houses for the poor!
8. The land in South Africa was stolen from us. The poor majority demands the land that was taken from our fore-fathers.
9. The ‘New’ South Africa and its Constitution are meaningless for the poor majority. The government only follows laws when they serve the rich.
10. Where is the white community’s conscience, kindness, feelings, and humanity, as 87% of the land has been occupied by a minority made up of the black elite and white ownership groupings.
11. We have no land, no jobs, and therefore no food to feed our children. The poor community demands a Basic Income Grant for all poor families
We demand a response within 7 days.
For comment, please call:
Zoliswa – 0731496065
Zukiswa – 0737509436
Siyabulela – 0745565314
Nandiswa – 0712353253
Mncedisi – 0785808646