A Newsletter of Informal Settlements May 2007
In Struggle Number 2

(The PDF with pictures etc is attached below)

Mandy Jacobs (Zille-raine Heights)

I was born in Retreat, but we moved to Parkwood when I was 8. Now I’m 35. My kids are 15 and 12. When I got divorced I could not pay the rent in Grassy Park where I lived. I had no job. So I went back to live with my mommy in her council house in Parkwood nearby but it was overcrowded- there was my mom, myself, my two kids, her two daughters, and another wife and husband and two children and it was one room and a kitchen. I’ve been on a waiting list since 1996. Someone said people are going to invade land. So I went.

UMBHIKISHO OPHIKISANA NOMPHATHI SIGCAWU uYACOOB BAIG NGOMHLAKA 14 SEPTEMBER 2005
GIYA GIYA
BATHENGISA NGATHI
NINI: Ngehora lesishiyagalombili ekuseni, ngoLwesithathu, zingu 14 September 2005.

KUPHI:Ukubhikisha kwabantu kuzosuka ehholo lomphakathi kuKennedy Road ose 286 Kennedy Road, nase Clare Estate. Ukubhikisha kuyophelela emahhovisini akhe umnumzane Baig asekhoneni lika Randles no Spark’s Road eSydenham.

NGOBANI: Lezinkulungwane zifuna imihlaba, izindlu, izidingo zomphakathi ezibalulekile kanye nenhlonipho. Baphinde bamnikeza amaviki amabili okushiya isikhundla umnumzane Baig. (Ungafunda encwadini yezikhalazo engezansi ukubona izidingo zethu eziphelele).

MARCH ON MAYOR OBED MLABA
ON 14 NOVEMBER 2005

ABAHLALA BASE MJONDOLO BAFUNA IZINDLU!

WHEN: Monday 14 November. We will gather at the Foreman Road settlement at 7:00 a.m., regather at Botha Park at 9:00 a.m. and present our demands to Obed Mlaba between 12:00 and 1:00. We will finish by 1:30.

WHERE: We will gather at Foreman Road, travel to Botha Park and march down West Street to the City Hall.

WHY: To demand land & housing; basic services like water, electricity & toilets and a community hall. We will also oppose forced removals to the rural periphery of the Metro. We will also tell Mlaba that if there are no land and houses in the city then there will be no vote.

Letters from the Youth to the Mayor and the President/ Amazwi Abahlali
bakuKennedy Road

Sekwanele ukuphuma kwemiphefumulo engenacala. Ngenxa yokuthi umbani asinawo nezindlu
zethu zamaphepha. Asinawo ngisho amatoilet sizikhulula ezihlahleni. Kodwa sithi
imiphefumulo yethu iyosiphendulela ngelinye ilanga kulungile uma kuzwakala kangcono
kuwena ukufa kwabanbu sekwanele ukufa kwezihlobo zethu. Sekwanele ukuhlala
eminondolo. Sekwanele ukuzithulula ehlathini.
....
We want you to show us what you are doing because being burned is not a good thing. Is it good to you to hear that people are dying because of fire while you are sitting there eating expensive food?
....