Only complete reform of economy can defuse tensions

Cape Times May 28, 2008 Edition 1

Drucilla Cornell, Mahmood Mamdaniand Sampie Terreblanche

We believe that the violence that South Africa has experienced over the last week is systemic in nature and will not end until the underlying causes of economic distress have been dealt with thoroughly.

South Africa is in a state of emergency because of the failure to address desperate poverty and is in urgent need of a mechanism to begin public discussion on how to ensure dignity for all those who live here.

Even by conservative estimates, over 50% of the South African population experiences dire poverty.

•Wed, 18 Jul 2007

Ignorance is a potent weapon for those who deliberately want to undermine the facts staring them in the face. This line floated through my head when I read the statement issued to the media by the so-called shack dwellers’ movement in which they are said to be opposed to the newly passed Elimination and Prevention of Re-emergence of Slums Bill.

The arguments provided by the movement as reasons for its rejection of the legislation, which is still awaiting the premier’s signature, are a clear indication of the danger posed to the nation by a lack of reading. These are populist statements based on a debt of ignorance about the intentions of the bill. The objective is simply to grab headlines and to use the bill to popularise the activities of mushrooming “centres” which claim to be fighting poverty and neglect, whereas they use the same to market themselves at the expense of the plight of our people.