COSATU SUPPORTS RESIDENTS OF JOE SLOVO

5th October 2007

COSATU has called on the government to stop treating the residents of Joe Slovo with disdain, and not evict our people through forced removals. The minister should come to Langa and consult with our people in the traditions of our organisation. This high handedness from government is unacceptable and compounds the problem caused by the minister with the manner in which the N2 gateway had unfolded.

COSATU believes that should people have to be temporarily moved that it be to Constantia and the old Conradie hospital site where government has land. Pushing poor people further away from the city into dumping grounds is unacceptable and smacks of perpetuating apartheid style practices and settlement patterns.

This moving of people far away from areas where job and other opportunities are is an attempt to discourage people from settling in the W Cape and an attempt to force them back to the Eastern Cape.

COSATU condemns this action of the Government to turn the W Cape into a rich enclave for wealthy people.

For questions please call Tony Ehrenreich at 082 773 3194