Saturday, 29 June 2013
Unemployed People’s Movement Press Statement

Radio Grahamstown Station Manager Shuts Down Debate

There is a big political problem developing in Grahamstown. The new RDP houses in Extension Ten are being allocated. People who were on the waiting list for years, including activists who have been struggling for decent housing, have been removed from the list without any explanation. At the same time friends of the councillors and people who are connected to them through the ruling party have suddenly been added to the list.

This issue was discussed on Radio Grahamstown on Wednesday last week (26 June 2013). Three members of the Unemployed People’s Movement where invited as studio guests to discuss this matter. People were very vocal. There were lots of calls coming through. With the exception of one ANC caller who said that the Unemployed People’s Movement was being used by whites to undermine the ANC all the other callers were strongly supportive of the work that we are doing on the Extension Ten housing scandal.

Suddenly the station manager barged into the studio, banged the doors, shouted at everyone and kicked the DJ and his three guests out. Callers and people listening to the programme on air could hear her shouting!

The DJ who was kicked out of the studio live on air is a member of the Right2Know Campaign. It is incredible that we are being so openly prevented from discussing this important matter on a local radio station.

Later on the same night an Abahlali baseMjondolo member, Nkululeko Gwala, was assassinated in Durban. He had been raising exactly the same issues about houses going to people close to the councillors.

Democracy is becoming a joke under Jacob Zuma.

We are calling for a full investigation into this incident on Radio Grahamstown and a full investigation into political corruption in the allocation of the houses in Extension Ten. We also send our full support to our comrades in Abahlali baseMjondolo in Durban. This is the third member of their organisation to be murdered in Durban this year.

Xola Mali 072 299 5253