11 July 2013
Unemployed People’s Movement Press Statement

Today the Police were Sent to Deal with Us When we Requested Negotiations with the State

Anger has been brewing in Grahamstown about the Housing Development in Extension Ten for some time. On the 28th of June we held a meeting and people expressed their frustration about how the list has been changed, with consultation or explanation, and that they remain in limbo.

On the 3rd of July we had another meeting with officials from Bisho. Mr. Naicker, HOD of Beneficiaries in the Department of Human Settlements and the local municipality officials arrived very late. The meeting resolved that on Thursday 11 July we will have another meeting where the government – Department of Human Settlements and the local Municipality – will address people’s grievances.

Our concerns were as follows:

1. People’s homes in Vukani were hit by a tornado in 2008. They were promised that their houses will be rebuilt or repaired in 2009. To this day houses in Vukani stand empty and fallen down. About 200 residents remain homeless. There has been no discussion about this.

2. The houses that were being built in Eluxolweni remain incomplete. About 20 people have happy letters, yet they do not have houses

3. There are serious concerns about the beneficiary list for the new development in Ext 10. The Councillor has two kids on the list, ward committee members and other party members are now also on the list. There are also military veterans on the list who are less than 30 years old. This is a joke. Anyway, we all know that this country was liberated by men and women who struggled inside and never left this country. It is clear that the list is being manipulated to serve the interests of the ruling party.

We were insisting that the houses in Vukani be fixed, the houses in Eluxolweni be completed and that there be an open, transparent and fair process for allocating the houses in Ext. 10.

Today 1 500 people arrived for the scheduled meeting at the construction site in Ext. 10. But the Department of Human Settlements never arrived and the local Municipality was also not there despite their commitment to be there.

The workers were busy working on the site and the police were there in numbers. We meet with the CLO and requested that the workers cease working until the Department of Human Settlements and the Municipality honour their commitment to meet with us. This was denied and instead the police told us to leave the site immediately. Ayanda Kota called Mr. Naicker. He said: “We have sent the police because we have heard that you were more than a thousand. If they are not capacitated to deal with you we will send the army.”

It seems that wanting a fair process around housing is making as the enemies of the state.

The police became very aggressive. After chanting “Voetsak ANC! Voetsak!” we left peacefully as it was clear that there would be violence from the police if we stayed on the site. Even while we were leaving the police were very aggressive.

Ayanda Kota 078 625 6462

Xola Mali 072 299 5253

Gladys Mpebo 072 807 8298