Guardian: Life in ‘Tin Can Town’ for the South Africans evicted ahead of World Cup

1 04 2010

Campaigners say conditions in Blikkiesdorp or ‘Tin Can Town’ are worse than in the townships created during apartheid

David Smith Cape Town
Guardian, Thursday 1 April 2010 21.50 BST
For more photos in the Guardian, click here.

Youths playing football in Blikkiesdorp, Cape Town
Youths playing football in Blikkiesdorp, Cape Town. Photograph: Gareth Kingdon

Children squint as wind whips the grey sand into their faces. A teenager braves the flies and stench of a leaking outdoor toilet to draw water from a standpipe. He stares vacantly along regimented rows of corrugated iron shacks encircled by a tall, concrete fence. No grass or trees grow here.

This is Tin Can Town, or Blikkiesdorp, described by the mayor of Cape Town as a “temporary relocation area” (TRA), but by its residents as a concentration camp. Many say they were forcibly evicted from their former homes and moved here against their will. And for this they blame one thing: the football World Cup. Read the rest of this entry »





A Memorandum of Demands to President Jacob Zuma

22 03 2010

Monday, 22 March 2010 14, 2005

We, members and supporters of Abahlali baseMjondolo and the Rural Network in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, are democrats committed to the flourishing of this country. We speak for ourselves and direct our own struggles. We have no hidden agendas. We have been mobilised by our suffering and our hopes for a better life. We believe that it is time to take seriously the fact that South Africa belongs to all who live in it.

We come from the townships of Inanda, KwaMashu and Lamontville. We come from the farms in eNkwalini, New Hanover, Howick, KwaNjobokazi, Melmoth, Utrecht, Babanango and eShowe. We come from the flats of Hillary, Portview, Ridge View (Cato Manor), Wentworth and New Dunbar. We come from the shacks of Joe Slovo, Foreman Road, Clare Estate, Palmiet Road, Quarry Road, Motala Heights, Siyanda, Umkhumbane, New eMmaus, Pemary Ridge, Arnett Drive, Lindelani ,Richmond Farm and, yes, Kennedy Road. We come from the transit camps of Richmond Farm, eNsimbini, Ridge View (Transact Camp), Cato Manor and New Dunbar. Read the rest of this entry »





US: ‘Against the Grain’ radio clip

30 11 2009

Ashraf Cassiem, a leader of the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, talks about their work in South Africa fighting the eviction of shack dwellers, water cut-offs, and police brutality under the ANC government.

** Click here to listen to the radio interview on KPFA **





Ashraf Cassiem Speaks at the Brecht Forum in New York City tonight

19 11 2009
Hello all, we wanted to let folks know about a speaking event tonight at the Brecht Forum in NYC.  Ashraf Cassiem, the chairperson of the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign in South Africa will will be speaking along with Jean Rice, lead organizer from Picture the Homeless in NYC.  Ashraf and his organization are part of an alliance with the Shack Dwellers Movement featured in our film Dear Mandela , that is called the Poor People’s Alliance. The important and inspired work being done both in the shacks and townships of South Africa as well as on the streets of New York City forms the frontlines in the struggle for a world where every person counts. Read the rest of this entry »




Ant-Eviction Campaign participates in a debate on Police Brutality

18 11 2009

When? 18 November at 21h00 on Cape Town TV





AbM: All Charges Dropped Against the Pemary Ridge 13

16 11 2009

16 November 2009

Abahlali baseMjondolo was unable to secure a lawyer to represent the Pemary Ridge 13 in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court this morning. They were represented by Shamita Naidoo, Chairperson of the Motala Heights Abahlali baseMjondolo branch. She made a vigorous argument against police brutality against shack dwellers in general, and the Pemary Ridge settlement in particular, and showed how the police claim to be victims of the people they brutally and unlawfully assaulted to be entirely ludicrious.

All charges were dropped against the 13. Read the rest of this entry »





This Week: U.S. Housing and Human Rights Tour

15 11 2009

Events:

Monday November 16 – Discussion at Red Emmas

Tuesday November 16 – Discussion at Africa Action at 12pm-2pm and at 5:30pm-7:30pm

Thursday, November 19 – Brecht Forum at 7:30pm

Friday, November 20 – Massachusetts Institute of Technology at 12:30pm-2pm and Emerson College at 3pm-5pm

Saturday, November 21 – Alliance to Develop Power at 12pm

Folks,

I hope this message finds you well. Over the past few month, I have been helping to organize a visit to the U.S. by a South African social movement activist from the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign (www.antieviction.org.za). Read the rest of this entry »





Ashraf Cassiem Speaks in Baltimore – 16 November 2009

12 11 2009

http://www.redemmas.org/event/1731/

Ashraf Cassiem, chairperson of the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign (South Africa)
Monday Nov 16, 7PM @ 2640 (2640 St. Paul St.) Read the rest of this entry »





Opinion: How a poor people’s movement was crushed

6 10 2009

06 October 2008 – The Sowetan
BOLEKAJA! – Andile Mngxitama

“THE ANC has invaded Kennedy Road. We have been arrested, beaten, killed, jailed and made homeless by their armed wing.” Read the rest of this entry »





Media: Fund set up for attack victims

30 09 2009

2009-09-29 21:48 – News24

Durban – The Anglican Bishop of Natal, Bishop Rubin Phillip, on Tuesday announced that his church had set up a relief fund for victims of a Durban informal settlement attack which claimed at least two lives and saw many people displaced.

“Many people have fled their homes with nothing but what they could carry. Read the rest of this entry »