UnFreedom Day 2006 Asikhululekile

No Freedom for the Poor Ayikho inkululeko kwabampofu Contents

Our Future in – Letters from Chatsworth...... 4 Ama street traders ePinetown ...... 5 “Born After Freedom” – Letters from Foreman Road ...... 6 “Hear our Cries! - Voices from Kennedy Road” ...... 8 He kept me waiting for the house – Joe Slovo Settlement...... 11 When will the voice of the poors be heard? Lacey Road Settlement ...... 11 The City Will Go on in Flames like Khutsong - J section ...... 11 Izikhalo baseJadhu Place ...... 12 We Cannot Allow Our Comrades to be Relocated - Clare Estate Taxi Association ...... 12 Kwa Ward 15 ...... 14 UnFree in Rural Areas ...... 14 South Environmental Action Coalition Demands! ...... 15 God’s City is not Free - Banana City ...... 16

Join the struggle!

Held at St John’s church on Rippon Road in Claire Estate, the day offers a diverse cultural programme, with music and art from the Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement (shackdwellers movement), Women of Ward 80 (Umlazi), South Durban Residents, Chatsworth Flat Residents, Marianridge, Merebank, Sydenham, Newlands, and many other areas, in a four hour programme. Listen and enjoy the talent of communities from all over the City. Come to the rally! Join the movement! Use the contact details below to find out more! Uzobanjelwa esontweni i St John’s eku Rippon Road eClaire Estate. Lolusuku ludidiyele ingxubevange yesintu, umculo namakhono kwinhlangano Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement, abahlali baseNingizimu neTheku, abahlali base Chatsworth Flat, Marianridge, Merebank, Sydenham, Newlands, kanye nezinye izindawo – ohlelweni lwamahora amane. Lalela uzijabulise ngekhono lemiphakathi yaseThekwini namaphethelo. Woza kulomgubho! Joyina Inhlangano! Contacts

Joe Slovo Settlement/Abahlali Mrs Democracy 072 262 4980 Chatsworth/ Concerned Citizens Forum Orlean Naidoo 084 838 5628 South Durban Coalition Marilyn Isaacs 073 312 6048 Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement Philani Dlamini 072 760 0680 Foreman Road/Abahlali Mnikelo Ndabankulu 073 565 6241 Pemary Ridge/Abahlali Fikile Nkosi 084 250 1446 Jadhu Place/Abahlali Moses Mncwango 076 225 0260 Ward 15 & street traders Patrick Fakazi 073 200 7479 Kennedy Road/Abahlali Zandile Nsibande 031 269 3749 Abahlali baseMjondolo S’bu Zikode 083 547 0474 Merebank/South Durban Coalition Meena Naicker 072 123 2184 Wentworth/ South Durban Coalition Des D’sa 083 982 6939 Wentworth /South Durban Coalition Cathy Gorrdeen 073 613 0224

Acknowledgements This pamphlet was made possible by the generous support of the Church Land Programme, the Foundation for Human Rights and the Centre for Civil Society. The pamphlet could not have been produced without the help of Amanda Alexander, Busisiwe Gule, Des D’sa, Fazel Khan, Helen Poonen, Kanagie Naidoo, Lungi Keswa, Lungisani Jama, M’du Hlongwe, Marijke Du Toit, Mnikelo Ndabankulu, Moses Mcwango, Mrs Democracy, Orlean Naidoo, Patrick Fakazi, Princess Nhlalungela, Raj Patel, Richard Pithouse, S’bu Zikode, Shannon Walsh, Sibusiso Xaba, Xolani Shange, Zama Ndlovu, Zandile Nsibande, the children of Kennedy Road, Jadhu Place, Foreman Road, Chatsworth, and many many other writers, photographers and witnesses. 4 UnFreedom Day 2006

Our Future in South Africa

Letters from Chatsworth

Dear Obed Mlaba Dear Obed Mlaba I am a grade 9 student that lives I am a mother of three teenagers with my mentally ill mother and and have lost faith in this eThekwini brother. There is a lot of stress in my Municipality. I was evicted from the home because of the arrears of our council flat in 2000 and was robbed rentals and bad living conditions that in the process by people removing we are experiencing. My elder my furniture. I am unemployed and brother become very depressed and have a daughter with medical prob- had committed suicide by hanging lems. I have no money and help himself. We are all living off my others o put food on the table. The brothers’ disability grant and is un- council now want me to pay R600.00 able to pay for our services. I as a to transfer the flat onto my name. teenager is struggling to keep my How do I do this? They have threat- family together and at the same time ened to evict me again in 10 days educate myself. time. Am I and my children going to be homeless soon? Where is our Jeffery Govindswamy right to proper housing? Vanessa Pillay

Dear Obed Mlaba I am a twelve year old girl living in a majority Indian area. I live in a council flat with my single mum and 7 siblings. Our water has been dis- connected many times and we were helped by friends and neighbours. We recently experienced our homes flooded by rotten water pipes. Our furniture and home was severely damaged. We are now living in alter- nate accommodation. I am very worried what our future in South Africa is. Toti Sweeness Mkhise

I have chosen not to pay for

Orlean Naidoo and Mnikelo Ndabankulu at the 27 my rental and services because February rally outside the steps of City Hall council has neglected us in service delivery. UnFreedom Day 2006 5

survive on my disability grant and Dear Obed Mlaba need extra money for my medical I am a 54 year old grandmother that condition. I have chosen not to pay is a cancer patient for 3 years. I am for my rental and services because living in a council flat that is falling council has neglected us in service apart. There are huge deep cracks delivery. on the walls and water is seeping Mrs Moganambal Governder into our homes. Due to the damp- ness I am feeling ill more often. I

Brandon and Tyrrell jumping off the wall, corner of Jonas Road and Saint Jerome Place. Wentworth 2003. (Photo by George Ruiters, Durban South Photography Project)

Ama street traders ePinetown 5. Amathuba okudayisa anikwa abantu abangazi nabafikayo. 1. Umkhandlu walelidolobha awusiniki amathuba okuzikhulumela 6. Metro police ayayichitha yonke njengoba sizizamela ukudayisa imizamo yethu yokulungisa abadayisi kulelidolobha. Bakhetha abantu balelidolobha. abathule ukuba bakhulume nabo. 7. Izimpahla zethu zokudayisa 2. Siphathiswa okweziphulamthetho ziyathathwa sifike zingasaphelele uma sizama ukuziphilisa sibe laziyiswa khona nezinqola zethu singanikwa elinye ithuba esithutha ngazo ziyathathusa. lokuziphilisa. 8. Kuthiwe azikho emthethweni 3. Siyashaywa uma sibuza kodwa bazithathe bayozidayisela ngamalungelo ethu. bona ema (scrubyarel) 4. Amatafula esidayiselwa kuwona 9. Amaphoyisa ahlangene ayathathwa kuthiwa asidayisele nezigebungu ezikhuthuza maqede phansi ukuoka komphakathi. ziwanike imali nawo. 6 UnFreedom Day 2006

“Born After Freedom”

Letters to the President and Mayor from Foreman Road Settlement

From: Aunt MaCele Dear President of South Africa Thabo Mbhkei. I have been staying here about 12 years. I am not working no one giving me food. I am keeping the children. For neigh- bours paying me but now begging for life. I am asking the Mayor Obed From: Howard Jili with my Son Mlaba when we will fulfil the prom- Mvikeli Jili ises. There is no freedom at all in Durban. For how long we must suf- Foreman Road fer? Dear President Thabo Mbheki For how long we must suffer? I have From:Londi Zulu been staying for 10 years. I am stay- ing with my wife and my son have about 6 months and I also look at conditions my son’s life is not safe because conditions smelling dirty streams. I want to ask Mayor Obed Mlaba when he will fulfil the prom- ises. That is why we say there is no Freedom in Durban, in KwaZulu- Dear Obed Mlaba Natal. I am girl of 12 years, you can see me doing the washing as a girl I need to do some work at home as a From: Linda teenagers we need libraries next to Ngcobo our homes. What can say to the Dear Obed Mlaba world? We poor children but there is no ideas come up without govern- Linela he saying ment. That is why we saying there is he don’t want to no Democracy and freedom in our stay in the ‘infor- life we grown. mal’ settlement because the life is not good he is got the question to the Mayor Obed Mlaba when he will bring us the Freedom as pioneers of Durban in Our brothers say we born free KwaZulu Natal. because we born after Freedom. UnFreedom Day 2006 7

From: Maduswana From: Nkosikhona Dear Obed Mlaba Kwanyama Dear Obed Mlaba We staying like this everyday no jobs I wish to sty in a opportunities, noth- formal house and ing. We can eat we in a place where have to work for less money. There we can have pace to play. Parks for is no democracy and freedom. That ourselves. My message to Obed is why we are crying for freedom in Mlaba. I am 10 years old. Durban.

From: Lindiswe From: Pinky Zulu We need a safe Dear President Thabo place healthy place like the children of I am Pinky Zulu. I the Marys and Coun- have been here about cillors. I am 15 years old. I am stay- 4 years. I am 12 years ing with my sister. We suffering. My old. I am staying with father and sister begging for make our life bet- mother. As teenagers we saying ter. Our pain and suffering is to the there is no freedom in our life. Our poor conditions. How we can say brothers say we born free because there freedom and democracy while we born after Freedom. we living like this? 8 UnFreedom Day 2006

“Hear our Cries! Voices from Kennedy Road”

Letters from the Youth of Kennedy Road to Thabo Mbeki and Obed Mlaba Organized and Compiled by System Cele and Jacob Bryant

that our house are built with card- Dear Thabo Mbeki, boards and plastics and paint tins. As I’m talking, in these past few My name is Bongekile Shinga. I am weeks we’ve buried a small boy, twelve years old. I have lived in a Mhlengi o. He died because of the shack for seven years. Our shacks fire here at the shacks. Land, are built with boards and plastics. houses, and electricity could have We use candles for light. We’ve got helped protect his life. no toilet. When we’re coming from school, we’ve got no food to eat or The next thing is we’ve got no toi- clothes to wear because of the fire. lets. We have to relieve ourselves in We don’t want new houses in far the bushes. The toilets are full. As I away places. We are in the shacks, write, if we go to our councilors they and it’s dangerous and there are are deceiving us. They want us to bushes. We’re near a dump, and the move away where there are no jobs. water is dirty. We don’t want to go And we don’t want to go there to the to Veralum. The other houses are farm. We are going to stay here, we falling down because they are built are not going anywhere. Father with plastics. There is no develop- Obed Mlaba please, we are begging ment here. Kids are playing in dirty you. You are living a life of luxury waters, and they get sick. Old men while we are sitting here in poverty. are raping small children here in the shacks. And the criminals are get- ting chances to get in because they are built with plastics. We are not going to vote without houses. How could we vote if there are no new houses here in Kennedy Road? We are sick and tired to live in the shacks.

Dear Obed Mlaba, My name is Nomvuyo Mngadi. I live in eThekwini, in the shacks of Kennedy Road. I am thirteen years old. I’ve stayed here about seven years. I have a request to make to you as the mayor of the city of Dur- ban, for you to help us. We are cry- ing every day here in the shacks because of the fire. The reason is Mhlengi Khumalo, killed in a shack fire last year UnFreedom Day 2006 9

While we are crying you are laugh- being drained. You are eating ex- ing. We are sick and tired to live in pensive food while we are eating the shacks. Why are you guys not Phuthu only. But I’m saying to you, allowing our rights, what would you one day God will be on our side. say if you were living in a place like Because we are not going to vote, this. Are you happy as we are sitting and the place that you’ve bought by here in the shacks? saying you are going to build houses for us, just forget about it. You are drawing us away, and we are not going anywhere. We are orphans Dear Obed Mlaba, because of the fires. We are sick My name is Khosi Zondi, I am six- and tired of the fire, we are saying teen years old. I have stayed here enough is enough. We have lost for six years in the shacks of enough relatives now. It’s okay, Kennedy Road. I am sick and tired Obed Mlaba, you know what you are of staying in the doing to us. shacks, I want development. The bad thing is as we are sitting here, Dear Thabo you, you want to Mbeki, move us away to My name is the farm, and you Mzingisi don’t want to help Mphetshwa. I us. We are not am sixteen years going anywhere old. I have lived here at Kennedy here about six Road. We want years. We are houses to be built burning in this here. We want place, because electricity, toilets, we’ve got no and water. I am proper houses. saying to you, We don’t wan to Obed Mlaba, I go to other wouldn’t be writ- places, except ing this letter to if this place. We there were love this place. houses, electricity The reason we and water, and all don’t want to our needs. Many move is because shacks have been burned because of we are near our schools. This place the fire. We have lost our sisters, is dirty, and we are sick because of our brothers, and our parents. And the bad smells coming from the if there was electricity, we wouldn’t dump. If we could have electricity, have been using candles. And most new houses and water, we could be of all, the little toilets we are having living a good life. Please you must * you don’t bring the cars to drain or give us everything we ask from you, clean the toilets. You, Obed Mlaba, because we are not going to vote. are using a flushing toilet. That is It’s been a long time that we’ve been why you don’t care about our toilets told that we’re going to be built 10 UnFreedom Day 2006 houses. We were told to march, but People are living having to poop in there are no results. It’s been a long their houses, because there are no time we’ve been deceived, told we toilets. Baba Obed Mlaba, the sor- were going to be built houses. You row we are living in with our sisters want us to bow on our knees to re- and brothers, we are sick and tired quest houses. You must accept our of it. We are crying every day be- request because we’ve got no cause our souls can’t rest. How long clothes since our houses were are we going to live the life like this? burned. Everything we had in our shacks was burned, even our uni- forms. We want you to show us Dear Thabo Mbeki, what you are doing because being burned is not a good thing. Is it My name is Gugu Khonono. I live in good to you Kennedy to hear that Road. I people are live with dying be- my cause of mother fire while and you are brother. sitting I am there eat- twelve ing expen- years sive food? old. I am in Grade 7 in Dear Obed Springfield Mlaba, Model My name is Primary Nomvuyo School. Mngadi. I We are live in the shacks at Kennedy Road. having problem in the mjondolo. We My problem is I don’t want to live in want houses. We don’t have clothes a place like this. You as a mayor, to wear because the mjondolos are couldn’t you help us in these shacks fired. Our mjondolos are getting which are built with papers? We’ve fired every time. And children are got no toilets, and we are sitting in raped by the big man. We need the mud. Our councilors are selling water, we got one tap. The rain our land. They want us to go to the water is coming inside the farm. But there in the farm there mjondolos. We drink dirty water and are no jobs. The municipality is people are dying. We are asking you hiring people from outside places for help Thabo Mbeki. Make us and where are we going to get the happy and make for us houses. money to go from the farm to reach Eight years I am living in mjondolos. here, to come to our schools and our Help us make peace for us. I know jobs? Can’t you guys build us that you eat KFC and you have lots houses here near Durban? And the of money but you are so fat like a bad thing is our shacks are burning pig. every time. We’ve got no water. UnFreedom Day 2006 11

He kept me waiting for the house... The City Will Go on in Flames like Khutsong Joe Slovo Settlement I’m very much heart broken about Umlazi J section my house, which was taken by a I live in uMlazi, J section. I am a ward 75 councillor. He gave it to member of the Democratic Social- another lady. He kept me waiting for ist movement and socialist stu- the house for which I didn’t know dent movement. I come from a how long I should wait. Even the family of 14. I’m staying with my Isolezwe newspaper made a follow extended family. The only people up on this matter, but were told to who have a job in my family are tell me to wait. He (the councillor) my father and I. The house has also said he didn’t know why I was four bedrooms, but the municipal- left aside. When it comes to the ity rush into concluding that we allocations, the same councillor takes are well merely by looking at the the failing people and give them size of the house. We have a debt houses instead of the people in need. of R30,000 in rates. Last year, the Even houses at Joe Solovo are look- municipality passed an Act which ing bad- they don’t have plastics but combined the bill of water, elec- only tiles. tricity and rates. We see this as an act against the poor and strug- Busisiwe Gule gling people ass the municipality When will the voice of the is forcing the people to pay. To January. the electricity was dis- poors be heard? connected. And to reconnect, R4000 had to be paid. We were just coming from Christmas and Lacey Road Settlement children had to go back to school. We need better life for all not for There was no money to pay. My individuals, Obed Mlaba and the father had to go to the loan people who he is loyal to. We are sharks to borrow money and elec- suffering and they ignore us when tricity was reconnected. The mu- we are raising our views. When will nicipality now demands a payment the voice of the poors be heard, how of R1800 a month which my fam- many times will they empty promise ily finds difficulty to pay. Instead us? Mlaba, Mabuyakhulu and Thabo we pay R800. Recently they dis- Mbeki too are liars. They are good connected water. for nothing. A good leader is one who listens a lot and speaks through We have been very much tolerant, actions. but now we say to Mlaba and Mbeki and Mafumadi enough is M’du Hlongwa enough. We are in the process of uniting in our community to mobi- lize against this witch hunt. The The municipality concludes we city is going to go on in flames are well merely by looking at like Khutsong. the size of our house. Xolani Shange. 12 UnFreedom Day 2006

Izikhalo baseJadhu Place We Cannot Allow Our

Emelda Mbanjwa - Age 71 Comrades to be Relocated Ngiwu mama ohlala nomdeni omkhulu. Nginomndeni odinga Mr. Ntuli of Clare Estate Taxi ukuthi ngibe nomuzi omkhulu hhayi Association indlu eyodwa. Ngihlala nengane zami We are all Abahlali who await trans- eziwu 4 abazukulwana 7, nabo formation in both taxi industry and benegane zabo ezi 9. Ngakho indawo housing. We are working together engihlala kuyo ayingifanele ngaqala with abahlali so that the goverment ukuvota la kwathiwa sizosizakala can take us very seriously. We have kuhlala kuthiwa sizokwakhelwa bought our own taxis, of our own izndlu kodwa asizboni kwafika choice, but the government does not uSANCO. Sajoyina naye wathembisa accept this. We cannot allow our ngendlela yakhe lutho uANC nawo comrades to be relocated as this kills wafika wathembisa luto. Amatoilet our innocent passengers. There have asinawo asazi ukuthi kanti been a number of cases like this, uhulumeni wathi uzosiza kanti usiza resulting in clashes around ranking indawo ezinjani? Noba thina asikhola issues. The fact that we are at this mhlawumbi asibona abala industry does not make us free if we singabokuhamba. Indaba yokuthi are not listened to. Abahlali are our angi vote ngizosizakala angiyiboni comrades and we are going to work sengivote kakhulu sekwanele, together until we are all free. sekwanele! Ngiemi nyaka ewu 11 ngihlala la eJadhu Place. Ngifana nomuntu ohlala ehlathini. awabuyi. Kwafika umasipala ezobheka inombolo ezindlini esihlala kuzo lezo zinombolo kwathiwa Sindisiwe Mhlongo – Age 27 ezomxhaso kusukela ngalowonyka. Ngafika lana ngo 1999 ngo October Kuhlala kuthiwa sizokwakhelwa ngofika kusbenza uANC ngafika kodwa lezo zindlu asiziboni. Sihlala kubaliswa amakhadi ka ANC lawo ngokuhlukumezeka siyasha ngumlilo makhadi sawabhalisa kawu 4 kodwa futhi asliutholi usizo. Ikhansela lethu liyafika lisinike izingubo zokulala kuphela silala emnyango.

Nomcebo Ntombela - Age 16 Sikhathele ukukhohliswa, belokhu bthi ibazosakhela, kodwa lutho. Ngiyakuthadna ukuhlala lama eJadhu Place ngoba kuseduze nedolobha. Ngihlala nabazali bami lama. Luklendlu enlane abawayo imali yokuthemwa. Obizayo iyemali yama – rates anmanzi abadayo. Sihlushwa udaka uma linetha izulu. Kodwanje thima asikayithola lento esiyifumayo. Moses Mncwango reads at an Abahlali baseMjondolo meeting by candlelight UnFreedom Day 2006 13

Nomcebo Ntombela – Age 18 Mlungisi Duma Age 13 Ngihlala nabazali bami bobabili. Mina nuiyakuthanda ukuhlala lama, Sizingane ezingu 4 ekhaya. Sihlala kodwa ngifuna sakhelwe umxhaso ngokuhlukumezeka asikuhululekile. ka-hulumeni kuseduze medolobita, Sihlala uOne Room sonke. Amazi ngihlale nogogo. Kufakwe ugesi awekho asiwa tholi ngowkanele. namanzi, ama ground odlala ibhola. Amatoilet awkekho nawo sihala Siwacitha ehudeni amazni, anycolile. ngokuhlupheka. Sihlala siya ezindaweni kuthiwa kuphume Bongiwe Duma Age 11 imixhaso, kodwethina la sikhona Ngifisa sibe namanzi ecekeni, ayiphumi. Sihlala sithenjiswaukuthi sienogesi kanye mezinkundla sizokwakhelwa lutho uhulumeni zokudlala ibhola ngingathokoza uma akasinakile thina kule ndawo yehtu. singakhelwa izindlu. Zomxkaso ama- Sihleli sigula ngoba indawo yethu creche, ngingakhothwa isikole ayifanele ukuthi ingahlala abanthu sabantu abamnyama sizofundle ulimi abaphilayo nabesebancane. lwethu.

Thembeka Duma - age 4 Mina nyifuna i-creche enamathoyiza nendlu emuizohlala kuyo nogogo. Ngafika lana ngo 1999 ngo October ngofika kusbenza Njabulo Ngobo - age 5 Nuiyakuthanda ukulala 1999. Kodwa uANC ngafika kubaliswa sakhelwe i-creche, umxhaso amakhadi ka ANC lawo sifakelwe ugasi namanzi. makhadi sawabhalisa kawu 4 awabuyi.

Boweni Ngcobo Age 14 Mina angikuthiandi ukuhlala lana emjondolo ngoba impilo yakhona sengihlale iminyaka emithathu kodwa alukho ushintsho asakhuwa umxhaso sihlala siwumndeni wonka endlini eyodwa balokhu bethi bayasakhela kodwa lutho. Ngifuna sibe samanzi egcekni, ugesi.

Sipho Ndlela Ngiyatha ukuhlama lana ngoba ufunda eduze, kodwa ufuna isokole. Sanabtu, lapho ezofunda khona ulimi lwakhe.

Residents of Jadhu Place confront the police on 27 February 2005 14 UnFreedom Day 2006

Kwa Ward 15 1. Ikhansela lale ward alikhethwanga ngentando yeningi yabantu 2. Alikaze lisenzele lutho kule ward 10khu laphatha, kodwa selibuyiselwe umphakathi ube uphikisana nalokho. 3. Amathenda nemisebenzi yasendaweni ayinikwa ngokwama thuba abantu balendawo 4. Ikhansela laleward lizikhethela lona lilodwa amakomidi alomphakathi. 5. Ofuna usizo ikhansela limthumela kumasipala ukuba ayozicelela yena lolosizo. 6. Lelikhansela laleliward linodlame emphakathini liyashesha nokucasuka lifune ukulwa emhlanganweni My neighbour is watering her garden, her name is womphakathi. Zodwa. You can see she is proud about what she is doing, July 2005 (Photo by Thulani Mditshwa, Durban South Photography Project)

Banco: We do not feel free and we UnFree in Rural Areas are not treated as real citizens of this country. We are not part of decision- making. So what can we celebrate? A discussion with folks from Oakford (Catholic Church) David: What hasn’t changed? David: What does 27 April mean to you? Masondo: Living conditions, service delivery, proper house not these RDP Masondo (Bhakabhaka): Its sup- two room houses. I still work long pose to be a day we all celebrate our hours for peanuts. I can hardly fill freedom, as you know in 1994 we up a basket of groceries yet politi- voted for the first time as Blacks. cians fill two huge trolleys for their families. David: What do you mean its sup- pose to be? Banco: April 27 is for few politicians and their friends and councilors who Masondo: Nothing has are earning large sums of money and changed….look at my house, on top I are driving big cars…..us the poor still have to travel long distance from there is nothing to celebrate. the bus stop. Dwinkie: How can you pretend to Dwinkie: There is nothing to cel- be happy when you are not? We ebrate because we have nothing, our cannot attend this celebration be- living conditions have not changed. cause we will be fooling ourselves – for what? Free transport and food? UnFreedom Day 2006 15

South Durban Environmental Action Coalition Demands!

Rates must be capped for all privatised flats to avoid unscrupulous buyers.

Further the levies should be capped for all former state flats so pensioners and state grantees can afford to pay.

People renting flats should recieve arrear write off’s for rent, water and electricity. We also insist that the upgrading and improving of the flats must be driven by the needs of people living there, rather than the needs of huge contractors .

Finally, those residents suffering at the hands of polluting industries should be granted free medical care 24 hrs. a day and exempted from paying rates or rent.

This picture shows the condition of this toilet. About fifteen people use this toilet, July 2005 (Photo by Sizwe Nzama, Durban South Photography Project). 16 UnFreedom Day 2006

Banana City, God’s City, Is the heartless action against the poor, we shall resist Makgoba’s actions of Not Free arrogance. Let the Banana city, let the God’s City live !!!! Free us from the shackles of capitalism. The uni- Produced By Banana City Residents’ versity is not free until Banana City, Committee The residents of Banana City, god’s God’s City’s people are free with city, are The University of KwaZulu decent housing, electricity, in a Natal’s (UKZN) marginalised resi- clean and healthy environment free dents because we do not have toi- from crime and grime. We urgently lets, electricity and decent housing. demand land for better housing and We have been in Banana City for more than twenty years and our Is the university’s land not grandparents have been here for the past fifty years. tried to people’s land? uproot them, but they resisted. a better life today. We cannot wait to Apartheid created the university, and see another child die of preventable the university tried to uproot us, but diseases, we cannot wait for another we resisted. We hoped that the Free- informal settlement house to be dom Charter clause “ the land be- burned down because of unsafe en- longs to all those who live in it” ergy uses. We cannot wait any would be realised one day. Today, on longer for health hazards to ruin our Freedom Day, the University wants lives. We want houses where we are to evict us. Is the university’s land now!!! Stop Makgoba’s plan of in- not people’s land? We say, we shall equality, stop Makgoba’s heartless resist capitalism’s agents, we shall action against the poor. resist the university, we shall resist

From the left is S’dumo who is rolling tobacco/joint, in the middle is Sdembeza who is lifting weights and at the end is Pifi who is walking in the shot. They are at their smoking place, Lamontville July 2005 (Photo by Mathombi Hlope, Durban South Photography Project). UnFreedom Day 2006 17

Lacey Road Burns as Municipality Fails to Provide Electricity

On Saturday 22 April 2006 there were gusts of strong wind in Durban. In the Lacey Road settlement a can- dle went over at around midnight. Within minutes there was a big fire. The fire brigade were there within 30 minutes but the fire burnt until 5 in the morning. No one was hurt but around half of the small settlement was burnt away - 43 shacks, home to around 250 people. These fires are not accidents. They Abahlali working to rebuild Lacey Road are a direct consequence of the At a meeting with Abahlali eThekwini Municipality’s decision in baseMjondolo on 9 November 2005 2001 to stop the electrification of Mlaba promised to begin the upgrade ‘informal’ settlements. That policy of Lacey Road in January 2006. In- states that: stead of an upgrade Lacey Road got In the past (1990s) electrification a fire. Mlaba didn’t even come to the was rolled out to all and scene of the disaster created by his sundry...because of the lack of policies. But Abahlali were there. funding...electrification of the From early the next morning Abahlali informal settlements has been were working to rebuild the settle- discontinued. ment and to get food, blankets and building materials. Donations came There is no lack of funding. The Mu- in from Chatsworth and Wentworth nicipality has chosen to spend mil- too. At 3 that afternoon the rain lions and millions on the rich by came pouring down and everyone building casinos, hotels and a moved down to the Kennedy Road themepark and now Obed Mlaba Hall for the banner painting work- wants to build a new soccer stadium. shop for UnFreedom Day. Mlaba is mayor for the rich.

S’bu Zikode confronts a nervous Yakoob Baig, councillor for Ward 25, about his many failures to serve the community 18 UnFreedom Day 2006

Abahlali baseJoe Slovo

Joe Slovo Shacks, Mobeni Heights, Chatsworth 4092.

Intuthuko yase Joe Slovo yaqala amanzi asinawo thina esisahleli ngo2003. emjondolo aqhunyiswa? Ikhansela Selokhu kwaqala intuthuko ikhansela Elisha alizi emphakathini awulazi namakomiti abayibizi imihlangano awazi nokuthi inkinga uzozethula yomphakathi ukuchazela abantu kubani kodwa savota? ngentuthuko. Sahlukunysezwa ngumgwaqo sanganxeshezelwa. Sebeze bafika ohlelweni lokwakhiwa kwezindlu umpatkathi ungazi lutho. Abantu badilizelwa imijondolo Singazi nokuba kwenzakala ntoni bengekazitholi izindlu? Umphakathi sivele sibone ngogandaganda? wabamba uZinkle Mkhize esayinela indlu engakaze ahlale eJoe Slovo Izindlu maseziqediwe ukwakhiwa kwayiwa eMartine West kodwa kufakwa abantu abafanelwe namanje kuthulekile kwakukhona umhlaba, kulandwa abantu uJabulani MaPhumiilo no Andile eLamontville bafakwe eJoe Slovo. Makhathini, kumbuzile Mkhize Wena ohleli emjondolo kwakhiwa baphinda nokhiye emuva bangasho. indlu egcekeni lakho kufakwe lowo NginguBusisiwe Gule eyami inkinga obengahlali lapho asale umnikazi ikhansela uShezi wanikeza enye wendawo esahleli? intombazane indlu yami ngisalokhu ngihleli emjondolo umuntu ehleli Kanti okusalayo ikhansela uShezi endlini yami ndafuka udaba wamthita kuvuka indlu egcekeni kwiSolezwe Yathi impendulo ka Shezi lakho leyondlu yakhelwa wena? Andiqhubeke ngilinde indlu yami ngoba baningi abasalindile. Futhu UComfort Gumede okuwuyena ofaka akanalo ulwazi olugcwele ukuba abantu ezindlini wuyena owaqala ngasala kanjani ukuze ngingangeni ukufuku abantu bazidle indawo endlini namanje ngisalindile ngifuna izindlu ezakhiwe azikho ukungena. emgangathweni ziyantetha azinabo noPlastic ngaphansi kwamaTiles, ? Awethu! UnFreedom Day 2006 19 20 UnFreedom Day 2006

What are we fighting for? Silwelani? Decent Houses for All in the City Izindlu ezinesizotha zabantu bonke Free Basic Services eThekwini Basic Income Grant for All Izidingo ngqangi zamahhala Unconditional access to all resources of Izibonelelo zemali kubo bonke this land abangasebenzi Rights for All informal workers Ukusetshenziswa kwezingqala sizinda A healthy, clean environment zezwe okukhululekile Equality for All, including all vulnerable Amalungelo abobonke abazisebenzayo groups (women, children, sick/disabled). Indawo enempilo nehlanzekile Ukulinga kubantu bonke (Abesifazane, Izingane, Abagulayo nabaKhubazekile).

What are we against? Siphikisana nani? Forced Relocations Ukushintshiswa ngempoqo izindawo Evictions zokuhlala Water and Electricity Cut offs Ukuxoshwa ezindaweni zokuhlala Lying Politicians Ukunqanyulelwa amanzi nogesi Pollution Osopolitiki abaqamba amanga State Repression, police brutality and Ukudungeka kwemvelo impunity Ukucindezelwa nguhulumeni Land Theft nokuhlukunyezwa ngamaphoyisa Who are we? Ukuntshontshwa komhlaba We are a fighting movement of shackdwellers Lolusuku ludidiyele ingxubevange yesintu, and flat-dwellers. We are the living truth of umculo namakhono kwinhlangano Abahlali broken promises and betrayals of the last 12 baseMjondolo Movement, abahlali years, including the Abahlali baseMjondolo baseNingizimu neTheku, abahlali base Movement (shackdwellers movement), Chatsworth Flat, Marianridge, Merebank, Women of Ward 80 (Umlazi), South Durban Sydenham, Newlands, kanye nezinye izindawo Residents, Chatsworth Flat Residents, – ohlelweni lwamahora amane. Lalela Marianridge, Merebank, Sydenham, uzijabulise ngekhono lemiphakathi Newlands, and many other areas. Come to the yaseThekwini namaphethelo. Woza celebration! Join the movement! kulomgubho! Joyina Inhlangano! Sekwanele! Enough!