BY Chris Gilili – this post was first published on Elitsha
On Saturday, the fifth instalment of Ndifuna Ukwazi’s Land and Housing School convened at Community House in Salt River, Cape Town, to discuss housing issues and land reform.
IN SUMMARY:
- Land Reform and Political Silence:
- Veteran journalist Lebogang Seale criticized political silence on land reform, especially during recent elections. “It’s sad that, during the recent elections, none of the political parties were vocal about the issue of land reform.”
- Impact of Land Dispossession:
- Seale shared that land dispossession strips people of identity, security, and belonging. “When your land is dispossessed, you’re stripped of your whole being.” He expressed disappointment with the government’s inaction on land reform, stating they now side with white farmers, enforcing evictions.
- Women’s Marginalization:
- Seale emphasized the exploitation of women in farm labor, blaming patriarchy and government inaction. “Women are seen as the cheapest form of labour… The government is not doing enough to address the plight of women.”
- Land Reclamation Struggles:
- Seale’s book, One Hundred Years of Dispossession: My Family’s Quest to Reclaim Our Land, details his family’s legal struggle to reclaim their land. He declared that land reform in South Africa is “dead” and called for an organization to defend the interests of farm workers.
- Housing and Distribution Issues: Tini Mohau from Indibano Yabahlali questioned the fairness of the housing waiting list in the Western Cape. “There is always talk about a waiting list, but no one has actually seen this waiting list.”
- Informal Settlement Residents:
- Mohau argued that those in informal settlements are often labeled as “queue jumpers” and prioritized over backyard dwellers, creating division and frustration.
- Importance of Decent Housing: Decent housing impacts personal dignity and stability, as Mohau explained. “In an informal settlement, you always know that when it rains you must be ready for disaster.”
- Food Security and Community Gardens: Mohau urged community gardens to combat rising food prices and support unemployed youth. “Food is becoming very expensive… So having these community gardens… will help them.”
- Call for Practical Action: Mohau expressed people’s frustration with ongoing discussions about land reform, pushing for real action. “People want practicality and are tired of the talks. We need to practise the things we always speak about.”
- Evictions and Government Accountability:
- Bonga Zamisa from the Social Justice Coalition spoke against forced evictions and the government’s lack of commitment to housing. “The City of Cape Town has even returned funds allocated for housing and infrastructure back to the treasury.”
- He stressed the importance of housing as essential for stability, safety, and equality. “Housing must be considered not just as shelter but as a means to ensure safety, stability, and equality.”
