Full Circle Digital Magazine February 2014 | Page 36

COMMUNITY • MAKE A DIFFERENCE

OPEN LETTER
to our Premier, Mayor and local Councilors:
from 80 concerned neighbours
An initiative in the Far South Peninsula against poverty, crime and
disaster, and for peace, prosperity and decent housing for all
done with no corruption or nepotism. We have started
with 80 first signatories representing recognized and
community-involved citizens and organizations in the
Dear Premier Zille, dear Mayor de Lille, Dear Councilors
far
Purchase, Nikelo, Francke, D’Alton and Liell-Cock,                   south Peninsula – we do encourage others to join
and sign as well to ma ke our voices heard.
On 1 December 2013, four days before Madiba
With this Open Letter we are urging you, the
passed away, four residents of the informal settlement
responsible authorities
Wetlands in Masiphumelele lost their lives in a fire
• to examine our proposed key steps carefully,
which also destroyed the homes of about 200 people.
• to respond promptly to the signatories of
On Christmas Day, 25 December, a mother died in
this appeal (especially those representing
another fire which destroyed the homes of 20 families.
the Masiphumelele community) by outlining your
These were not the first fires in this area and we all
intentions,
know that they will not be the last ones. The situation
• to work together with all directly concerned to
is getting worse every year. Charity is not enough
change the frightening and dangerous cycle of
anymore. To forget even one of the victims is forgetting
poverty in our area.
Madiba’s legacy.
Proposed first three steps
How long can we – all of us living in the far south
One – Ensure access for emergency vehicles and
Peninsula – continue to ignore growing and extreme
basic services
poverty? Is there another way, other than food parcels
Proactive planning to “re-block” shacks so as to
and starter kits, to create social justice – not in general,
create access roads for emergency vehicles and basic
but here where we live? What can we – each of us –
services, is essential.  Access to basic services will
do to reduce poverty, crime and disasters and ensure
reduce the risk of disease from waste and polluted
peace, prosperity, decent housing and jobs for all
water. Access for emergency vehicles will reduce the
within a sustainable natural environment?
devastating impact of fires. A planned process involving
We, citizens living and working in the far south
elected leaders of the different settlement sections
Peninsula, know that there are many residents, women
must start immediately. This should include incentives
and men, with diverse languages, religions and political
for those who cooperate in making space. We can
opinions, rich or poor or middle class, who all want to
learn from other poor communities in the Western Cape
live peacefully together and who are deeply concerned
where - with the assistance of the Informal Settlement
about the extreme growing poverty of some among us.
Network (ISN) - this process of “re-blocking” the
Contemporary ideology naturalizes inequality – renders it
shacks has effectively created space for access roads
normal and expectable. But when the dispossessed rise
and basic services. We offer to assist with fundraising
up in anger and desperation, there is shock and surprise.
to rebuild shacks with fire resisting material. We believe
There are three key steps we urge you to take to
this can be achieved before the next winter in 2014.
prevent the escalating disparities between rich and
Two – Provide a second access road
poor exploding in our faces, be it with growing crime or
For years a second access road for the overcrowded
political extremism.
community of Masiphumelele has been promised.
These actions are independent of party politics. They
Extending Houmoed Road between Fish Eagle Park
are to be implemented irrespective of election dates.
and Myeza Road was a condition prior to building
We have listened to members of different communities
government housing (phase 4). It is unacceptable that
and there are many who are ready to support and
a community of more than 40 000 residents are locked
contribute once they see visible change, professionally
January 2014

36

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February 2014