The face of inequality: Masiphumelele in my neighbourhood
Complaint lodged with the South African Human Rights Commission in Masiphumele and associated photographs are filed under Ubumelwane.
Masi is a township near where we stay. Its covers an area of little more than one square kilometre. Its population is approaching 40,000. This includes migrants from other African countries. The population here is African and mostly poor. In South African parlance such an area is (still) referred to as a 'township'.
Masi is surrounded by some 39 square kilometres of what are called suburbs, inhabited by at not more than 18,000 people, most of them white. There is also Ocean View, an area for those apartheid designated as 'Coloured'. But the story below is about Masi.
Like in other townships, there have been repeated fires that raise hundreds of homes to the ground within hours. Some people of the 2006 fire are still waiting for a place to re-build their homes. In the latest fire on 27 February 2016, once again, someone burnt to death. A fire on 29 November 2015 made 4000 people homeless. Some have re-built their homes but when these homes did not conform in size to what the City of Cape Town determined, the City officials broke them down. The destruction of homes re-built after the fire has now happened on three different occasions. More evictions are being threatened. Three months after the fire, thirty-odd people still have no-where to go to and have since lived in the community hall.
UNDER THE HEADING BELOW TITLED UBUMELWANE, YOU FIND THE RECORD OF PUBLICITY AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN REGARDING ITS ABYSMAL ADMINISTRATION OF MASIPHUMELE.
Below is a little boy who lives in the hall with his mother and siblings. In the absence of suitable amenities and toys, he or his mother have invented ways to entertain the children living here.
Masi is surrounded by some 39 square kilometres of what are called suburbs, inhabited by at not more than 18,000 people, most of them white. There is also Ocean View, an area for those apartheid designated as 'Coloured'. But the story below is about Masi.
Like in other townships, there have been repeated fires that raise hundreds of homes to the ground within hours. Some people of the 2006 fire are still waiting for a place to re-build their homes. In the latest fire on 27 February 2016, once again, someone burnt to death. A fire on 29 November 2015 made 4000 people homeless. Some have re-built their homes but when these homes did not conform in size to what the City of Cape Town determined, the City officials broke them down. The destruction of homes re-built after the fire has now happened on three different occasions. More evictions are being threatened. Three months after the fire, thirty-odd people still have no-where to go to and have since lived in the community hall.
UNDER THE HEADING BELOW TITLED UBUMELWANE, YOU FIND THE RECORD OF PUBLICITY AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN REGARDING ITS ABYSMAL ADMINISTRATION OF MASIPHUMELE.
Below is a little boy who lives in the hall with his mother and siblings. In the absence of suitable amenities and toys, he or his mother have invented ways to entertain the children living here.
MASIPHUMELE, isiXhosa for 'we will succeed'.
| Complaint to the SA Human Rights Commission regarding Public Health in Masi, March 2016.pdf |
| Masi Health Crises Photos - part 1 |
| Masi Health Crises Photo's - part 2 |
| Masi Health Crises Photos part 3. |
| Paul Hoffman to Cllr Felicity Purchase re Police Station and access to Masi Development Plan |
| Paul Hoffman to Ombud Western Cape.pdf |
| Media coverage late Feb and early March 2016.pdf |
| 24.February 2016. Dear friends in the valley.pdf |
| 14 February 2016. Another fire!.pdf |
| 10 February 2016.pdf |
| 4 Feb 2016 articles on Masi.pdf |
| Sabc film footage of the City of CT destroying the new homes built by the victims of last November's fire. What irony, the material for these homes were supplied by the City.docx |
| 19 January 2016. Thank you. docx.pdf |
| 16 January 2016. Masi is bleeding.pdf |
| Map of Masiphumelele.pdf |
| What was learnt from meeting with Table Mountain National Parks on 7 and 15 January 2016.docx |
| 23 January 2016.pdf |
| 21 January 2016. Groundup.pdf |
| 29 December 2015. Masi.docx |
| 28 December 2015. Masidocx |
| 24 December 2016. Masi.pdf |
| 22 December 2015. Masi.docx |
| 21 December 2015. Masi.pdf |
| 19 December 2015. Masidocx |
| 18 December2015. |
| 17 Dec 2015: Acact and Dr L van Dijk on Masi fires |
| 16 December 2015. Masidocx.pdf |
Support to rename Baden Powell Drive to David Stuurman Drive.
UBUMELWANE
ubuMelwane is the isiXhosa word for neighbourhood.
Despite the end of apartheid in 1994 the residential suburbs of South Africa remain essentially segregated on racial lines. Affordability but in equal measure prejudice has made integration a distant prospect until now. Racial prejudices and stereotyping remain a major feature in nearly all aspects of life. In the southern peninsula part of Cape Town, where Christine and I reside, neighbourhood and good neighbourliness between these communities remains the exception. The residential area of Masiphumelele is desperately short of land. Africans live here in crowded housing and shacks made from corrugated iron and plastic sheeting. Water, sanitation, electricity supply and storm water drainage services are deficient or absent. The adjacent white suburbs, despite employing the people from 'Masi' view Masi people with suspicion, a place where crime emanates from. They want Masi fenced in and patrolled. Schools and social amenities in our area remain essentially segregated. Suburbs such as Ocean View, where dark-skinned people were moved to under apartheid, remain equally insular from the well-to-do white residential, commercial and recreational neighbourhood.
ubuMelwane is an informal group of residents throughout the segregated southern peninsula who protest the way municipal, provincial and national authorities lack vision and will to change these apartheid demographics. Through practical actions and representations we promote solidarity and collaboration across these divisions to change the unequal access to resources.
We are advocates of democracy and the urgent implementation of our Bill of Rights. We are part of civil society and not party politically aligned.
Below is a chronological list of communications, activities, meetings and statements that ubuMelwane has initiated or supported. The first pdf file provides a vision for our neighbourhood into the decade ahead.
ubuMelwane is not part of other organisations mentioned below nor are they affiliated to ubuMelwane.
ubuMelwane is the isiXhosa word for neighbourhood.
Despite the end of apartheid in 1994 the residential suburbs of South Africa remain essentially segregated on racial lines. Affordability but in equal measure prejudice has made integration a distant prospect until now. Racial prejudices and stereotyping remain a major feature in nearly all aspects of life. In the southern peninsula part of Cape Town, where Christine and I reside, neighbourhood and good neighbourliness between these communities remains the exception. The residential area of Masiphumelele is desperately short of land. Africans live here in crowded housing and shacks made from corrugated iron and plastic sheeting. Water, sanitation, electricity supply and storm water drainage services are deficient or absent. The adjacent white suburbs, despite employing the people from 'Masi' view Masi people with suspicion, a place where crime emanates from. They want Masi fenced in and patrolled. Schools and social amenities in our area remain essentially segregated. Suburbs such as Ocean View, where dark-skinned people were moved to under apartheid, remain equally insular from the well-to-do white residential, commercial and recreational neighbourhood.
ubuMelwane is an informal group of residents throughout the segregated southern peninsula who protest the way municipal, provincial and national authorities lack vision and will to change these apartheid demographics. Through practical actions and representations we promote solidarity and collaboration across these divisions to change the unequal access to resources.
We are advocates of democracy and the urgent implementation of our Bill of Rights. We are part of civil society and not party politically aligned.
Below is a chronological list of communications, activities, meetings and statements that ubuMelwane has initiated or supported. The first pdf file provides a vision for our neighbourhood into the decade ahead.
ubuMelwane is not part of other organisations mentioned below nor are they affiliated to ubuMelwane.
18 Oct 2011
| August 2011: A report on Masi residents lobbying for improved conditions. And how Abahlali baseNjondolo won a court victory for shack dwellers |
| 3.4.2014. Invitation to the Masi launch of the book: "In search of happiness" by Sonwabiso |
| 1.4.2014 On Kalk Bay's social History - Patric Tariq Mellet |
| March 2014. A report on Masi residents securing concessions from the City Council. And an important court judgement for shack dwellers. |
| ubumelwane.pdf |
| 27.2.2014 Fund raising concert for Masi housing while honouring the passing of Pete Seeger |
| 27.2.2014 In honour of Pete Seeger |
| 8.2.2014 A protest about the way people in shacks are being moved from one temporary site to another |
| 14.12.2013 Support for Dr. Luth van Dijk's petition to the City from Vincent Green |
| 22.12.2013 Ubumelwane supports the petition of Dr. Lutz van Dijk |
| 30.11.2013 Article by Dr. Lutz van Dijk of HOKISA on overcoming inequality |
| 26.11.2013 Dr van Dijk: End charity! |
| 24.11.2013 Report on funds raised at concert |
| 22.11.2013 Invite to concert |
| Sarita Stern opera singers to raise funds for Amakhaya Ngoku housing association |
| 24.10.2013. "Nobody will ever kill me" a book by a Masi resident. |
| 7.9.2013 Local resident Joline Younge on the achievements of Ocean View artists Peter ClarkeOn the death of local artist Peter Clarke |
| 31.8.2013. Support for a book written by local resident, Ronnie Kasrils on his deceased wife Eleanor |
| August 2013 Ubumelwane meets Amakhaya Ngoku |
| 12.82013. Invitation to meet to ubuMelwaners to meet Masi housing association Amakhaya Ngoku. |
| 8.8.2013_ubumelwane__and_municipal_land.pdf |
| 12.7.2013_Ronnie Kasrils addresses Neighbours on what he perceives as South Africa faustian moment |
| 12.7.2012 On keeping political party politics out - by Prof. Jonathan Jansen |
| 21.3.2013 Young Masi people at Holocaust memorial seminar on Human Rights Day |
| 10.3.2012 Ubumelwane supports the call for a free Eritrea |
| 11.2.2012 Notes on an ubuMelwane meeting to learn about community issues |
| April 2012 Cosmas Desmond memorial meeting |
| December 2011 Invitation to honour local resident Randolph Vigne on receiving the Order of Luthuli at the national honours awards. |