June 19, 2002
By Thomas Thale
THE wailing sirens of escort vehicles from the traffic department break the stillness of the evening as the mayoral delegation descends on Diepsloot, a sprawling, densely populated informal settlement just outside Midrand. Headlights from the bus carrying the councillors light up the area normally enveloped by darkness.
Diepsloot is home to an estimated 60 000 people, most of them living in shacks made of corrugated iron sheets. The dominant grey of the shacks gives the area a dull, monotonous appearance, aggravated by the absence of trees. One cannot help but be struck by the number of shacks clustered inside each yard. Salphina Mulaudzi, the ward councillor for the area, estimates that an average yard accommodates about 10 sub-tenants. Yet the same neighbourhood boasts a majestic double-storey house which would not be out of place in an upmarket suburb. "These are people who have title deeds to their property," Mulaudzi explains. "They are free to renovate their houses as they please."
The settlement is divided into four main areas: formal RDP brick houses which are serviced; serviced land where people have legally put up shacks; the squatter camp consisting of illegally erected shacks; and the ironically named Reception Area. There is nothing welcoming about the Reception Area. This is a transit camp, where people are temporarily accommodated before more permanent arrangements are made for them. Residents of the area remain there for indeterminate periods of time.
Thick smoke bellows from braziers across the settlement as households prepare themselves for yet another cold winter evening, braziers being the primary source of energy and of warmth in these parts. Youngsters play soccer on a dry patch of land, oblivious to the excitement around them.
Like all informal settlements in the country, Diepsloot suffers a fair share of social maladies. On this cold winter evening, a motley crowd of about 2 000 fills a huge white tent to bring these problems to the attention of the city fathers and mothers in the hope of having their living conditions ameliorated.
Not surprisingly then, land, or rather its absence, comes to dominate the proceedings. But first, the formalities: Councillor Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, council speaker, introduces the dignitaries and then outlines the purpose of the visit. "We decided that local government should interact with people. We are here to report to you about our activities and to listen to your grievances. This is part of our participatory democracy - bringing local government closer to the people," she explains, before introducing the keynote speaker, the executive mayor.
"Viva Bafana Bafana!" Amos Masondo, the executive mayor, calls out, capitalising on the exploits of the national squad at the soccer World Cup finals currently underway. With this clarion call, he establishes a rapport with his audience, before proceeding to outline the purpose of the visit, confirming what has been said by the speaker. In a business-like tone, the mayor identifies influx into the city as a major challenge facing the council.
"Jo'burg attracts migrants from all over the continent. But the problem of massive migration to a city is not unique to Johannesburg. This influx puts pressure on the limited resources we have," the mayor explains. He then outlines city policies and plans before calling on people to stop illegal dumping and to keep their environment clean as the World Summit on Sustainable Development approaches. His brief address is met with rather subdued applause.
City councillors take part in the proceedings at Diepsloot
During question time, it becomes clear that the primary concern of the shack dwellers this evening is that of land. The man who articulates the issue most vociferously is one Peter Dube, chairperson of the Diepsloot branch of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco). Dressed in a formal suit and bespectacled, Dube stands out among the ordinary people he represents, and appears to command some respect from the locals.
He salutes the dignitaries respectfully, thanking them for - as he puts it - making an effort to come and listen to the grievances of the wretched masses he represents, before launching a scathing attack on the councillors. "We submitted a memorandum to you last year but you have not bothered to respond," he charges. Clearly a populist, he sets out to play to the public gallery, using his booming voice to good dramatic effect. "As we have been telling you, our main problem in Diepsloot is land," he says, to shouts of "Yes! Tell them!" from the audience. "We desperately need stands to build houses on."
Confident of the impact he has made on the audience, he accuses the councillors of other priorities. "Our people are struggling, but some people remain corrupt. We must rid the council of corruption," he continues, and waits for the full impact of his words to sink in. His brief presentation triggers a cacophony of sounds - yelling, clapping and whistling.
His sentiments are echoed by a well-dressed and articulate lady. "I have the capacity to create jobs, but I can't do so because I have no space. I need a decent stand. I cannot create jobs for as long as I remain a sub-tenant."
Bessie Motubatsi delights the audience with her wide-ranging, but spirited presentation. Originally from Alexandra, she is part of a group which was removed from the banks of the Jukskei river and resettled in Diepsloot, where they were placed at the Reception Area, supposedly as a temporary measure. "My body shivers when I think of politicians," she says with a quivering voice. "We have been dumped here; now I regard myself as a bad example to my children. I sleep with my husband in front of my children. I was made to leave my house in Alexandra, where I had a bigger stand and a better shack. Now we are made to drink filthy water which is not even tested because they say it is expensive to conduct tests," she says to uproarious applause from the audience.
But then she gets carried away - "I want to talk about criminals. Many reformed criminals can't find jobs anywhere." Her point is clearly not popular with the listeners and she is heckled off the stage.
Senior citizens welcome the mayoral delegation to Ivory Park
The executive mayor marshals his troops to respond to the myriad of accusations levelled against the council. Sizakele Nkosi, councillor for housing, stands up to address problems of housing and landlessness. The house falls silent as this imposing figure ascends the stage. About the people relocated from Alexandra, she explains that only people who were unmarried and without kids were brought to Diepsloot. "If you have kids and you were brought here from Alexandra, then there is something seriously wrong. Married couples and parents with kids were all taken to Bram Fischer, near Dobsonville. We are aware of the problems you are facing," she continues, with sympathy in her voice. "We have instituted the Elcon housing project to accommodate people from Reception Area. Up to now, 1 365 units have been completed. We are aware that the housing demand far exceeds this number. Only people who were in the waiting list before 1996 could be accommodated."
"Under the Mayibuye project, we will try to regularise the building of backyard shacks - to limit the number of shacks in a yard," she concludes. Mayibuye provides for the first stage of housing development in which sites are serviced and allocated for people to build their structures on. Nkosi's detailed input receives thunderous applause from the audience - as if they acknowledge that the council is indeed doing something about their problems.
Her sentiments are reinforced by Parks Tau, councillor for development planning, who adopts a matter-of-fact tone to plead for renewed respect for the law. "Land invasion is illegal," Tau declares. Speaking in measured tones, he continues, "It is not a good thing to occupy land illegally. You are breaking the law. You can't buy land from a person who does not own it. Don't listen to those who claim to own land. If they say, I have found a piece of land across the road, let's go and settle there, don't go."
"Speak on, brother," shouts a voice from the audience.
Tau continues, "You must first help to fix Diepsloot before you leave to find land somewhere else." His brief input is punctuated by murmurs of approval - "mmm" "oh yes" - from the audience.
Other problems identified by the audience relate to the provision of infrastructure and services.
"My name is Silver. I come from the squatter camp. The clinic we have here is too small to service all the people and we want it to open even over weekends."
One appeal has a popular ring to it, despite the dangers it represents. "What are you doing to control the influx of illegal immigrants who are taking jobs away from us?" asks a young man. His question is met with thunderous applause.
A young girl speaking with a shrill voice complains about the unreliability of the water tank. "Every day, we queue for water - but often the water tank fails to arrive. How am I supposed to attend school if I can't even have a bath?"
"Our father," says a young lady looking at the mayor, "you ask us to report criminals, yet there is no police station here." The audience responds by laughing, clapping and whistling.
Martha Shopane from the squatter camp makes a simple point: "This place has been invaded by rodents. Everywhere you look, there is a rat this big!" she says demonstrating with her fingers. "My faith in the government has been shaken." A voice from the audience shouts "Just speak your mind!"
One Obed from Extension Two complains, "We are struggling with electricity. It appears that the transformer just can't carry the load. We live in utter darkness."
Various councillors stand up to outline the council's response. Their input ranges from concrete plans to vague promises.
Councillor Prema Naidoo, who is responsible for health, addresses health-related questions. He seizes on the opportunity to convert those still living dangerously, to change their lifestyles. His announcement that "we have just approved the building of another clinic to relieve pressure from the OR Tambo clinic" grabs the attention of the audience. He then calls on parents to talk openly with their kids about sex, HIV and, to the amusement of the audience, advocates abstinence from sex. He also pleads with TB sufferers to take a full course of their medicine. "TB is curable, but you must take your medicine until you finish it," he concludes.
Brian Hlongwa, councillor responsible for municipal services and entities, makes it clear that electricity in the area is supplied by Eskom, not the city. "Still we think it appropriate to take up your grievances with Eskom. We are negotiating with Eskom for the city to pay for your free electricity from July," he announces. "Mmm" "yes" comes the appreciative response from the audience. "The decision has already been taken to supply 50kwh of free electricity per household per month." He drives home the fact that each household will only get 50kwh irrespective of the number of tenants in the yard.
Hlongwa also announces that the city is considering getting rid of high masts in all the informal settlements. This is because, Hlongwa explains, the light from the beam is too bright and often penetrates through the shacks. Shacks in the immediate vicinity of the high mast also get damaged by the poles used to balance it. "We are thinking of using solar system to cover the whole of the city. Already, R9-million has been put aside to improve water and sanitation in Diepsloot." This last announcement leads to yet another burst of merriment from the audience.
Hlongwa passes the baton to Kenny Fihla, the councillor responsible for finance, who immediately tackles the issue of foreigners and xenophobia. "The man who asked this question has such a dark complexion that many of you stared at him, wondering whether he's not a foreigner himself," Fihla says, triggering a burst of laughter from the listeners. "Joblessness in the country started much earlier - even before the ANC took over the reins of government, mines and factories were closing down and laying people off. Enterprising people need to be encouraged and supported," he says. He encourages people to create jobs for themselves and not sit back, waiting for handouts.
He then makes a promise. "We will in future change the methods we use to build roads. Under the community-based public works programme, we will use labour-intensive methods in road construction, for instance, and dispense with contractors."
"Illegal immigrants are a real problem," Fihla concedes, "but we must not just focus on immigrants of African descent and let white criminals off the hook. We must respect the rights of legitimate refugees. We must extend a hand of friendship to these desperate people.
"Potential investors must be allowed into the country to boost economic growth," he says to a sceptical, silent audience. Those who have been in the country long enough and those married to South Africans qualify for South African citizenship, he declares. "If Paulos has been in South Africa for years, working in the mines, he has a right to South African citizenship," he says to subdued applause.
Strike Ralegoma, councillor for safety and security, promises to work in conjunction with the South African Police Services to speed up the building of a police station in the area. He then adopts a forbidding posture. "By-laws are being drafted to clamp down on violations like land invasions," he announces to some sceptical laughter from the audience. "Urinating in public is a criminal offence," he declares to even more laughter. "Buying stolen property won't stop crime, will it?" he asks. "It won't," the audience responds in unison.
Those hoping for a chance to ask more questions are disappointed by the speaker's announcement that it is just too late. She advises people who still have queries to fill in a questionnaire and submit it to the local council offices. "All questionnaires will be taken to the regional director, who will attend to them," she promises.
Displaying a hidden talent, the mayor leads the gathering in singing the national anthem.
As the anthem ends, the sound of TKZee, a famous kwaito group, singing "Shibobo" takes over the night. Many in the audience hang around to dance to the song, a tribute to Bafana Bafana following their credible performance at the Soccer World Cup.
As the mayoral delegation leaves, it drives past a huge taxi rank under construction and a new Emergency Management Services centre being built, suggesting that a brighter day may yet dawn for the residents of Diepsloot.
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