Carlo Petersen
LAND reform in District Six, the leasing out of the Good Hope Centre and the “systematic removal” of residents from rental units in De Waal Drive.
These issues have been highlighted by the District Six Working Committee which has formed a coalition with the Southern African Clothing and Textiles Workers’ Union (Sactwu), the Bo-Kaap Civic Association and the Malay Choir Board to initiate the “Raak Wys Vuka”(Wake Up) campaign.
“Local government should be brought to book for deliberately sidelining the poor by cramming them into ghettos and pushing them to places like Pelican Park instead of bringing them back into the city,” coalition spokesperson Shahied Ajam said.
He said the committee had 1 150 members and had been mandated by 3 000 land claimants to fast-track the process of land restitution.
“Our people are dying. Of our 3 000 members, nearly 400 are over 70, and more than 100 of these are over 80 with some almost 100 years old. How is that restoring people's dignity?”
Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson said it was “not correct or fair” for Ajam to create an impression that the City had been one of the main causes for delays.
“The City is in complete support of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to unlock the development, which has been held up by special interests for 20 years. It is now time for the development to proceed.
“The City and the department have done everything in our power to speed up the process,” said Neilson.
Mayco member for Tourism, Events and Economic Development Garreth Bloor said the lease agreement process at the Good Hope Centre was on hold until further notice.
“Once the process is reactivated, the City will conduct a public participation process based on the municipal assets transfer regulations.
“The Good Hope Centre has been block booked from July to December 2015 for a film company. Vendors were given more than four months’ notice in order to look for alternative venues,” he said.
Sactwu spokesperson Nazmia Leite said the annual Spring Queen competition – which had traditionally been held at the the Good Hope Centre – would still be held next month.
“We have not confirmed a venue yet, but the pageant will go ahead,” she said.
De Waal Drive Action Committee spokesperson Anthony Johnson said residents would soon be approaching government to make requests to purchase the rental units they have been living in.
The provincial government did not respond to queries yesterday.
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