Forced removal victims must fight for own facilities

I WAS walking through the so-called Fairview one Sunday morning. You don’t hear the church bells like in those days during 1971. I experienced street names like Totius Drive, (Omar) Cassem Street and Mimosa Road.

I strolled down Willow Road with my son of six years old. There I saw a sports complex, FSC Community Indoor Sports Complex.

My children won’t have the benefit of the gym or utilise that state-of-the art facility.

We in Fairview did have sport stars like Thomas Human, Maxie Basterman, Bobby Reid, Ronnie Leander and many more. You don’t hear about them, not even streets are named after them.

We were called “bos k ***** s” during those days.

Today, Fairview is run by people who never resided there, who did not consult us as indigenous people and legal beneficiaries of the “bos”. We as so-called beneficiaries are nowhere to be found.

South End Museum is run by the people of South End, who are the people running the “bos” today?

We tried on numerous occasions to get hold of a trustee, we even consulted the master of the high court for a trust deed, but all in vain.

We as beneficiaries are waiting for this document, then we need to organise ourselves to take on this demon.

Most of us stay in Ext 21, Bloemendal, and Salsonville, some in West End, throughout the northern areas. Our sports are played on Marrock Road, Windvogel, Finnis and Mooredyke.

We must build our own indoor sports centre with the blood of our grandfathers and unite the sports community of Fairview.

Buston Bosch, Sanctor, Port Elizabeth