‘Join us and picket against the inhumane conditions in Masi’
DEAR South Peninsula neighbours and friends, our ubumelwane.
It was infuriating to see more destruction and violence of homes in Masi by the City of Cape Town.
It happened on Sunday morning when it rained. I cannot say how many homes and their contents were destroyed but Law Enforcement appears to have made a hasty retreat via Lekkerwater Road when angry residents came to confront them.
I went there on Sunday afternoon to witness the chaos and destruction, not only of shacks but of kitchen cupboards, fridges, radio-cassette players. Bedding and clothes were still lying in the mud as angry and tearful people realised they were once more having to start from scratch.
You might find Felicity Purchase’s email to local community leaders after the smashing of the homes of interest. She wrote to her city superiors and to Masi the same inexplicable email: “Hi, Please can you investigate the circumstances around the demolitions that were don’t (sic) this weekend.
“I was informed via a wats app (sic) from community members yesterday late afternoon and (sic) they had received from a post of Masi Facebook page. When I enquired it became apparent that neither of your offices were aware of the incident (sic). I was under the impression that the city does not demolish any shacks in bad weather. Why was this done this time? Regards Felicity.” Since then, nothing. The city’s approach to evictions, land, housing, water and sanitation stops all possibility of sensible talk or negotiations. There are plenty of apologists for the city, all arguing from the comfort and security of their homes, but the bottom line is, without a shadow of doubt, that the situation in Masi is continuously getting worse. With it, anger and frustration are rising.
The city has no single development plan for Masi! The current phase of building houses has been in the pipeline for so long that it constitutes a totally inappropriate response and a costly fiasco. The Houmoed Road recently completed is another costly and inappropriate fiasco.
I invite all fair-minded people to come and join the picket this morning (Thursday, because tomorrow is a public holiday) and/or again next Friday (June 23) from 6.30am to 8.30am at which we, neighbours and friends of Masi protest the smashing of homes and the refusal to provide proper land, housing and sanitation in Masi.
The city has the moral and constitutional obligation to stop this inhumane war of attrition.
Come along for however much time you can offer, and let’s make it clear that the city is not acting in our name if it carries on the way it does.
The picket takes place on Kommetjie Road where Pokela Road (from Masi) joins it. We have picketed for six weeks and will carry on until the city hears the leaders of Masi.
If you want to see just how inhumane the situation in the wetlands area is, join me at 3.30pm on Sunday at Goemans Nursery.
With Masi leaders we will walk and explain the hair-raising conditions in which thousands upon thousands are compelled to live. Please let me know by email if you intend to join me. Horst Kleinschmidt Highcliffe