11 August 2013

A democratic society is defined as a society in which the public has the means to participate in the management of their affairs, information is open and free and participation is safe for everyone.

Recently we had a demonstration in Ext 9 in Grahamstown demanding that the list of beneficiaries for the new RDP houses be made public and people participate in the construction of the low cost houses. To us it was clear that the ruling party is abusing the list for patronage, corruption and elections. Some councillor’s kids are on the list as well as party members and their families.

For this call we were demonized, delegitimized and attacked by the members of the ruling party as opportunists, fronts for other organizations, pawns of white academics and rebels with no cause.

On the 06 August 2013 we convened a meeting at Nombulelo High School and we requested the Mayor to speak on the list. He apologized on behalf of the council, citing the fact that the list was characterized by corruption and irregularities. The Mayor’s admission that the list has been badly corrupted has been prominently covered in Grocott’s Mail.

We have been vindicated and not for the first time. Our adversaries always refuse to engage with us critically. Instead they use slander, class power and at times racist remarks to attack us. All that we are asking is that when we organise and mobilise around an issue we should be engaged on that issue rather than by constantly having our integrity called into question. We may be poor but we are full blown political subjects and that is how we should be engaged.

There’s an outcry all over the country over the corruption of housing lists by the ruling party. We are pleased that we have been able to stop the corruption in Grahamstown and we will continue to organise and mobilise to ensure that the new process is fair and open.

For more information, contact:

Ayanda Kota – 078 625 6462

Gladys Mepo – 060 393 0402