On September 26th, a couple of weeks before the ruling, an armed mob with political links unleashed a night of terror at the Kennedy Road shack settlement (Pop. 7,000), and threatened to kill the leaders of the Abahlali movement.

By morning, four of the settlements residents were dead, many were injured, thousands had fled, and many of the shacks destroyed.

Meanwhile the government wants desperately to erase all slums before visitors start to arrive for the 2010 World Cup.

You can draw your own conclusions.

Background
The gap between rich and poor in South Africa is one of the world’s largest. So, while the 15 years since apartheid has been good for many, others have noticed barely any improvements in their lives.

The government says it has built 2.7 million apartments for former shack dwellers, but over a million people still live in shacks with no electricity or running water.

Side note: Many of the new apartment blocks were rushed, resulting in poor quality homes. In addition, the blocks are often located far from areas of employment and services such as schools and healthcare centres. 

The recent demonstrations across the country are the manifestations of the anger and frustration of the neglected.

Meanwhile, over $1 billion is being spent to build new stadiums for the forthcoming World Cup.


Related post
The plight of South Africa's slum inhabitants as 2010 approaches


External links
Abahlali: Shack Dwellers Movement (Official site)
Dear Mandela Facebook page
Landmark judgment in favour of poor (18th Oct. Mail & Guardian Online)
Millionaire minister slums it for South Africa (Monsters & Critics News)
'Mega slums' on the way, despite housing drive (Mail & Guardian online)
South Africa: Democracy’s everyday death -- the ANC's coup in Kennedy Road (Int. Journal of Socialist Renewal)


Vidz posted by Sleeping Giant and VisionOnTV  

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written by dolce and gabbana sunglasses, March 05, 2010

The government says it has built 2.7 million apartments for former shack dwellers, but over a million people still live in shacks with no electricity or running police sunglasses water.