"He didn’t answer anyone’s questions properly”, “This is such bullshit”, or “This was pointless — again” loop through the vacant corridors like frustrated broken records.

So if any journalist expected to receive any substantial answers on anything other than hackneyed “100 days to the World Cup” comments from Fifa’s big boys or representatives of the South African government at the press conference held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday, they should have hit the beach instead.

....With 100 days to go, a plethora of unanswered questions remain hanging in the air about what this event will actually do for the people of South Africa.

http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/azadessa/2010/03/04/100-days-to-being-screwed-over/

World Class Cities For ALL Press Release: 2nd  March, 2010

100 days to go - and the urban poor ask what happened to fair play?

“Why should the poor be marginalised even further, or ‘disappeared’ in the clean-up programmes in preparation for the arrival of the football fans? With 100 days to go before the games open, official action  towards the urban poor fails to meet any standard of fair play,” said Pat Horn, StreetNet International coordinator today.

 “We want to see African street culture, music and indigenous food, the ‘shisa nyama’, informal traders, as an integral part of a visitor’s experience of South Africa,” she continued. “However, the opposite is happening. The host city by-laws ensure there is no trading near the stadiums and FIFA copyright and agreements are firmly in the hands of big business. Worse still, in some of the Fan Parks, such as Cape Town, the livelihood of informal traders is under threat, as existing trading sites will be taken over by official FIFA concessions.”  

Today starts the 100 days countdown to the first ever FIFA World Cup Soccer Games hosted in Africa in South Africa. While the fanfare and patriotic sporting fervour mounts, the World Class Cities For ALL Campaign (WCCA Campaign) today draws attention to the fact that for the majority of the urban poor there may not be much to celebrate as the FIFA 2010 Games get closer. Far from it. 

The WCCA Campaign launched in 2007 by StreetNet International at COSATU House in Johannesburg, has called on international Soccer organisers FIFA, and the host cities to include the urban poor in their plans. Partner organisations in the Campaign represent street and market vendors, the homeless and shackdwellers, street children and sex workers and other organisations of the urban poor. The WCCA Campaign has asked for full consultation in the plans for the events in the host cities and have held preliminary meetings in with host cities - except Tswane and Durban.  However both cities have declined several invitations to meet Campaign partners for consultation and preliminary negotiation. 

The urban poor stand to lose as opportunities are not created for their participation, more frequently their removal or eviction is required, without any alternatives being provided. A quarter of South Africa’s labour force are unemployed and they have no choice but to work in the informal economy.  It is estimated that about a quarter of the labour force work in the rapidly growing informal economy and a large proportion are informal traders;  the majority of informal traders being women, who are often the main breadwinners for their families. ⁽¹⁾  

As the 2010 World Cup approaches, South Africans and football fans alike, need to be aware of what the real cost of the FIFA World Cup Games are to the urban poor who are often treated as invisible when international sporting events are held:

Durban: Attempts to demolish a 100 year-old market and the livelihoods of many thousands of the urban poor disregarded during a global economic recession 

The livelihood of approximately 10 000 informal traders and others working at the 100 year-old Early Morning Market (EMM) in the Warwick Precinct, a landmark in the city, was threatened by the city’s approval of redevelopment and private investment , originally in time for the 2010 World Cup. Resistance since February 2009, when the plans were first presented, has included public protests, memorandums both to the City and Province, a sit-in and court interdicts to prevent the city from closing the market doors. The EMM informal traders, barrow pushers and others refused to agree to the city’s unilateral decision to demolish their market and move them to a temporary tarpaulin with no trading facilities in nearby Alice Street.  The city spent many thousands of Rand on renting the tarpaulin which was never used. The Early Morning Market and informal traders and barrow pushers affected by the proposed demolition have sought – and successfully obtained for the moment – the protection of the court to stop the city from going ahead.

Prior to 2005, the city earned praise for its urban renewal in Warwick as what was seen as international best practice by the development community and town planners.  Not surprisingly town planners, architects and the general public have expressed concern and opposition to the city’s plans and its unilateral approach in which it seems to have overlooked its own good practices in its haste to secure some of the capital that has been allocated for infrastructural upgrading which was apparently part of the FIFA package. In the process public land with a 100 years of established use as a market was offered to a private developer to build a shopping mall.

Durban – forced removal to toxic landfill site to make way for stadium for 2010

The forced removal of a group of people who lived on the site on which a stadium was built in Umlazi, south of Durban, for the 2010 Games was denounced by the former residents. They reported at a Hearing on Poverty and Climate Change in South Durban on August 20, 2009, that their houses in Umlazi D Section were demolished to make way for the expansion of the Umlazi Stadium for 2010 FIFA Games. The residents were removed to live in temporary shacks on a toxic landfill site with no services, far away from hospitals and clinics – in an area where ambulance services are not willing to venture. Subsequently it has been announced that since FIFA has chosen hotels to the north of the city for the World Cup, the Umlazi (King Zwelithini Stadium) is too far away for practice sessions. Instead the stadium will be used as a public viewing site for World Cup matches. ⁽²⁾

Cape Town – Parade and Green Market Square declared off limits for informal traders during FIFA Games

Informal traders are up in arms as the best known markets in the city centre where they earn a living have been declared the official FIFA designated fan park and will be off limits because it falls within the cordoned security area. This means that for the duration of the Games they will not be able to earn a living at the markets which are also popular spots for tourists.  The Western Cape Informal Traders Coalition and WCCA Campaign have called for a moratorium on all evictions of informal traders by the city until alternatives are negotiated. A reply has not yet been received and with a 100 days to go, informal traders have called for the city to address their demands as a matter of urgency.

Mbombela and Rustenberg

Paul Shambira, WCCA Campaign organiser, reports that in Mbombela, the school that was demolished to make way for the stadium was replaced by a temporary structure but the commitment to replace the school has not yet been met. After parents and pupils protested to the municipality a commitment was made to begin construction on the school but there is no proof this is so until the site has been seen.  In Rustenburg, the municipality has indicated that it wants to remove the vendors from the main market, without alternatives, as well as demolish houses that were given to single women during the apartheid regime. 

Sex workers 

In Cape Town the Sex Workers Advocacy and Training (SWEAT), WCCA Campaign partner, has asked the Women’s Resource Centre to investigate the legality of the initiative by an organisation from America called Guardian Angels, who in partnership with the city have been giving training to people to control prostitution on the streets . This is far from a human rights approach and poses the threat of unwanted vigilantism as well as a physical threat to sex workers.⁽³⁾

Street Children

The WCCA Campaign noted with concern that in the preparation for FIFA preliminary draw in 2007, social workers’ reported that street children were rounded up and put in the back of a police van and taken to an unknown destination. The report in the media suggested that they had been taken to Westville Prison until the FIFA meeting was over. We noted the failure of the city to discuss this issue and question what plans the city has to protect street children.⁽⁴⁾

Campaign Red Card

 Official action  about the concerns of the urban poor fails to meet any standard of fair play. Three years ago, in 2007, the WCCA Campaign gave the Red Card to Durban Mayor, Obed Mlaba, for insensitive comments on ‘cleaning up’ the city. The comments were made following the eviction of traders to make way for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and a series of evictions in informal settlements.  Mayor Mlaba said "We have cleaned many areas in the city and also townships. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to clean up areas that have become unsavory. It has also come to our attention that people steal and sell goods in the same market, which is a few minutes away from the city hall".⁽⁵⁾  With equal insensitivity, on October 12, 2009, Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato as a guest speaker at a general assembly of street traders, made a number of promises on opportunities for informal traders, and later in the same day issued a notice to informal traders on the Parade that they will not be able to trade during June and July 2010 while FIFA uses the Parade for FIFA Fan Parks, with no alternatives . ⁽⁶⁾

The First ever World Cup in Africa calls for an atmosphere that celebrates African markets and plays fair so that the urban poor do not end up being squeezed further into the periphery. African cities need to embrace the social dialogue that inclusive planning seeks.  Then we will all be winners.

Source:

1.  Calculations based on the October Household Survey (1997-1999) and the Labour Force Surveys (2000-2005) shows that employment in the informal economy increased from 965,000 in October 1997 to just over 2.3million in September 2005 (Sanpad, Judith Sheir, “The State of the Informal Economy”,  http://www.sanpad.org.za/portal/docs/policy/The State%20of%20the%20Informal%20Economy%20Schier%20Policy%20Brief.pdf

Also see Davis R and Thurlow J , “Formal-informal economy linkages and unemployment in South Africa”,  http://www.econrsa.org/wkshops/cge/session2-formal-informal-economy-linkages-unemployment-south-africa.pdf

2.   http://fifaworldcup.durban.gov.za/Pages/new150909.aspx

3.    “Angels’ take on sex workers”, Mail and Guardian, January 22-28, 2010.  

4.   “Where are Durban 's street children?” By Sharlene Packree and Heinz de Boer, Daily News, November 22, 2007,  http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20071122091820152C486964#more)

5.     "Evicted informal traders seek legal redress”, Daily News, 08 October, 2007, Edition 1.

For more information contact:

For more information:

Paul Shambira - WCCA Campaign Organiser

Cell 073 6245389  e-mail chitownsocialforum@yahoo.co.nz

 Nkosinathi Jikeka – WCCA Campaign Organiser 

Cell 071 826 8076   041 5856684  jikekan@yahoo.com

WCCA Campaign Press Release: 23th February, 2010

Nelson Mandela Bay - Street and market trader leaders from Mozambique and Zimbabwe to address Anti-Xenophobia workshop in Port Elizabeth

“We are demanding the inclusion of the urban poor in the preparations and plans for the World Cup FIFA Games being hosted in South Africa during June and July 2010,” Paul Shambira said today on the occasion of the inauguration of a first of a series of events to call for a xenophobia free World Cup. Paul Shambira is one of the coordinators of the World Class Cities for All Campaign, led by StreetNet International. 

Shambira continued: “We need firm commitments and action from municipal authorities to address the needs of the urban poor if we do not want to run the risk of seeing more attacks and riots against foreigners. It is vital that the host cities establish consultation mechanisms with representative associations of the informal economy so as to ensure ‘Xenophobia-Free Games’.”

 The World Class Cities For ALL (WCCA) Campaign is holding a two-day Anti-Xenophobia workshop on 24^th and 25^th February in Nelson Mandela Bay as part of a series of workshops, forums, marches and other events in South African host cities to ensure a Xenophobia-free World Cup in 2010.

The workshop will address the issues around Xenophobia and the informal economy as the city gears up to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup.  The Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay has been invited to give the opening address at the workshop. 

Two international guest speakers will address the meeting from neighbouring Zimbabwe and Mozambique on the issue of Xenophobia . They will also celebrate a shared African heritage and discuss the common concern of the need for inclusive urban planning and the recognition of the informal economy by African cities.  

For more information:

Paul Shambira - WCCA Campaign Organiser

Cell 073 6245389  e-mail chitownsocialforum@yahoo.co.nz

 Nkosinathi Jikeka – WCCA Campaign Organiser 

 041 5856684  jikekan@yahoo.com

WCCA Campaign Press Release: 19 February, 2010

FIFA Games must be Xenophobia-free

The World Class Cities For ALL (WCCA) Campaign calls for host cities to ensure a Xenophobia-free World Cup in 2010.

The WCCA Campaign is an international campaign that is demanding the inclusion of the urban poor in the preparations and plans for the World Cup FIFA Games being hosted in South Africa during June and July 2010. 

WCCA Campaign organiser, Paul Shambira, said today, “We need firm commitments and action from municipal authorities to address the needs of the urban poor if we do not want to run the risk of seeing more attacks and riots against foreigners. The host cities should establish consultation mechanisms with representative associations of the informal economy so as to ensure ‘Xenophobia-Free Games’.”

The WCCA Campaign is organising a programme of anti-Xenophobia forums in four of the host cities between February and April 2010. The objective of the workshops is to create awareness among informal economy workers of the risks of xenophobia during the world cup in the context of the recent attacks against foreigners. The workshops will also discuss ways to put inclusive urban planning on the agenda of the host cities.”

The host cities where events will be held are Nelson Mandela Metro, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Tshwane and Mangaung.  Organisations that will be invited to attend the workshops  are the leaders of street vendors’ and market vendors’ associations,  taxi operators’ associations, taverners’ associations and civil society organisations of the urban poor in the host cities.

Leaders of street and market vendors’ organisations from African countries who are affiliated to the international federation of street trader organisations based in Durban, StreetNet International, which is leading the WCCA Campaign, will be invited to the workshops as guest speakers. They will celebrate a shared African heritage and discuss the common concern of the need for inclusive urban planning and the recognition of the informal economy by African cities.

Shambira continued, “Participation by the urban poor in the planning for international events, such as the FIFA World Cup is necessary to avoid the forced eviction of street and market vendors and the further displacement of the urban poor.  The WCCA Campaign demand is for full consultation, social dialogue and negotiations with local governments in the host cities.” 

For more information:

Paul Shambira - WCCA Campaign Organiser

Cell 073 6245389  e-mail chitownsocialforum@yahoo.co.nz

Nkosinathi Jikeka – WCCA Campaign Organiser 

041 5856684  jikekan@yahoo.com

Gaby Bikombo – WCCA Campaign partner organization -SIYAGUNDA

031- 2056070  073 2510686

Cape Town: Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Release: March to Support Informal Trading - February 18, 2010

December, 2009: WCCA Campaign Bulletin Reported and published by Cheche Selepe

page 5  Imithetho mvivino yaba dayisa; Tshesinyo tsa melao-thekiso

Campaign Advances made with host cities   

By Paul Shambira, WCCA Campaign organiser

Host cities Mangaung (Bloemfontein), Mbombela (Nelspruit), Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth/Uitenhage, Polokwane, Rustenburg and Tshwane (Pretoria) have been requested to meet to negotiate on the Campaign demands.

Two meeting were  held in Rustenburg on the 27^th May and 3^rd July, 2009.  An agreement was reached to work together on the Campaign Demands. Street vendors in the meantime have been demanding better conditions and registration. A crisis arose when they were confronted with eviction and police harassment. They obtained an interdict which allows them to continue trading until the issue is resolved.

Two meetings were held in Polokwane on the 30^th June and 14^th August, 2009. The Municipality has undertaken to firstly, build a market to be called African Market which will house the vendors and secondly, to build a car wash centre to accommodate all car wash businesses on the streets. Issues on how the FIFA World Cup will affect informal traders are on the agenda of the next meeting.   

In Mbombela, one meeting has been held and the municipality is co-operating with the Campaign. It is constructing cubicles for vendors and has plans to create vending malls where vehicle access will be sealed off. Plans are underway to have a vendors’ forum.

Requests to open the door to discussion in Mangaung, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay continue.  

(Report from StreetNet News #17, 2009)

Photos: WCCA Cape Town and Western Cape Informal Traders Coalition Picket in front of the mayor's office 24th November, 2009

Memorandum presented to: His excellency, the Hon Dan Plato, Executive Mayor City of Cape Town "Moratorium on evictions, confiscations and harassments From City, Metrorail and Intersite owned and managed properties"

24th November: Cape Town - WCCA Cape Town, Western Cape Informal Traders Coalition

Picket in front of the mayor's office - For more information: Contact Nkosi: 071 8268076

19th November: "Abahwebi bafuna ukubona uNdiyema" (Traders demand to see Provincial Minister Mabuyakhulu), by  Boniswa Mohale, Isolwezwe, 19th December, 2009.

19th November:  href="DNmarch18nov09.jpg">"Upgrade, no mall" Traders' organisations want to be included in decision", by Siphamandla Mbewa, Daily News, 19th November, 2009

Photos:

Today a protest mass march was held by Street traders organisations and committees that do not support a Mall development in Warwick as the City is planning. Below is a copy of a memorundum that was presented to the MEC for the Economic and Tourism, Mike Mabuyakhulu. This memorundum was accepted and signed by Leonard Mabaso, Speaker from the office of the minister.

+- 3000 traders marched and demostrated from Curries Fountain to outside the City Hall.

MEMORANDUM

presented to Mike Mabuyakhulu, MEC for the Economic and Tourism, Provincial office  on Wednesday 18^th November 2009

 Unique Warwick precinct informal traders’ community

With more than 2,1 million working people and turnover exceeding R32 billion, the “second economy” is a force to be reckoned with.  The Early Morning Market and Warwick Junction precinct consists of 7000 – 10000 traders, porters and other informal workers in a unique market community with a 99-year heritage, serving hundreds of thousands of the low-income consumers in the eThekwini municipality.  

We, as members of the affected community, object to the eThekwini Municipality’s plans to destroy this unique community and to replace it with yet another monstrous large retailers’ mall.  Recent developments have seen huge shopping complexes mushroom in every corner including townships, accommodating large retailers such as Pick & Pay, Shoprite, Spar, who are all able to purchase products in bulk directly from manufacturers and producers, and whose goods are affordable to higher-income consumers. 

We and other members of the disadvantaged communities of eThekwini have sustained our livelihoods in the Warwick Junction precinct and made a significant contribution to the economy during the troubled political past, while our political resistance played a meaningful role for our democratic government.  The market vendors and street vendors are a large community of poor people, whose livelihoods will not survive being replaced by this kind of private capitalist venture. 

Lack of consultation and forced removal

We object to the manner in which the eThekwini Municipality has treated street and market traders and the organizations who fight for the rights of poor people.  The eThekwini Municipality has taken unilateral decisions which affect our lives negatively, without consulting us.  Comrades who serve in the eThekwini Municipality are not following the mandate of the people, i.e. “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black or white, and no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of the people.”  The administration and the approach on this matter constitute the same forced removal for which the Apartheid government was famous. 

We are in full agreement with the need to regulate informal trade.  However, this must be done in a humane way which respects human rights, including our rights to our livelihoods.  We voted for you not only to beautify the City, but also to serve the needs of the people. 

We the various Street vendors associations feel that the MEC for the Economic and Tourism, provincial office, Mr. Mike Mabuyakhulu and his team has been undermined by the eThekwini Municipality to such and extent that Business and Markets Support Unit has arranged marches, talk shows, media conferences and picketing outside the High Court not respecting the provincial task team recommendations that issues concerning the Warwick precinct development need to be resolved amicably and transparently.  

We therefore demand: 

1.     Business and Markets Support Unit should be dissolved because it is only supporting major businesses and not small, medium or micro enterprises. It is the duty of the Business and Markers Support Unit to upgrade and develop Informal Traders and small markets;

2.     eThekwini Municipality must preserve, promote and support the sustainability of our unique informal trading community in the Warwick Junction precinct, and find somewhere else to build their mall;

3.     eThekwini Municipality to upgrade and extend the market in order to accommodate all informal traders under shelter;

4.     if eThekwini Municipality genuinely wishes to upgrade the economic activities of informal traders, this should be done by means of cooperative wholesale and bulk purchase initiatives owned and controlled collectively by informal traders, enabling them to eliminate “middlemen” and increase their earned income;

5.     Street trading by laws need to be revisited – there should be no impounding of goods;

6.     Police harassment to stop – there should be intimidation by police for contact show of permits;

7.     eThekwini Municipality must reform informal traders’ permit system in agreement with informal traders and their elected representatives, temporary permits to be scrapped – permanent permits should be given to informal traders;

8.     Mr Phillip Sithole should be removed from his position as the Head of the Business and Markets Support Unit as he has no vision for the poor informal traders, he supports only the rich capitalist;

9.     Full access to the I-Trump Hall as this is a community hall, no informal traders should be denied access to this facility;

10.                        eThekwini Municipality to get their act together and stop bussing in traders from other areas who have no direct interest in Warwick development to be used as pawns in agreeing with their plans. This is a clear misuse of public funds and resources.

11.                        A fully fledged Police station to be deployment with a large number of permanent police to the Warwick precinct which are visible to ensure reduced crime in the area. Metro Police must wear full uniforms when they are on duty and street traders can longer be expected to do the duties of the police in this area.

12.                        eThekwini Municipality must enter into serious formal consultation in good faith with all organizations of informal traders;

13.                        eThekwini Municipality must guarantee either a traders’ permit or a job for every adult earning a livelihood from informal trade;

14.                        eThekwini Municipality must commit to the demands of the World Class Cities for All (WCCA) campaign, to ensure that informal traders have equal access to opportunities to benefit from the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Presented by:

Masibambisane Traders Organization (MATO

Traders Against Crime (TAC)

Early Morning Market Association (EMMA)

South African Self-Employed Women’s Association (SASEWA)

Siyagunda Association

Warwick Informal traders’ interim committee

Warwick residence committee

Stanger Informal traders committee

Verilum Informal traders committee

Tongaat Informal traders committee

Bester Informal traders committee

Pinetown Informal traders committee

Isipingo Informal traders committee

Umlazi Emaweleni Informal traders committee

Umlazi Megacity Mall Informal traders committee

Durban station Informal traders committee

Bovine Head traders committee

Herb market traders committee

World Class City for All (WCCA) campaign task team – Durban

Phumzile Xulu WCCA Co-ordinator Durban

Mobile:         +27 82 422 9487

Email:            kwakwax@yahoo.com

18 November, 2009: Durban - Protest march by WCCA and partners to city hall

Time:        09:00 am

Venue:     The protest mass march will start from Curries Fountain Stadium to City Hall

Street vendors organisations and committees are marching to demonstrate support for the livelihoods of informal traders and defend all the markets in the Warwick precinct against the proposed Warwick development that is planned to make way for another capitalist retail mall.

Themba Duma on 083 721 2261

Themba Speelman on 082 643 2931

Phumzile Xulu

WCCA campaign co-ordinator - Durban

StreetNet International

Tel. 031 307 4038 (StreetNet) 082 422 9487 (cell)

18th November, 2009: Nelson Mandela Bay -  Street Traders call for informal trade restrictions to be lifted during FIFA Games

"Street vendors, hawkers protest at City Hall over World Cup Restrictions", The Herald, Mawande Jack, Labour Correspondent. 

16th November, 2009: World Class Cities FOR ALL (WCCA) Campaign launches in Nelson Mandela Bay

The World Class Cities For All Campaign launch in Nelson Mandela Bay is being held on Tuesday 17th of November, 2009, from 2pm -4pm at City Hall.

The WCCA Campaign launch is making a public call for the WCCA Campaign demands to the municipality on the preparations for 2010 FIFA World Cup that no evictions of street vendors and the urban poor take place without alternatives being provided, as well as for social dialogue and negotiations to take place. 

A reportback will be given on the meetings that have been held so far held between WCCA Campaign and the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality.

The following organisations have been invited to speak at the launch:

StreetNet International and WCCA Campaign

SANCO

SAMWU

ACHIB

Representative from Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

Nelson Mandela Bay WCCA Campaign partners are:

Informal traders’ organisations, COSATU, SANCO, SAMWU, SACP, Taxi Associations.

The Nelson Mandela Bay WCCA Campaign launch follows the launch of the Campaign in Cape Town on 12th October, 2009.

For more information contact:

Paul Shambira:  WCCA Campaign organiser 073-6245389

23rd October, 2009: Cape Town Mayor accepts Western Cape Informal Traders Coalition (WCITC) submission

In what is seen as a major breakthrough, the Mayor instructed Mr. Mohamed (Director economic development and Tourism) to facilitate a day long workshop between all role-players as soon as possible. This he intimated might be held at the Good Hope Centre and possibly within weeks rather than months. The coalition welcomes this development and views it as an opportunity to better convey our concerns. We congratulate the Mayor on this bold step, one which we had hoped might have been implemented a while ago by the responsible City officials.

The lines of communication are once again open and the coalition shall use them to the advantage of its constituency. The Mayor accepted our submission and promised to investigate further. (From reportback by WCITC on meeting, 23 October, 2009)

At a Hearing on Poverty and Climate Change in South Durban on August 20 2009,  former residents reported that their houses in Umlazi D Section were demolished to make way for the expansion of the Umlazi Stadium for 2010 FIFA Games. The residents were removed to live in temporary shacks on a toxic landfill site with no services, far away from hospitals and clinics – in an area where ambulance services are not willing to venture.

The WCCA Campaign Task Team is taking up the issue. (Report from StreetNet News No 17)

23rd October, 2009: Cape Town - Molo Songololo holds Round Table on Child prostitution & 2010 FWC & beyond

Molo Songololo received various report of children being prostituted in Cape Town and surrounding area. Report also alleges that brothels, gangs, pimps, individuals, family members and even ‘children’ are recruiting teenagers to meet that perceived demands for sexual services during 2010 FWC. The roundtable will discuss and verify these concerns and identify possible responses to combat child sexual exploitation. Click here for Molo Songolo Meeting invitation

23rd October, 2009:  FIFA's games are not so sporting

Transparency International reports that journalist Andrew Jennings has investigated allegations of ticket racketeering, vote fixing and corrupt marketing deals in FIFA hosted games and FIFA President Sepp Blatter is in the centre of it.  

See http://www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/2006/corruption_sports/jennings_review

22nd October, 2009: Cape Traders Coalition hold  meeting with Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato

Click here for Western Cape Informal Traders Coalition Calls for Moratorium on evictions

After a successful general assembly in Cape Town the informal traders have Elected a steering committee to look into the work towards building a Coalition in the province

And this coalition drive has secured an audience with the honorable Mr. Dan Plato on Friday 23rd October 2009 at the Civic Centre, 11h30 to Reflect on the following:

(1) Introduction of the steering committee

(2)Discussions on the open letter to the Mayor and the Premier (see the StreetNet international newsletter)

(3)The call for a moratorium on all evictions currently underway Especially as a result of 2010 FIFA World Cup preparations

We therefore invite all to the media briefing scheduled immediately after the meeting, which will be around 13h00 at the same venue. For more Enquiries please don't hesitate to contact Rosheda Muller

(aquarose@telkomsa.net) 0846056135 

STREET VENDORS’ SUPPORT FOR SHACK DWELLERS  

15th October: 'Slums Act' - Appeal to stop mass eviction of shack dwellers is supported by Constitutional court

"Concourt triumph for shack dwellers", Wendy Jason Da Costa, The Mercury.

Click here for the article

15th October: Durban -  Unicity Forum march had no mass support

 "Expected mass protest, total flop", Sowetan, 15th October, 2009.

 Click here for the article

14th October:  Durban - Traders' march for shopping mall questioned

 "Bathi umasipala uqhatha abadayisi", Boniswa Mohale, Isolezwe.

Click here for the article

6th October, 2009:  WCCA Campaign and cape street traders coalition call for halt to Mitchells Plain informal traders' eviction

Cape Street Traders Coalition News - Draft Manifesto and Open letter to Premier Helen Zilla and Mayor of Cape Town, Dan Plato

An exhibition currently running as part of a Young Artists Project, at the NSA, Durban, turns the gallery walls into a living city space with photographs of the people who live and work in the Warwick precinct.

A video,  Shopping Mall vs Market uses a split screen to show the different spaces -  the controlled middle-class, commercial space of Musgrave Shopping Centre and the informal economy Early Morning Market, bustling with the energy and life of the African marketplace where the urban poor are earning a living. The market is currently under threat of demolition (to make way for a shopping mall).

The project involves visiting artists from several countries and is supported by KZNSA, Pro Helvetica and dala – a local art/architecture organisation. Dala has been filming the EMM traders' struggle to stop the demolition of the market over the last six months. 

NSA website: http://www.nsagallery.co.za/current_nivea.htm: The 2009 Young Artists Project aims to link emerging artists from countries that border South Africa in order to develop a series of interventions in public space. Four emerging creative practitioners from Lesotho (Retsepile Moholi), Botswana (Mojorosi Modisane), Mozambique (Idelio Vilanculos) and South Africa (Michele Silk) have been selected to participate in the project. These artists arrived in Durban on 16 August 2009, and will be in residency until 10 September 2009.

The purpose of this artist-in-residency programme is to develop a cross-border public dialogue on cities, space and art for social change in southern Africa. The project is aimed at developing meaningful collaboration and public participation in the practice of art for urban transformation.

YAP 2009 is as much about process as it is about the eventual outcome. For the purpose of this project the studio, the canvas, the gallery will be in the streets of Durban. The documentation of the process and products will be exhibited at the KZNSA. A catalogue will also be produced as a record of the process. In order to generate further public dialogue about public art for social change, a forum discussion will be organized where artists will have an opportunity to present their work to members of the public.

14th September, 2009:  Leading academics and architects put their weight behind court action to prevent demolition of the Early Morning Market

"Negotiations continue - Warwick traders legal action gets boost", Natal Mercury, by Tania Broughton, 14th September, 2009. Click here for the article

30th August, 2009: Provincial Task Team tells city  "Come clean about the tender process surrounding the development of the mall, go back to the negotiating table and stop bullying Early Morning Market traders"

'Fresh Row over report on market', Tribune Herald, by Masood Boomgard, 30th August, 2009.  Click here for article  

28th August, 2009: KZN Provincial Task Team Report - EMM opposes the privatisation of Early Morning Market

The KZN Provincial Task Team (PTT) report is a major disappointment, giving as it does the green light to the eThekwini municipal officials and the capitalist property developers to fast track their plans to confiscate the market site, demolish the market and build in its place a mall. The report pretends to save the market by stating limply “Where possible, attempts should be made to incorporate the (EMM) buildings in the development’.  The EMM Support Group is totally opposed to yet another privatisation of a people’s resource.  The intention to place the 99 year old EMM into private hands is unacceptable, and is a pathetic attempt to mask the theft of historic, public land.

After the market-lockouts, police occupation and shootings of June 2009, the provincial government decided that ‘the best way to defuse the volatile situation, was to set up a Task Team, raise expectations, let matters cool, and then ‘kill the resistance’’.

The PTT report is deficient- it is silent on the arguments presented by those of us against the demolition of the 99 year fresh produce market. Our submissions went unacknowledged and our protests ignored. There is no discernible reference to/or evidence of the detailed written submissions from the Early Morning Market Traders, the Social Movements Indaba, the 1860 Legacy Foundation and various academics. After the June 23^rd PTT meeting, held at the MEC’s boardroom, and attended by the EMM association, the Mayor and his deputy, no further discussions were held with the EMM association or the broad support group. The PTT ignored the EMM and concentrated its attention on the city officials, holding several consultations with them.

The Task Team in clause 14 states that it is not a commission of enquiry and does not purport to make findings of fact. Yet it does not shy away from recording the following dubious comments from some unknown submission(s):

26(c)   The view was expressed that “market prices are based on colour, there is an Indian price, European and African price”.

26(f)   A view stated more often is that the market provides for “Indian interests”, and all race groups should be accommodated.

The PTT is, itself, reinforcing negative views without making any attempt to check the facts, at least on the above issues, since its report states (clause 48) that the ‘debate has taken unfortunate racial overtones’.

The PTT also appears to want to rush through the EIA and AMAFA procedures, placing tight deadlines for their finalisation (31 October 2009). In respect of the EIA, clause 61 recommends that ‘the EIA assessment on the current site be brought to a head given that that is not a Greenfield development project’. On the AMAFA issue clause 50 recommends that ‘the process of the appeal by the city to the Premier on the AMAFA refusal to demolish the market building should be finalized.”

The ‘win-win’ recommendations of the PTT are loaded against the market. There is clearly very little appreciation for the historical value of the market. After all, it has been tainted with racial overtones – all the easier to demolish it, unmourned by a nation ignorant of its glorious past!

In the developmental state, that is present South Africa, the interests of the millionaire class (and the wannabe millionaire class) appear to take precedence over the bread and porridge issues of the poor. There can be no justification for privatising the city’s fresh produce market, or for taking a state asset from the have-nots to give to the filthy rich.

Roy Chetty

Telephone :031-5631722

                 0823348461

25th August 2009:  KZN Provincial Task Team Report on Warwick Market

to be released on Thursday 27 August 2009 (09h30) at the ICC Durban.

Provincial Hearings - Public Notice

25th August 2009: Message of Solidarity to WCCA Campaign from Services Employees International Union (SEIU), USA     Solidarity Message 

Brothers and Sisters:

We have heard about your work on the World Class Cities for All (WCCA) campaign from our friends at StreetNet International. Attached please find a letter of solidarity on behalf of the 2 million members of SEIU.

 In Unity,

Scott Shumaker

Scott C. Shumaker

Global Organizing Project Coordinator

SEIU

1800 Massachusetts Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20036 USA

Office: 202-730-7807 Mobile: 202-297-4060

scott.shumaker@seiu.org

12th August, 2009:  Early Morning Market Traders walkout of City Hall meeting 

Dear Comrades

Today (Wed 12 August 2009) was a glorious day in Durban.

But first…. we must acknowledge our revolutionary comrades in the EMM Support Group for challenging racist rhetoric and informing the world, in the face of official denials. This has helped sensitise City Hall to the dangers of lapsing into racial rhetoric.

We also salute the market for being a living monument to non-racial solidarity within and outside its historic walls, in what is now a protracted struggle.

Today’s ‘meeting’ at City Hall was an improvement on the ICC farce (though undemocratic habits are hard to break!) Professional translators did a splendid job, and the official speeches were conciliatory and, informative – the kind of speeches (and attitude) one expects from public servants.

However speeches must be measured against intent and deed, and this is where the municipality came short, triggering a mass walk-out.

• There was a disjuncture between the conciliatory speeches and the legally crafted, and binding MOU (memorandum of understanding), the details of which  had not been discussed and agreed to by the public meeting;
• The signing of the MOU by several trader-collaborators who had broken ranks with their small structures;
• Absence of Q&A - There was no provision for any comment by the hundreds who had attended the meeting. Hence, the walk-out.

The Early Morning Market (EMM) community sent a resounding message to the city officials that it would not collaborate in its own destruction; a simple message repeated so often throughout decades of the freedom struggle in this country. The municipality’s selection and use of collaborators from outside the market, to push through the theft of historic market land, was dealt a shattering blow. Honest informal traders and workers of Durban, once again, demonstrated their unshakeable resolve to fight on for the right not to be robbed of their livelihood.

Other news:

§       Adv. RBG Choudree, SC and Adv M Manickum have been engaged to join Adv NR Naidoo  K Khallil (attorney) in the EMM Traders Association case

§       The review application of the Legal Resources Centre will also be heard by the same judge (as part of the EMM v eThekwini Municipality case)

§       the court papers will be lodged on Friday 14^th August 2009.

Hasta La Victoria Siempre !

Onwards to final victory !

Roy Chetty

Telephone :031-5631722

                 0823348461

11th August, 2009: The Socialist Party of Azania (SOPA) would like to respond to the statement issued by the eThekwini Municipality on Media Reports of a Racial Slur at Early Morning Market Meeting

The Socialist Party of Azania (SOPA) would like to respond to the statement issued by the eThekwini Municipality regarding the racialist and ethnic undertones that the party and other organizations involved in the Early Morning Market Support Group detected from the statements of the eThekwini Municipality and Obed Mlaba in particular at the meeting to discuss the Early Morning Market closure at the International Convention Centre. We hereby wish to respond to the statement from the municipality, paragraph by paragraph:

Media reports accusing the eThekwini Municipality Management and the Mayor, Cllr Obed Mlaba in particular for using racial slur at a meeting to discuss the Early Morning Market closure at the International Convention Centre are incorrect. The Municipality would like to place on record that at no stage did the Mayor or Council Officials make racial remarks in any way at the meeting in question. Our assessment is that this is the work of peddlers who are desperately trying to politicise the Early Morning Market issue to accomplish their own agendas. 

By portraying the support for the Early Morning Market hawkers and protestation against the racialist undertones of Obed Mlaba's statements as the work of peddlers, the eThekwini   Municipality Management once again resorts to name-calling and third-force myths. In a democracy it is not a felony for individuals and collectives that are part of organised civil society to articulate their solidarity and engage in advocacy and activism in support of marginalised sectors of society and subaltern voices such as that of the hawkers and poor people eking out a living on the fringes of the marketplace.  It is bizarre to accuse people of politicising the Warwick precinct issue when they raise alarm about the threat of the proposed mall resulting in the displacement, disenfranchisement, disempowerment and marginalization of the people on the fringes of the economy.   Access to economic activities and amenities that enable one to tap into commercial opportunities is in itself a political issue. There is no guarantee that every single hawker and small trader currently selling at the Warwick precinct shall have a trading space in the mall that is earmarked to be built there. There is no way that hawkers, small traders and small shopkeepers are going to be able to compete on an equal footing with big and established businesses at this proposed mall. It is not a secret that Big Capital, particularly the large commercial cartels and superstores normally dominate the market at the malls. As long as this is the case, the Warwick project is tantamount the dislodgment and disarticulation of the marginalised people trying to eke out a living in the so-called second economy to clear the way for the rich who already are raking in millions in the formal economy. It is therefore absurd to accuse people of politicizing an initiative that is essentially political.  Building a mall at the Warwick precinct is a politico-economic act that will affect the livelihood and socio-economic wellbeing of hundreds of hawkers and small traders whose businesses are likely to disappear, as malls are known to be exclusive enclaves and sanctuaries of established business and Big Capital.  

 There are some reports that claim that the Municipality rented a crowd to fill the hall. This is very disturbing as members of the public, business people, community leaders, Durban Chamber of Commerce and SANCO Regional Office attended the meeting. More than 99 % people who were in attendance supported the Warwick precinct development. While racial remarks are raised in the media articles, it is interesting to note that there is nowhere in these reports wherein the Mayor or any other Municipal Official is directly quoted using racial
connotations.

The rent-a-crowd claim is based on the utterances of the people who attended the event as they arrived on the scene. The theme that ran like a thread in their conversation was that they were there to sort the Indians who stood in the way of a development project that would benefit “Africans.”  These sentiments were consolidated by some of the remarks made by the eThekwini Municipality Management, especially the assertion that “Indians” had their opportunities under Apartheid and benefited from the system, now it was time to seize the opportunities for “Africans.”  The racial undertones of this was particularly worrying for the Socialist Party of Azania and the broader Black Consciousness  Movement which has fought so hard against the division of the Black people of indigenous descent and Black people of Asian descent along ethnic and tribal lines. There is just no way that we could not raise our voice against the racialization of a problem that affects people on the basis of their socioeconomic position rather than ethnic identity.  

These articles also accuse the Mayor of addressing the meeting in isiZulu. We find this strange, as is iZulu is one of the official languages in South Africa and it is widely spoken in the City. The use of the language was not meant to exclude any race group in the meeting. The meeting was delivered in both isiZulu and English; except for the opening by the Mayor due to the meeting starting late and he had to rush to another engagement.

 SOPA and all the organizations that support the Early Morning Market small traders and hawkers have no problem with speaking in IsiZulu. In fact we support and encourage that the speeches in this province be in IsiZulu in entirety as long as there is translation for people who do not speak or understand the language.  But in this case, the speakers chose do de tour into IsiZulu every time they made a statement that somehow amounted to evoking anti-Indian sentiments.   

 We view the publication of this information as misleading in the extreme and only aimed at sowing divisions amongst our residents. We call upon media houses to refuse to be used as platforms for any misinformation campaign. 

Coming from a high political office - and coupled with labelling people with different views as peddlers and sewers of division and dissent- the call to the “media houses to refuse to be used as platforms for any misinformation campaign” is a very delicate call for censorship.  This statement need to be understood in the context in which there is already a tendency by the public broadcaster(which is currently operating as the state mouthpiece) and many publications in the corporate media to side-line the voices of the social movements and political parties on the left.   When one also considers the SABC debacle where there was an alleged list of commentators who were blacklisted this last paragraph of the municipality ammounts to a censorship instruction, though said subtly. In short, this is a subtle but crude inversion on the right of the media houses to decide for themselves what information is worth of publishing and what constitutes misinformation.

6th August, 2009: Working class communities of Durban, and the general public who have been supporting the struggle of the traders in the Warwick Market precinct: Join the WCCA campaign partners on Friday 14 August 2009 in a picket outside the High Court,   to demonstrate support for the livelihoods of informal traders and defend all the markets in the Warwick precinct against the proposed demolition to make way for another capitalist retail mall.

Phumzile Xulu

WCCA campaign co-ordinator

StreetNet International

Tel. 031 307 4038 (StreetNet) 082 422 9487 (cell) 

We support the call to  the national government to bring the eThekwini municipality and other local government authorities into their economic crisis recovery plans as a matter of urgency, and:

(1)    encourage them to adopt Local Economic Development strategies promoting retention of employment and existing livelihoods, and promoting innovative local social protection schemes, as their contribution to economic recovery;

(2)    sensitise them about the negative long and medium-term consequences of any short-term measure which has the effect of destroying livelihoods, especially of the most vulnerable workers, during the global economic crisis;

(3)    urge them to engage in extensive and effective negotiation with the people of Durban with objective of:

-          being fully accountable to their civil society constituents;

-          improving levels of transparency about development decisions involving public assets;

-          engaging the participation of the most vulnerable workers in the solutions at local government level contributing to national economic recovery plans.

Inez mccormack - Senior Adviser / Global Coalition

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5 August 2009: Message from Roy Chetty EMM Support Group - The EMM Support Group thanks the Legal Resources Centre for taking up the matter of the continued, unjustified harassment of the market community.  We also wish to thank Comrade Brother Yusuf Ismail for rushing to the legal defence of Romilla Chetty (secretary of the Market Association), in her hour of need. Viva Early Morning Market, Viva !  Solidarity in Action for a Just Cause !! Council told to leave traders alonel told to leave traders alone Kamini Padayachee (Daily News) (5th August) Traders at Durban's Early Morning Market in Warwick Junction secured an  interim interdict against the eThekwini Municipality yesterday,  preventing municipal officials from harassing legal traders. The traders had claimed that metro police officers were harassing them  and confiscating their goods. The municipality wants to relocate the traders, to clear the way for a  multimillion-rand development that will include a R400 million mall. The traders are opposed to the relocation and have lodged an application  in the Durban High Court for an interim interdict to stop the evictions,  pending a review of the council's decision to lease the market to a  private company. This case was adjourned last month to allow the private  company to be joined to the application. According to the draft order yesterday, which was granted by Judge  Gregory Kruger, the municipality is interdicted from harassing,  intimidating or treating legal traders at the market with disrespect or  contempt. The municipality was also interdicted from impounding legal  traders' goods or requesting that the traders remove the goods every day  when the market closes. Certain provisions in the market bylaws were  also declared invalid. Romila Chetty, the chairwoman of the Early Morning Market Traders  Association, said goods worth thousands of rands had been confiscated  from her stall in the morning. "I was not at my stall because I was not feeling well," she said. "Metro  police officials came to the market and started asking for permits.  Since I was not there they confiscated all my goods and issued a fine of  R200. Officials also told us we cannot keep our goods overnight at the  market or they would take them away." She said other traders at the market had also had their goods  confiscated because they could not produce a permit. "Each day we have to verify that we are legal traders and are given a  permit. Then the market officials walk around and check that we have the  necessary permit. If you don't have a permit metro police are called and  our goods are taken. "They also said we have to ask for permission if we want to step away  from our stalls for a short time. "They are just looking for loopholes to get rid of us." Mahendra Chetty, a lawyer from the Legal Resources Centre, was at the  market when the goods were confiscated. He said in an affidavit filed  with the court that the municipality was using strict bylaws to force  traders to leave the market. "The bylaws are being employed as a tool of intimidation in an attempt  to make stallholders lose heart and to bring about a de facto closure of  the market," he said. "What I witnessed today was a display of threatening intimidation on the  part of the municipality's city police and officials." The application was adjourned to August 18.

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1st August, 2009: Warwick Early Morning Market solidarity 31st July, 2009 - Message from Simmi Dullay - Yesterday was a quiet revolution...people were streaming through whole day, making placards, filming and documenting the stories of the market people. that place has such an amazing history. an older Indian gentleman came to me and showed me a beautiful black and white press photo of a young Indian girl next to a white woman buying veg.

Explained that this was his sister who today is a very old lady in a wheel chair. that photograph was the first image of a black and white presented together published in a white newspaper during the fifties (I assume from the style of dress). people came and gave us fruit and the energy was just so positive. there was allot of laughter as the market people watched documentaries of themselves made over the last year. the interaction between Indians and Africans was quite profound as the head of African herbal Muti spoke of the importance of preserving the Indian market and how they sustained each other.

The wealth was not merely economic issues but also the rich cultural exchange happening there. there were shrines being built to Kali the mother goddess of destruction and birth; for protection and success over the greed of Sutcliffe and his gang... alongside people from all walks of life making political protest signs with the market people...the feeling in the air was expectant...like something big and wonderful is about to happen...i think the support from all kinds of people; labour lawyers, artists, activists, film makers etc gave the market people a sense  that they do not stand alone. i will be going back. i really think we all should make an effort of buying our food there, instead of pushing our money into soulless malls and chain stores.

Simmi Dullay

Message forwarded by Roy Chetty - Warwick Early Morning Market support group 

31st July, 2009: WCCA partners, Early Morning Market support group and public supporters gathered at the Warwick market in solidarity to protest the proposed demolition of the market, today being the last day before the city has said it will evict traders to start building a R400m mall.  

  

31st July, 2009: Message of solidarity: To Durban WCCA

The UNISON Community & Voluntary Branch, Ireland, extends our support and solidarity to your campaign and wishes you all the success in your protest on 31^st July 2009.

To object to a model of economic growth which defines its success in terms of rising levels of inequality and poverty for those in most need is a first step.

To construct alternatives which show that sustainable economic growth must be based on equality and progress for those who most need it is a more courageous step.

To put the voices of those deemed to be ‘expendable’ at the forefront of developing alternatives, as your campaign is doing, makes your objectives utterly possible and extremely powerful. The demands for transparency, participation and accountability are basic fundamentals to any genuine democratic practice. We are with you in that struggle and with you in spirit.

Dessie Donnelly

Shop Steward

UNISON Community & Voluntary Branch

c/o 54 York Street

Belfast

BT15 1AS

Tel: +44 (0)28 9032 6980

Fax: +44 (0)28 9032 8102

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30th July, 2009: WCCA Campaign invite the working class communities of Durban, and the general public who have been supporting the struggle of the traders in the Warwick Market precinct, to join the WCCA campaign partners on Friday 31^st July in picketing at the Early Morning Market to protest in support of the livelihoods of informal traders and defend all the markets in the Warwick precinct against the proposed demolition to make way for another capitalist retail mall.

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29th July, 2009: World Class Cities for All (WCCA) press conference on Warwick Early Morning Market crisis

The Press conference, held at Justice Hall, Diakonia Centre, Durban,  was addressed by the following WCCA Partners' representatives:

The global economic crisis has had a major impact on workers in the informal economy. In South Africa the number of workers struggling to eke out livelihoods in various forms of precarious and informal work before the crisis was estimated to be between 30% and 40% of our labour force, and the evidence is that this number is increasing. 

Contrary to the myth that these workers are somehow cushioned against the effects of the crisis, informal workers, particularly women, tend to occupy the bottom of the global economy pyramid, with less protection and flexibility than their formal counterparts.  Informal firms and wage workers, in times of economic trouble, have no cushion to fall back on and have no option but to keep on operating or working.  In addition, as more and more workers crowd into the informal economy, the net result is more and more firms or individuals competing for smaller and smaller slivers of a shrinking pie – and the working poor become poorer and poorer. 

Local governments (including the eThekwini municipality) are exacerbating these trends as they respond to the crisis by terminating temporary contracts of precarious workers.  They are also evicting informal traders from the public space which constitutes their workplace in misguided attempts to attract infrastructure investment by selling off public assets to private property developers.  In South Africa, this has intensified as local governments turn a blind eye to the global jobs crisis in their preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 

In Durban, StreetNet’s partners in the World Class Cities for All (WCCA) campaign, SAMWU and IMATU, are struggling to get the eThekwini municipality to make permanent the jobs of temporary workers – an objective which is in line with the national government’s crisis recovery plan adopted with other NEDLAC partners in February 2009.  However the municipality seems not to be concerned about the jobs of precarious workers.  StreetNet and other WCCA campaign partners are therefore in full support of the struggles of the municipal workers in SAMWU and IMATU, and street vendor partners in the campaign will be supporting their protest actions during this week. 

At the same time we are struggling for the livelihoods of street vendors and informal market vendors in the Warwick precinct, and the whole of the eThekwini Metro, where many informal traders have lost their livelihoods, or their livelihoods are threatened by short-sighted developments plans by the local government and private developers.  The eThekwini municipality creates the impression that they live on a different planet from the one the rest of us live on which is in crisis and experiencing an economic recession – talking about informal traders “uplifting themselves” into the formal economy at a time when even the workers in the informal economy are losing their jobs and forced to engage in informal trade for their livelihoods.  

This is not only destroying the livelihoods of large numbers of precarious and informal workers – at a time when they cannot find livelihoods in the formal economy - but also having negative effects on the food security of poor consumers by eliminating their access to cheaper basic fresh food and household goods, as traditional market-places (instead of being improved and upgraded) are being replaced by new multinational retail malls.

We appreciate the efforts of the Provincial Task Team put in place by the KwaZulu-Natal Premier to resolve the dispute between the informal traders in the Warwick market precinct and the eThekwini municipality – not only those in the Early Morning Market, but in the whole precinct, who would all be affected if another capitalist mall were to be constructed in the place where they are currently trading.  However, the non-co-operation with this process that we have noticed on the part of the eThekwini Municipality is threatening the success of this initiative by the Provincial government. 

We urge the national government to bring the eThekwini municipality and other local government authorities into their economic crisis recovery plans as a matter of urgency, and:

(1)    encourage them to adopt Local Economic Development strategies promoting retention of employment and existing livelihoods, and promoting innovative local social protection schemes, as their contribution to economic recovery;

(2)    sensitise them about the negative long and medium-term consequences of any short-term measure which has the effect of destroying livelihoods, especially of the most vulnerable workers, during the global economic crisis;

(3)    urge them to engage in extensive and effective negotiation with the people of Durban with objective of:

-          being fully accountable to their civil society constituents;

-          improving levels of transparency about development decisions involving public assets;

-          engaging the participation of the most vulnerable workers in the solutions at local government level contributing to national economic recovery plans.

 We invite the working class communities of Durban, and the general public who have been supporting the struggle of the traders in the Warwick Market precinct, to join the WCCA campaign partners on Friday 31^st July in picketing at the Early Morning Market to protest in support of the livelihoods of informal traders and defend all the markets in the Warwick precinct against the proposed demolition to make way for another capitalist retail mall.

 Pat Horn

International Co-ordinator

StreetNet International

Tel. 031 307 4038 (StreetNet) 031 201 3528 (home) 076 706 5282 (cell)

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT THE SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING CALLED BY THE 1860 HERITAGE LEGACY FOUNDATION ON TUESDAY 28 JULY 2009 AT THE ML SULTAN CAMPUS OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY.

1.      That this meeting noting with great alarm the Durban Municipality’s senior officials , inter alia Mayor, Obed Mlaba and Dr M. Sutcliffe use of anti-Indian and racist sentiments to divide the city’s communities opposition to the destruction of the Early Morning Market (EMM), calls upon the Human Rights Commission to investigate statements of racial incitement made at the meeting called by the Durban Municipality at the ICC on 10 July 2009. This meeting further calls for the condemnation of the statements and for the pursuit of charges of racial incitement against the said individuals and the Durban Municipality.

2.      This meeting resolves that should the destruction of the EMM proceed, against the wishes of the people, that it calls for a peoples’ boycott of all SPAR outlets and all retail outlets in the proposed mall, both provincially and nationally.

3.      This meeting further resolves that those financial institutions who are bank rolling the construction of the proposed mall will be targeted with boycotts and related actions to expose their collaboration.

4.      That the present undemocratic and dictatorial processes cease forthwith.

5.      That the livelihood of all traders, irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion must be protected. Any future development must enhance their businesses and enhance their capacity to be wealth creators.

6.      That the historical and cultural legacy of the EMM building and surrounds must be preserved as a tribute to the struggle and courage of indentured labourers and all other oppressed people who made a living of the land and who sustained themselves through the EMM.

7.      That the EMM must remain a site of trade. The EMM must be upgraded and developed into a world class peoples’ market and as a living museum.

8.      That the development must meaningfully integrate the need for an efficient transport system, safety and security of all and for the development of a comprehensive plan that benefits the majority and underscores our broad development goals.

9.      That the development planning process must start afresh to include all interested groups/individuals of civil society and local beneficiaries as partners to produce an amicable settlement that will benefit the majority.

10.  That this meeting notes the need for all discussions/discourses/debates to take place within the context of a spirit of Ubuntu, democracy and a commitment to a non-sexist and non–racist society, so as to strengthen the democratic processes.

 Proposed :

P R Dullay

Seconded:

Professor Fatima Meer

EMM Strategy Meeting @ Cane-Growers Hall at ML Sultan - Tuesday 28 July 2008 at 6pm - The sustained public outcry and opposition to the destruction of the iconic early morning market and the forced relocation of traders has been unprecedented in Durban in the democratic era.

For further queries contact Rajish Lutchman 083 7779524

24th July, 2009: GUARANTEE WARWICK MARKET SITE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF MARKET GARDENERS AND INFORMAL TRADERS!!!

The eThekwini Municipality has announced that they intend to demolish the Warwick Early Morning Market on the 31^st July 2009, and in its place they want to give a 50-year lease to private property developers to build another capitalist mall.  The traders in the Early Morning Market (and surrounding areas, including Warwick Junction, Berea Station, Brook Street, the Herb Market, and others) have been strongly resisting the demolition of this unique market precinct.  Their resistance has been met with Metro Police using tear gas, rifles and rubber bullets.

Despite the Municipality’s assurances that they have provided an alternative space, it is a temporary space that is unlikely to cater for all the 8 000 to 10 000 informal traders who risk losing their livelihoods if this unique market precinct is replaced by a capitalist mall.  The Municipality has made many verbal promises in their attempts to get traders to accept their deal, but they have not yet committed their detailed plan (with maps, numbers and continuity arrangements for all involved) in writing or made it public to all in the interests of transparency and accountability.  They are attempting to create the impression that informal traders have agreed to move to the proposed new site – but the evidence on the ground (and the excessive use of force by the Metro Police) shows this is not true.

Studies have shown that the proposed replacement of this unique market precinct by a capitalist retail mall will result in the prices of goods to be bought in this area will increase by over 100% on average.  This will affect the food security of all the poor communities in and around Durban, who buy their food from vendors in the township taxi ranks who presently get their goods more cheaply from informal traders in the Warwick Market precinct.

We call on all members of the public – workers (formal and informal), community members, women struggling to sustain households, students and youth – to come out in force to show the eThekwini Municipality your opposition to this proposed elitist development.  There will be a Press Conference on Wednesday 29^th July and pickets around the Warwick Market precinct and City Hall up to the 31^st July.  Watch the press and listen to the radio for more details.

No demolition of Warwick markets!!
No land theft and forced removals!!
No to Racism – forward to a truly non-racial Durban!!
Nothing for us without us!!
Walala, wasala!!

Issued by:

World Class Cities for All (WCCA) campaign Task Team

StreetNet International; COSATU; SAMWU; SATAWU; SANCO; SACP; ACHIB; The Eye Street Traders Association; Siyagunda Association; Early Morning Market Association; Social Movements Indaba.  Tel.031 307 4038  

 27th July - Press Release : COUNTDOWN TO STOP THE FORCED REMOVALS - 4 DAYS TO GO !

EMM Strategy Meeting @ Cane-Growers Hall at ML Sultan - Tuesday 28 July 2008 at 6pm -

The sustained public outcry and opposition to the destruction of the iconic early morning market and the forced relocation of traders has been unprecedented in Durban in the democratic era.

 Traders, street vendors, unions, civics, NGOS, architects, planners, academics and researchers have been united in condemning the destruction and displacement as this would adversely affect the livelihoods (about 8000 traders and street vendors, each having between 6 and 25 dependents), and the heritage and history of black communities in the city. 

 The 1860 Legacy Foundation is holding a public report-back meeting to address this issue on 28 July 2008 at 6pm at the Cane Growers Hall at the Durban University of Technology.  The public and all interested parties are invited to attend.  The meeting will assess progress relating to the task team appointed by KZN Premier Zweli Mkhezi (comprising MECs Mike Mabuyakhulu, W Mchunu and Bheki Cele) to address the impasse between vendors, traders and the Ethekwini Management; consider various legal alternatives to stop displacement and destruction; and discuss options to respond to the bold and public anti-Indian sentiments articulated by senior Ethekwini officials.

A positive outcome in opposing relocation has been the emergence of non-racial solidarity, a bane to those who demonstrate a callous disregard for the needs of the poor, and who are used to defending mediocrity and dividing with racial barbs. This meeting is supported by a coalition which includes the 1860 Legacy Foundation, the Early Morning Market Support Group, the Early Morning Market Traders Association, the Social Movements Indaba, COSATU and the SACP.

22 July 2009

For further queries contact Rajish Lutchman 083 7779524

Professor Brij Maharaj Phone: 27 33 260 5273 (office), Cell: 083 776 7274

20th July, 2009: Early Morning Market Support Group update and meeting times

Dear Friends/Comrades,

Yesterday, one month after being beaten and shot at in the Early Morning Market, the market community, all 1200 or so of them, took to the streets  of Durban in proletarian solidarity with the striking municipal bus employees and Unemployed People’s Union. The almost 3 hour protest march through West Street, followed by a four hour rally at City Hall also highlighted the threatened eviction from and the proposed demolition of the market.

From about 9am to 4pm, (without any food or water) old women and men marched and demonstrated in a dignified, determined manner that would have made their market-gardener parents proud. Seventy-five year old Mrs Velliamah Pillay stood patiently together with the barrow operators and other fellow comrades at the steps of City Hall, waiting in vain, for Mayor Obed Mlaba and or City Manager Mike Sutcliffe to emerge from their ivory towers to receive their petitions.   

Last Friday at the ICC, Mlaba and Sutcliffe made great pretence (whilst bleating a racist refrain) of consulting with and informing the public. Yesterday, 5 days later, they put up a ring of heavily armed riot police between themselves and the poor – refusing to even sign the memoranda of the poor. 

Comrades, we have just about two weeks to rally to the defense of the market and the working-poor of Durban.

We are in the process of setting up strategy and report-back meetings. To date, we have not been able to secure a nearby venue (with parking for about 20 cars). The market would be our preferred place for the expanded strategy meetings, but we can only accommodate about 5 additional cars in the parking lot – we need to at least have a minimum of 15 parking bays for the Support Group. It seems that the nearby (municipal) ITrump building is denied to us, because I revealed (to the staff there) that the EMMSG was organising to STOP THE DEMOLITION of the market. In the meantime, we are looking at the other nearby institutions for venues and shall keep you informed. We hope to have about 5 strategy meetings between now and 31 July 2009.

Strategy meetings of the EMMSG (including the market association) are as follows: (all welcome)

1. Tomorrow, 17 July 2009 at the Early Morning Market between 2pm and 4pm. Limited parking (5#). Join us if you can.
2. Saturday, 18^th July 2009 at a venue near the market (between 2pm and 4pm). This will be a bigger meeting, at a venue with parking. Will email details.
3. Tuesday, 21 July 2009, Mercury House at 2:30pm – scheduled WCCA meeting venue. Parkade in building. Venue to host 60 persons.
4. Saturday, 25^th July 2009 at a venue near the market (between 2pm and 4pm). Will email details.
5. Tuesday 28^th July 2009, proposed public meeting to be hosted by 1860 Legacy Foundation at Kendra Hall, 6pm. Ample parking

Activities will be discussed at these meetings.  

 EMM Support Group (e-mail 17th July 2009) (Note - *Streetnet correction to venue)

Warwick Market traders, dismissed bus drivers and unemployed workers join ranks in March to City Hall - Dissatisfied Early Morning Market (EMM) Traders, bus drivers whose contracts have been terminated by the city and unemployed workers marched in solidarity to let the mayor know about their grievances. The marchers waited for four hours at City Hall demanding an explanation from the mayor, Obed Mlaba, on the lack of accountability on the finances of Remant Alton Bus Company, the forced removal of the market traders and the treatment of the city's unemployed urban poor. Harry Ramlal, EMM Association chairperson, said neither the Mayor or City Manager, Mike Sutcliffe would come down to meet the march. The Memorandum on behalf of the market traders was handed to a city representative, re-iterating the demand "No eviction of market traders" and "No demolition of the Early Morning Market". The march was front page news today (16th July, 2009) in The Mercury. (StreetNet 16/07/09)

Barrow Pushers at Warwick Market, a new target in the Ethekwini's war on the market's informal workers and traders who oppose demolition of the market, were told that they could not enter the market unless they had permits. They refused as they had never had permits before as service providers in the market. The Metro Police blocked their entry into the market. The right of the barrow pushers to continue to work in the market until the end of the month, when the market is to demolished to make way for a R400m mall, was restored in a successful application to the court by Legal Resources Centre on July 11th. (StreetNet 16/07/09)

July 12th, 2009:"Cart pushers triumph", Sunday Tribune, by Chris Makhaye. Click here for article

Court challenge to halt city's planned closure of the Warwick Early Morning Market

 July 11th 2009: "Barrow traders challenge city", The Mercury, Tanya Broughton. Click here for article

The Early Morning Market Traders Association who have brought three court orders against the Ethekwini Municipality to allow informal traders into the market to trade, has been awarded costs which means the city must pay the legal costs. Members of the EMMA have been making contributions to pay for a lawyer to take up their case to oppose eviction and to challenge the city's exclusion of market traders, and others who work in the market on the basis of a permit system which has seen many traders denied the right to continue earn a living. (StreetNet 16/07/09)  

The Provincial Task Team formed by KZN Provincial Government to mediate in the dispute between Ethekwini Municipality and Early Morning Market informal traders has extended the deadline for submissions to be made by stakeholders until Friday 17th July. Last week the WCCA Campaign task team collected signatures from barrow pushers and street traders for petitions that state clearly "We are opposed to the development of the proposed R400 million shopping mall on the market site" but not development. The petitions were delivered to the PTT.  The EMMA and Social Movements Indaba have also made submissions to the PTT. (StreetNet 16/07/09)

26th June, 2009: "The real meaning of consultation", Mercury Op-ed column by Val Payn, a founder member of the NGO, Sustaining the Wild Coast.

"Collaboration does not mean that the public sits and listens to project plans once they have been made, only being allowed to comment on them". The ILO Convention (no 169) on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples says the people concerned shall have "the right to decide their own priorities for the process of development"...   Click here for the article

26th June, 2009: "Traders await key court ruling", Mercury, by Sinegugu Ndlovu,

The fate of 400 unlicences traders barred from the market is to be decided. Many were never registered by the city even though they had paid for their stalls in the Early Morning Market. Click here for article

"Hands off Warwick Junction!!"

"Negotiation and Social Dialogue!!"

"Nothing For us Without us!!"

21st May, 2009 Durban: "Anger about R400m mall plan" , Natal Mercury, by Lyse Comins

"Tensions heightened yesterday over the effects of a proposed R400-million shopping mall in Durban's bustling Warwick Junction, as city officials and academics met representatives of 6 000 angry informal traders.

The traders, who fear the development will destroy their businesses, threatened to march to the city hall next Tuesday to protest against the development and what they say is a lack of consultation with traders and a "failure to follow the tender process"."

Read full report: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=2937&art_id=vn20090521060504135C238236

20th May, 2009 Durban:  "Traders feel threatened by development" The Natal Mercury, May 20, 2009, Edition 1, by Lyse Comins

"Inanda woman Ntombikayise Gagayi, 44, works diligently in her makeshift kitchen in Durban's bustling Warwick Junction, where she cooks bovine heads for a living.

These she sells to her customers - a fraction of the estimated 460 000 commuters that travel daily through this busy intersection of traffic, train station, taxi ranks and bus terminals. 

Gagayi, whose husband was killed in political violence in the early 1990s, depends on this passing trade to support her 10 children. She is one of 30 widows who sell bovine heads and other plated food at the junction's open-air food stalls.

The women traders are among an estimated 6 000 people who depend on Warwick Junction's brisk informal trade, which filters desperately needed income to townships and far-flung, poverty-stricken rural areas such as Umkomaas, Ndwedwe and Inanda.

In communities hard-hit by HIV/Aids, traders' daily takings support up to 25 people. About 460 000 commuters travel daily through the area generating R1 billion in turnover for the existing mix of formal and informal traders.

But now traders fear that the eThekwini Municipality and Umhlanga-based developer, Isolenu, which forms part of the Warwick Mall consortium that is behind the proposed new R400 million shopping mall, will devastate their businesses by redirecting commuters to the mall, away from their street stalls, which will be moved to designated areas.

Bovine-head cookers like Gagayi will be moved to the nearby English Market to make way for the mall's franchised fast-food court. And 673 traders in the early morning market building, the proposed site of the mall, have been notified to vacate by May 31." 

Read full report - http://abahlali.org/node/5207

20th April, 2009, Durban: Warwick Market walk-about exposes lack of consultation, prospects of more loss of employment as global economic crisis bites in the lead-up to 2010

Click here for photos of the solidarity walk to Warwick market traders

A walk-about by 200 civil society campaign partners of the WCCA (World Class Cities for All) Campaign around the Warwick Precinct in Durban between 10 a.m. and 12 a.m. today (Monday 20^th April) to talk directly to street vendors, market vendors and hawkers in this busy trading area exposed the real story behind eThekwini Municipality’s claims of having consulted affected stakeholders about proposed plans to replace their trading sites with a new modern Mall.  

“We have been duped !”  

Members of various street traders’ organizations, SAMWU (SA Workers’ Union), SANCO (SA National Civics Organisation), SDCEA (South Durban Community Environmental Action), KZN Fishermen’s Forum, SASEWA (SA Self-Employer Women’s Association), Warwick Market Traders’ Association, Warwick Precinct Plan Stakeholders’ Forum joined the walk-about, starting from the statue of King Dinizulu at Botha’s Garden along Warwick Avenue to the historic Early Morning Market which is under threat after 99 years of existence under different regimes. Market vendors and porters, street vendors and barbers, vendors of street foods and traditional medicines, all came to the conclusion that the methods of “consultation” used by the municipality lack good faith. Some stakeholders have been called to attend presentations of plans which had already been unilaterally finalized – and they could not see where they fitted into these plans, nor did these “consultation” sessions afford them the opportunity to debate and discuss these.  The Warwick Precinct Plan Stakeholders Forum have been having discussions since 2007, and were enthusiastic about the plan they thought they were developing with the authorities (which would have extended the area and accessibility for informal traders). But at some point they discovered that the plan had changed to a different plan to build a private mall – which makes them feel that they have been duped by the municipality.  

“Warwick Mall development is not in the broad public interest”  

It is as if eThekwini municipality knows full well that this municipal plan to dispose of a historic public asset in order to build yet another Western-style shopping mall in Durban runs counter to the interests of the poor and working-class communities of the city. It can only benefit the interests of the private sector property predators who have their eyes on this piece of prime public land. Maybe eThekwini authorities realize that a proper consultation process would result in the  inevitable rejection of such a poorly-conceived plan. A submission by Lee Short Associated Architects cc Architects & Urban Designers, and Harber & Associates Architects, Town & Regional Planners Architects, Planners & Urban Designers, entitled Comments, Queries, and Objections with Respect to the Public Notice of the Intention to Grant the Lease of Immovable Property to Warwick Mall (Pty) Ltd, 23 March 2009,[1] states “The best solutions to increased food security, are local, and Durban has a tradition of market gardeners who sell their produce locally.  Apart from the obvious local employment opportunities implied, this helps create a sustainable city that need not be dependent on imported food via supermarket chains.  Destroying our early morning market to make way for a mall, anchored by a global chain, just does not make sense for local development.”  

In the context of a global economic crisis which threatens to start intensifying in South Africa in the lead-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the municipality’s latest development plans are likely to have disastrous consequences for the livelihoods of the most vulnerable (formal and informal economy) workers, subsistence farmers and fisherpeople.  To make matters worse, it appears that the financial benefits, even to the city, are not even worth it.  According to the abovementioned submission: “The financial details regarding the expected gains and losses, are also unclear, and require explanation and/or interrogation.  The published figures are superficial, and make it difficult to access whether this is a good deal for the city.”  

Appeal to eThekwini to engage in good faith  

The WCCA campaign partners have been trying unsuccessfully to get the eThekwini municipal authorities to a meeting to share their development plans in a transparent consultation process in the lead-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, continuously since November 2007. Leader of the WCCA campaign, StreetNet International (international street vendors’ alliance based in Durban)[2] will be hosting a meeting of the campaign partners tomorrow (Tuesday 21^st April) to plan and intensify their collective strategy to bring the eThekwini municipal authorities to the table to engage with the poor and working-class communities of the city.  

Issued by:  Pat Horn

International Co-ordinator

StreetNet International

 

Tel.       031 307 4038 (StreetNet)

            031 201 3528 (home)

            076 706 5282 (cel)

 

e-mail: stnet@iafrica.com (StreetNet)

           phaps@netactive.co.za (home) 

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[1] http://www.streetnet.org.za/commentswarwickmarch09.htm

[2] See http://www.streetnet.org.za for more details about StreetNet International

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21st April, Durban: Sriram Veera in Warwick with comrade Dennis Brutus Fifty years of fighting for justice  Posted by Sriram Veera 1 day ago in Indian Premier League  Tour Diaries

"We are in middle of a protest walkabout towards the almost century-old early morning market on Warwick Avenue, which is about to be shut down for a shopping mall in the beautification process before the 2010 World Cup. The protestors are a motley crowd of black and Indian street traders, fishermen, market representatives, street barbers, singing their way down the road in their yellow T-shirts bearing the message “World-class cities for all”.

The 2010 football World Cup, the cause of all this activity, is seen as the dark side of a big flashy World event every country desires on its CV. The chant is unambiguous: “Stop the traditional elitist approach to building cities in preparation of the World Cup. Include us”. The protestors, under the umbrella of streetnet.org.za, walk through the city (myself included), past the speeding cars, past the curious onlookers, past the hawkers who sing out their voice of support, past the homeless man who squints at us before breaking into a smile before the police stop us at the entrance to the market." 

http://blogs.cricinfo.com/tourdiaries/archives/2009/04/fifty_years_of.php

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April 20th 2009 Durban:  IPS - SOUTH AFRICA:Thousands of Traders Might Lose Jobs as Market Turns into Mall, by Kristin Palitza  http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=46567

"Hundreds of traders at the Early Morning market in Durban fear the municipality’s plans to turn the area into an upscale shopping mall that will cost them their livelihoods. The redevelopment is one of many currently underway in South Africa’s urban centres to upgrade city infrastructure for the 2010 Soccer World Cup."

http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=46567

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3rd-9th April, 2009 Durban:  "Trading markets for malls", Mail and Guardian, by Niren Tolsi. 

"Vinesh Singh, spokesperson for the 700 market traders, said the municipality did not consult them before making an executive committee decision to develop a mall in the site".  ..."We found out about the mall being built on the market site from the newspapers."

The city held an awareness meeting on January 16th on what the city already saw as au fait accompli.

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-04-07-trading-markets-for-malls

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1st April, 2009, Durban: Durban Warwick Market traders speak about eviction from market where they earn a living. Link to Utube. 

Part 2 - video "Shopping mall vs market" by Doung

Street traders give their views on the demolition and removals at  Warwick, Durban.

Jabulani Ntsele : Chairperson of The Eye Traders http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5q-0PEkhbY&feature=channel

mzwandile1 : General Secretary of The Eye Street Traders' Organisation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZdJ7KETyOU&feature=channel

 

30th March, 2009, Durban: Durban Warwick Market traders speak about eviction from market where they earn a living. Video. Link to Utube. 

Part 1 - "Shopping mall vs market" by Doung

trader's voice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP-hDdmaHUQ&feature=channel_page

trader's voice continued:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdU7vWraGJI&feature=channel

26th March, 2009, Durban - Warwick Market traders say they don't want to be moved for re-development,  Isolezwe

23rd March, 2009, Durban: Architects' comments on the Warwick Re-Development plan "In a context of climate change and global financial challenges, the development agenda needs to change. The best solutions to increased food insecurity, are local, and Durban has a tradition of market gardeners who sell their produce locally. Apart from the obvious local employment opportunities implied, this helps create a sustainable city that need not be dependent on imported food via supermarket chains. Destroying our early morning market to make way for a mall, anchored by a global chain, just does not make sense for local development."   

Lees & Short Associated Architects cc Architects and Urban Designers

Harber and Associates Architects, Town and Regional Planners

Architects, Planners and Urban Designers

23 March 2009 (The comments are submitted in response to the Public Notice published in the Natal Mercury on Tuesday 3^rd March. Comments were invited, although a deadline for responses was not given. Articles in the Natal Mercury (prior to the public notice) and the Metro ezasegagasini also refer.

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March 17-19th, 2009, Johannesburg: World Class Cities FOR ALL Campaign partners meeting- Civil Society Organizations Gather in Johannesburg to Strategize for 2010

From March 17 to 19^th, 2009 over 30 different civil society organizations gathered in  Johannesburg for the National Campaign meeting of World Class Cities for All (WCCA), organised by StreetNet International. StreetNet's WCCA Campaign exists  to ensure that the FIFA World Cup 2010 is successful and that ALL enjoy equal opportunities to benefit from South Africa hosting the popular  international sporting event. The campaign aims to ensure that the poor are not evicted, or left out of the projects and plans of the host city municipalities while they prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2010. This objective can be easily summed up by one of the campaign slogan: Nothing for us without us!

The delegates of the meeting came from across the country, representing  trade union organizations such as COSATU, SAMWU and NACTU, as well as a number of different civil society organizations, and social movements varying from women's organizations, to migrant rights' organizations to even children's rights ogranizations. To name only a few of the organizations present: the Landless People's Movement of Kwazulu Natal, the New Women's Movement,  Western Cape Anti-Evictions Campaign, as well as various street traders' organizations from all across the country.

What brought these organisations and individuals together was their interest to discuss ways they can all work together to fight and alleviate  the negative repercusssions of the FIFA 2010 developments so that the poor are not left out, or worse off due to South Africa hosting the World Cup. The delegates  agreed that the campaign should continue to engage with the host city municipalities and direct them to conduct proper public consultation as outlined in their contracts and agreements. These engagements include immediate action on behalf of the municipalities to end the forced evictions and relocation of the poor. Delegates from both Durban and Cape Town raised serious issues and concerns regarding evictions and forced relocations of street vendors due to recent FIFA 2010 development taking place in both cities. Street vendors in both cities requested immediate action against these unjust  measures.

The delegates agreed that municipalities that have not been taking the Campaign's demands seriously and that this should be addressed. There was a call for more direct action so as to ensure the campaign demands are heard. Some municipalities however, have been receptive to the WCCA Campaign  and have already begun negotiations with StreetNet and its campaign partners. 

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14th March, 2009, Cape Town: UNITED GREEN POINT TRADERS ALLIANCE - Chaos as displaced street traders queue for permits 

The scene on Saturday 16h00 at Blackpool hall in shelly road Salt River resembled a food line at a UN compound in an impoverished African country. That people were forced to wait in queues in the sweltering heat for a chance to register was an injustice. That the registering authority (GPFTA) could sit cool and comfortably inside the walls of the complex and debate whether they would indeed proceed with registration, added an element of contempt to the equation.

In its last communication with the city (e-mail 13-03-09) the UGPTA appealed to Mr. Mansoor Mohamed of the department responsible for informal trading for his intervention. His reply to an earlier e-mail indicated that the city would only revert to us on Monday (16-03-09) leaving another uncertain Sunday trading day ahead.

In the absence of any direction from either the GPFTA or the City w.r.t. pre-registration, we suggested to our members that they present themselves at the Blackpool facility for registration.

What transpired on registration day can only be described as organized chaos. Only the first five traders were fortunate enough to receive allocation cards… one of them more fortunate than the others by receiving not one, but five allocation cards. It was at that point that a stampede for the door started. We suppose it was due partly to the heat and partly due to the deliberate delaying tactics of the GPFTA officials manning the doors.

Whilst frustration, uncertainty, distress, and anger prevailed, we were amazed at the restraint our traders showed, and it was beyond belief that five police vehicles responded to a call from the GPTFA and roared with gusto into the Blackpool grounds. One can only assume that the call must have been peppered with angst and a fair sprinkling of panic.

The GPFTA closed registration after the first ten allocation cards were issued and advised through its secretary/chairperson that allocation would continue on Sunday 15-03-09.

You are hereby invited to witness first hand the continuation of the registration fiasco at Green Point bowling green tomorrow, when once more we shall witness unjust and unfair allocation. Our proposal to the City has not been acted upon and the vast majority of displaced traders will again be forced to trek homeward without having an opportunity to earn a legitimate keep.

On behalf of the UGPTA Executive Members: J. Behr, R. Muller, A. Bardien, W. Ebrahim

For more, please visit the website of the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign at:
www.antieviction.org.za

Press release 14/03/2009 

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10th March, 2009, Durban - Street Vendors' organisation submit their planning comments on city re-development which involves signing a 50-year lease over public land for the development of a mall which will see the relocation of market traders.

Click here to read: Joint Statement to City Manager Regarding The Lease to Warwick Mall Ltd. 

Jabulani Ntsele, On behalf of The Eye Traders Association Tel: 0734961670

Mzwandile Mavula On behalf of ACHIB Tel: 0829604256

Gaby Bikombo On behalf of Siyagunda Tel: 0732510686
 

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24th February, 2009: Durban - Warwick Market vendors forced to relocate: Thousands of informal workers possibly affected

By Laura Roberts, StreetNet International intern

A long-awaited meeting organised by the local municipality of Durban on 18^th February, 2009, called by the City Manager presented  re-development plans that are being fast-tracked to meet deadlines linked to FIFA World Cup in 2010. The City Manager, Mike Sutcliffe, informed street vendors’ associations about the relocation of vendors and planned changes to re-direct traffic. The development will dramatically change the market where currently an estimated 4 500 traders work in what is a thriving hub of informal economy activity. Approximately one million people pass through the area every day en route from the station, taxi and bus ranks.

Street vendor organisations, members of the Durban-based SISONKE Alliance who are partners of the World Class City for ALL Campaign wrote a protest letter to the municipality on January 9^th asking why the city had not yet conducted meaningful consultations with the local informal traders’ associations on the upcoming FIFA development plans and projects. 

The city manager announced the following developments:

• A large retail shopping mall, Warwick Mall, will be constructed where the current thriving Warwick Market is currently situated;
• Relocation of 30 registered street food vendors (Bovine Head Cookers) from their current location to the English Market.
• 237 informal street traders (permit holders) who currently work in the Warwick  Market area will be relocated to the square in front of the  new Warwick Mall.
• Re-routing of the major throughways surrounding the Warwick Junction in order to lessen traffic congestion. This development will include the establishment of a new taxi rank to be located on the top floor of the new Warwick Mall.

Street vendors raised a number of concerns on the redevelopment and its impact on the local informal street traders’ livelihoods at the meeting.

Gaby Bikombo, a member of Siyagunda, a street barbers’ organisation which has members with stands on the pavement in Warwick said:

“I am very concerned about the impact on the community of street traders at the market because of the closure of the Warwick Avenue. It is not clear how this will indirectly affect their families, who they are supporting as breadwinners. The city’s plan to introduce formal traders in the midst of the informal traders’ market is likely to pose a problem, taking trade away from informal traders who have traditionally earned a living here, as they have now to compete. Planners are insensitive to the informal traders’ livelihoods”.

He continued to explain how  “in other countries, informal traders have lodged formal protests with government to stop such retail development on public land as the urban poor's livelihoods are jeopardised.”

On March 12^th the City has proposed a second meeting with street vendor organisations to discuss the details of the project and to consult further regarding the development. The reality however is that for many of the street traders it is difficult to take the time off to attend such meetings as they are not compensated for their time and risk losing potential earnings.

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14th February, 2009, Cape Town: Cape Town: United Green Point Traders Alliance (UGPTA) protests the municipality has not played the game

When the construction of the new 2010 stadium in Green point Cape Town, was underway the city under the leadership of the DA and ID, promised that all the current informal traders (at Green point market) would be given alternative accommodation to trade, and that when the 2010 soccer world cup was over, they would be allowed back into the stadium forecourt.

 

Now the city has gone back on its word. There are currently over 400 traders but only 269 bays have been allocated at the new alternative site (the bowling green parking lot in Western Boulevard); in addition the city has imposed a new condition that only 25% of the traders should sell curios. Currently 80% of the traders deal with curios, and most of them are foreign nationals. The rules of the city fans the flame of divisions, fans the flames of xenophobia. The apartheid parties were masters of divide and rule - they get the masses to fight each other, while big capital laughs all the way to the bank.

 

The tactics of the city, of forced removals and then broken promises, shows that the DA has not broken from its apartheid heritage. If the DA and the ID cannot even keep their promises to 400 informal traders, what about the rest of the impoverished masses? The exclusion of many informal traders (many of whom have been there for 10 - 15 years) shows the myth of the much proclaimed free market of the DA. This 'free market' is in fact the domination of the capitalist class and death and starvation for the working class and the lower middle class.

 

All the traders want is a space to trade.

 

For weeks the United Green Point traders alliance (UGPTA)  tried to get a negotiated agreement with the city, to no avail. Tomorrow, Sunday 15 Feb 2009, the UGPTA will be staging a picket from 8am to 12 noon, outside the new trading area in Western Boulevard, Green Point to highlight their demands. It is noted that the trading area is a prime spot that the capitalist Cape Town Partnership appears to be eyeing. Among the slogans raised will be:

 

2010+ DA+ ID = forced removals and starvation

world's best mayor- responsible for hunger and starvation

 

for further comment on the protest call (from the UGPTA):

Rosheda Muller ph 0826561600

Jerome Behr ph 0827335772

Wagied Ebrahim ph 0829694456

Elsa Koen ph 0762166891

Lucas Usha 0835820399 

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February 1st, 2009: Guardian report on Nelspruit/Mbombela points to shady land deals and corruption as one of the hosts for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 

"Sleaze and anger as Africa heads for first World Cup"  http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/feb/01/world-cup-2010-south-africa

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January 7th, 2009, Durban: Street Vendors' Protest Letter to eThekwini Municipality

eThekwini Municipality:  

City Manager.  

Strategic Projects and 2010 Programme.  

Business Support.

iTRUMP.

Intersite.

WARWICK JUNCTION REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS

We place on record our extreme concern that significant redevelopment of Warwick Junction is being considered without a meaningful process or consultation. This omission started in 2006 with the commissioning of the latest Warwick Junction Framework Plan and has now, in our opinion, reached crisis proportions where only rumours and speculation are informing the primary stakeholders of Warwick Junction.

We believe that recently a public notice was posted regarding the Warwick Mall. We understand that the implications of this notice were to have been communicated to all the interested and affected parties in the immediate area. We can confirm that no recognized approaches have been made to any of our trader organizations or their members.

Of further concern is that although the suspicion exists that the development is imminent, it is only now that the preparatory activity appears to be increasing ­precisely at the busiest time for traders and then their customary' annual leave for the early weeks of January. We believe this is inconsiderate and that if substantial decisions are deliberately taken over this period which prejudices the involvement and the futures of the traders, it can only be seen as having been implemented in bad faith.

We the undersigned believe that an agreed and transparent process must be urgently established to dispel our fears that the traders of Warwick Junction are being ignored and that the development will be proceeding regardless of our opinion or preferences. We have become accustomed to a local authority that values respectful community participation.

Yours faithfully,

Jabulani Ntsele Chairperson The Eye Traders’ Association, Sisonke Alliance.

Tel 073-4961670

Gaby Bikombo, Siyagunda Association, Sisonke Alliance

Tel 073 2570686

Mzwandile Mayula, ACHIB

Tel 082 9604256

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2006-2008

8th November, 2008: Legal challenge to Slums Act has implications for urban poor in other regions:

Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign Notes: This is an important case for all of South Africa including the poor of Cape Town.  The government has instructed the Western Cape to draft their own draconian version of the Slums Act. 

For AbM (Abahlali baseMjondolo) Youth League's recent Press Statement on the Slums Act, click here.
For various notes and a list of extensive resources on the Slums Act, click here.
For comment please contact:

1. Ms. Zandile Sithole, 0762270653
2. Ms. Zodwa Nsibande, 0828302707
3. Mr. Mnikelo Ndabankulu, 0735656241
4. Mr. S'bu Zikode, 0835470474

 (Message from AbM listserve) For more, please visit the website of the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign at:www.antieviction.org.za

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6th November, 2008: Abahlali baseMjondolo challenges the Notorious Slums Act in Durban High Court on 6 and 7 November, 2008 

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement Thursday, 21 June 2007 noted: "Today the KwaZulu-Natal Elimination & Prevention of Re-emergence of Slums Bill will be tabled in the provincial parliament. Abahlali baseMjondolo have discussed this Bill very carefully in many meetings. We have heard Housing MEC Mike Mabuyakulu say that we must not worry because it is aimed at slumlords and shack farming. We have heard Ranjith Purshotum from the Legal Resources Centre say that "Instead of saying that people will be evicted from slums after permanent accommodation is secured, we have a situation where people are being removed from a slum, and sent to another slum. Only this time it is a government-approved slum and is called a transit area. This is the twisted logic of the drafters of the legislation". We have heard Marie Huchzermeyer from Wits University say that this Bill uses the language of apartheid, is anti-poor and is in direct contradiction with the national housing policy Breaking New Ground. Lawyers have told us that this Bill is unconstitutional.

It is very clear to us that this Bill is an attempt to mount a legal attack on the poor. Already the poor, shack dwellers and street traders, are under illegal and violent attack by Municipalities. This Bill is an attempt to legalize the attacks on the poor. We know about Operation Murambatsvina. Last year one of our members visited Harare and last week we hosted two people from Harare. This Bill is an attempt to legalize a KZN Operation Murambatsvina before the World Cup in 2010. We will fight it all the way."

For a full background on the Abahlali baseMjondolo struggle against the Slums Act, including the court papers, newspaper articles and previous press releases visit:  http://abahlali.org/node/1629   (Message from AbM listserve) 

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5th November, 2008, Durban: Informal Traders' Imbizo 

Natal Mercury, 5th November, 2008.

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Saturday 1st November, 2008, Durban: Evict refugees because "FIFA World Cup is around the corner" 

Patrick Bond, Centre for Civil Society, University KwaZulu-Natal wrote:

Just taking a break from the scene of the confrontation, at Albert Park in central Durban, and have more information which can be verified by numerous witnesses:

* around 50 refugees, mainly women and children, were approached at 8am by Durban police, without warning, and their plastic shelters destroyed and most of their possessions confiscated
* the constable in charge of the operation has gone on record saying that the original orders were to evict the refugees at 9pm last night, but for 'humanitarian' reasons they delayed until this morning;
* the constable named city manager Mike Sutcliffe as the man responsible ("the great white shark") and said that his orders were to clear the area both because "2010 is around the corner" and because on Tuesday, there is a major ANC imbizo planned for the park, with high-ranking politicians expected;
* Sutcliffe spent a few minutes on the telephone with Sayed-Iqbal Mohamed of the Organization of Civil Rights, telling Mohamed that he could do nothing, and that this was now a police matter;
* the police have no information about victims' human rights during displacement and evictions (i.e. that alternative accommodation must be provided), and they simply expect the refugees to disappear with their remaining belongings
* after a two hour wait, a city ambulance has just taken away one women refugee who collapsed during the scuffling this morning; there was some manhandling of especially children who tried to prevent goods from being
confiscated;
* the churches we've spoken to so far have no money so are turning down the refugees' request for immediate shelter
* Durban police captain Ragavan said that confiscated goods have been taken to the police department impoundment area;
* the media have flocked to the scene, but in addition to support for immediate shelter, lawyers are still needed.(E-mail from Social Movement Indaba listserve)

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14th October, 2008: Housing rights and FIFA World Cup 2010 Games 

Business Day report: "Poor should not be hidden, rights group tells SA"

"SA, AND the eThekwini municipality in particular, need to move away from the idea that the poor should be hidden from view in world-class cities, the Geneva-based Centre for Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) warns in a scathing report.

Durban might be hailed for the many low-cost homes it is building, but it has been accused by the centre of evicting hundreds of shack dwellers illegally, of building houses far from the city, and of building small, poor-quality homes.

The municipality was also criticised for its failure to provide sufficient basic services to those shack dwellers still waiting to be placed in houses, leading to a high number of shack fires and sanitation problems, allegations that have been denied by the city's head of housing, Couglan Pather.

The Swiss-based research has implications ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, with concerns by civil rights organisations that instead of the government dealing effectively with the poor, they will simply be shipped out of the cities ahead of the event.

Durban was criticised during the Fifa 2010 preliminary draw in November for its removal of street children, some of whom were allegedly housed at Westville Prison. "

COHRE said SA as a whole had seen a “disturbing shift in recent years from pro-poor and rights-based discourse with regard to shack settlements to one that is more security based and sometimes anti-poor”.  

Full report: Business Day http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/TarkArticle.aspx?ID=3361458 

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8th October, 2008, Cape Town: Negotiations with GreenPoint flea-market traders, Cape Town, who are to be moved for duration of 2010 Games:

Report from Cape Voice radio:  http://www.vocfm.co.za/public/articles.php?Articleid=41703

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7th October, 2008, Cape Town: International Decent Work Day,

Green Point Stadium - Decent Work Day 7 October -  Click here for Campaign Poster for Decent Work for Decent Life Towards and Beyond 2010 

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6th October, 2008: Housing rights: "World Class City" means hiding the poor

Centre on Housing rights and Evictions (COHRE), Geneva report on housing rights in Durban issued on Monday 6 October, 2008, says Ethekwini Municipality should abandon idea that a "World Class City" means hiding the poor. Further, it should not allow preparations for the 20101 World Cup to encourage unjust housing practices. 

Full text of report can be obtained from COHRE website:  http://www.cohre.org/southafrica  

News report in the Daily News "Change Outlook on Housing"  http://www.dailynews.co.za/index,php?fArticleld=4646692

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2 – 5 October, 2008: SATUCC – STREETNET  JOINT  WORKSHOP ORGANISING WORKERS IN THE INFORMAL ECONOMY, held at Booysens Hotel, Johannesburg.  

Clause 6 of the SATTUC-StreetNet Workshop DECLARATION  

 2010 FIFA World Cup

6.1  SADC should commit to making the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in South Africa, into a SADC event;

6.2  SADC, SATUCC and StreetNet share a mutual commitment to ensure that the 2010 FIFA World Cup benefits the well-being of all the citizens of SADC, including all the workers of SADC, of whom the majority are to be found in the informal economy.

6.3  SADC member states should undertake to respect the rights of all the workers in the region (incuding those working in the informal economy) in all processes leading up to and during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

6.4  The provisions of the 2010 FIFA Framework Agreement currently under negotiation between the NEDLAC parties in South Africa (government, business, labour and the community constituency) and the FIFA LOC (Local Organising Committee) should be extended to apply in all the SADC member states. 

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28th June, 2008: WCCA (World Class Cities for All) Campaign Statement on Dismissal of Nelspruit stadium construction workers 

StreetNet International, the international federation of street vendor organisations with over 300 000 members in 34 organisations in 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and leader of the World Class Cities for All (WCCA) Campaign: 

Notes with concern the unfair  dismissal  of  more  than  70 workers  by  the Mbombela  Joint  Venture  company  building  the 2010  stadium  in  the  Mbombela  Municipality in Nelspruit.  

Supports COSATU’s call for

• Unconditional re-instatement of the dismissed workers

• Opening of discussions with the NUM leadership with immediate effect

• Management to negotiate in good faith

• Management to place the interests of the province before their own greed and thirst for accumulation at all cost.

The WCCA campaign was launched in South Africa on 28 November 2006 to challenge traditional elitist First-World approaches to building World Class Cities, and create a new, more inclusive concept of “World Class Cities for All” as the country prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2010.  This is the South African part of an international campaign initiated by StreetNet International in May 2006, which has now been launched also in India by the National Alliance of Street Vendors of India (NASVI – StreetNet’s largest affiliate) in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010.

Issued by Pat Horn

International Co-ordinator

StreetNet International

Telephone: 031 -3074038

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9th June, 2008, Johannesburg: The death of two evicted from Joburg's pavement another sign of  anti-poor policy 

By Cheche Selepe, World Class Cities for All Campaign Media Officer

 

The deaths of two out of the 126 hawkers, including immigrants, evicted by the city of Joburg from the legally demarcated trading areas in central town is but just a drop in the ocean of what happens to poor evicted people.

 

Even without medical evidence on the causes of their deaths, the fact that they were both poor and were evicted from their trading stalls two months ago makes it hard to believe that the causes are unrelated.

 

'Since the evictions she would walk from one hawker to the next asking for transport fare to get back to her shack in impoverished Kliptown-Soweto,' says a traumatised hawker, adding that: 'If she could not afford transport fare, what about food.'

 

Well, like the majority of poor people, Motshedisi Mogwesa left her home town in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape for a better life in the 'city of gold'.

 

She survived peddling fruits, sweets and vegies on a city of Joburg demarcated trading pavement  down-town Jeppe Street.

 

Her late colleague used to repair shoes on a demarcated trading pavement on Jeppe Street until their dreams for a better living were shattered by the city of Joburg on March 8, this year, and now they lie dead, their dreams unfulfilled.

 

It was on this fateful day that the city of Joburg impounded stalls it built for the hawkers at tax-payers expense deeming them undesirable, cause for crime, obscure the unmanned CCV cameras and lots more excuses.

 

The city did not just remove the stalls, but it enlisted the services of the notorious Red-ants to remove poor Motshedisi and the rest of others including an HIV positive single-mother of four.

 

Feeling a sense of guilt for evicting poor people who never defaulted on paying rent in legally demarcated trading spaces, the bureaucrats on Loveday Street, Braamfontein, sought an alternative for their victims.

 

The breadwinners including the dead two were relocated to the shameful Bree Street taxi rank inside a building that failed dismally to be a fresh produce market.

 

Motshedisi was elected member of a committee to talk to the municipality on the matter, holding two meetings with the CEO of the state owned Metro Trading Company's Alfred Sam demanding return to the pavements.

 

At one meeting an HIV-positive woman painfully cried loud, begging Sam to return her to the pavement because her health demands that she eats fruits everyday.

 

All Sam could do was to admit the injustices meted against poor Motshedisi and others promising to resolve the crisis by mid-May. Even today he is still resolving the matter. He was short of also conceding to the popular fear that the city is planning to ban all street trading in Joburg and replace it with the often expensive linear market.

 

Most hawkers believe that the deaths cannot be divorced from the frustrations caused by broken promises and the increasing poverty they and the dead had to endure daily.

 

The hawkers committee shall meet the MTC today at eleven and then address the public at twelve (12h00) today.

Bree Street Taxi Rank/Mall.

At the MTC offices.

 

Nothing for us without us!

No relocation without alternatives!

Negotiations and social dialogue!

 

Contact details:

Hawker Jeff

082 594 9997

 

The World Class Cities for All campaign

Media Officer

Cheche Selepe

073 864 5424  

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23rd April, 2008: Statement by the Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF) in support of the memorandum of demands by the One Voice Of All Hawkers Association (OVOHA)

One Voice Of All Hawkers Association (OVOHA) will this week deliver a memorandum of demands (pasted below) to the Johannesburg mayor. The Anti Privatisation Forum identifies with the struggle by hawkers to find a future in this city that is hostile to the poor. As much as the APF is waging struggles for housing and basic services, OVOHA is fighting for the rights of hawkers to make a living. The determination of the authorities to remove hawkers from the city's pavements is in keeping with the offense by police and local government to evict poor people from their homes and disconnect services. The very existence of the poor mars the City Council's vision of Joburg as a 'world-class' city, and its response is uniformly to remove or sideline people that are inconvenient to this vision.

The poors' presence in the inner city has been made criminally liable. Hawkers have been targeted, their goods and only means of survival confiscated by the Johannesburg Metro police who troop about town to also issue fines as high as R500 to people least able to afford it. The street patrols and roadblocks set up by the police also disguise a strong xenophobic drive. Immigrants (and dark complexioned South Africans) are the almost exclusive targets of the police's attention because they are vulnerable and the police hungry for bribes. South Africa may claim to be hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup on behalf of the African continent but Joburg's preparation strategies involve deporting as many African immigrants from the country as they can fill trains to the borders with.

The Gauteng Hawkers Association was a part of the early beginnings of the APF when it was participating in the Anti-iGoli 2002 Forum. The renewed voice of hawkers in the shape of the OVOHA is welcomed by the APF. The demands we level to the City are so similar that the affinity between our struggles is unbroken. The Forum supports the hawkers' struggle for a space in the city, and more broadly for a space for the poor in the city Joburg is becoming.

JOBURG CITY BELONGS TO EVERYONE WHO LIVES,
WORKS AND STRUGGLES IN IT!

Anti Privatisation Forum
123 Pritchard Street (cnr Mooi)
6th floor Vogas House, Johannesburg. 
Tel: (011) 333-8334 Fax: (011) 333-8365

ONE VOICE OF ALL HAWKERS ASSOCIATION (OVOHA)
Office no.11
Rosedale Mansions, 13 Koch Street Joubert Park 2001 Tel: 011 725 9475 or 082
817 6477

MEMORANDUM OF GRIEVANCES TO
THE METRO TRADING COMPANY AND TO THE CITY OF JOHANNESBURG MAYOR AMOS MASONDO

We the above mentioned organisation (One Voice of All Hawkers) representing hawkers who are trading here all over in Johannesburg have gathered to deliver our grievances to your offices. We live in a country that has more than 40% of our population unemployed and more than 50% living below the poverty line. These are people who were previously disadvantaged under the apartheid government and are struggling to survive under the dire conditions of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Since 1994 more of the country has been worse off and they have no access to basic service like water, education, housing, employment, electricity and health. We live in a country that has a high rate of crime and many people have resorted to doing crime as a living. But many of us (hawkers) have tried to do what is called 'Vukuzenzele' by trading or selling our products on the street or where ever possible we can access local markets. The political conditions in the country have seen the enforcement of municipalities coming up with many by-laws and there has a crack down or City clean up. This is done to pave way for Economic development for Soccer World Cup Finals in 2010 and other big events. If our voices are ignored then war is eminent in the country because poor people will rise up and get their share in the economy. The events will be ungovernable if the government fails to listen to the people in the country.

We demand

1. We demand that the process of demarcation must be accelerated by the Metro Trading Company. There must be a delegation from the hawkers to be part of the Demarcation process as equal partners in all meetings.
2. We demand that the hawkers must be given interim place for selling while the process is still going on.
3. We demand that the Economic development Unit must reduce area restrictions and that more stalls must be allocated for traders.
4. The Mayor must be aware that there is a high rate of unemployment in the country and that the levels of poverty in the country are very high. We therefore demand that the Mayor must review the Municipal by-laws.
5. We demand that there must be more stalls given for trading so that people can earn a living.
6. We demand that the Metro police must stop harassing trades and confiscating their goods illegally.
7. Our memorandum must be answered within seven days.

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March 18th, 2008, Cape Town: Cape Town Mayor plans to sue police after street vendors' raid 

Mitchells Plain police hit at traders, again: March 18 2008 at 05:30PM - "For the second time in five days, Mitchell's Plain police on Monday raided stalls in the town centre shopping district."

..."The latest raid comes after a tense stand-off between informal traders and police last Thursday when police allegedly stormed the area and assaulted traders, including a pregnant woman." 

o Read full text of article originally published on page 4 of Cape Argus on March 18, 2008 http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20080318111418533C147204 

22nd November, 2009, Durban: Where are Durban 's street children? By Sharlene Packree and Heinz de Boer (This article was originally published on page 1 of The Daily News on November 22, 2007)

"Durban's usually bustling street child colonies have all but disappeared from the city after what is believed to be a major police crackdown ahead of this week's Fifa preliminary draw.

City officials remain at odds over the fate of dozens of children, who are believed to have been rounded up by SAPS and Metro Police units before being taken to Westville Prison.

Social workers say this happened after the children and some adults with small children were charged for loitering and given fines they cannot afford. Some may spend up to 90 days behind bars."

Read full text http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20071122091820152C486964 

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September 13th, 2007, Johannesburg: Gauteng hawkers - Private security arrests informal traders for vending on trains and railway platforms

Over 28 hawkers yesterday spent time at the Johannesburg Central Police station cells, others were assaulted for doing nothing criminal but selling snacks, fruits and soft-drinks at various railway stations and on trains in Gauteng.

Security guards started shooting at the resisting hawkers arresting everybody deemed to be trading at Johannesburg Station. Tiisetso is a hawker staying in Mapetla Soweto, relating the events says: "Yesterday many hawkers were arrested. They were loaded on trucks." 

"Are the security meant to guard criminals or hawkers?" asks one trader.  He maintains that like many others, he is selling because he is hungry. With the little he earns he pays for his shack and buys clothes for his school-going children.

The leader of the SA Railway Hawkers Association Augustine Mqaba says, "the arrests and assaults on hawkers by the private security guards contracted to the state passenger railway company Metrorail has reached uncontrollable levels." 

"SARHA  staged a march recently to the Gauteng provincial government. Later we marched to the president's office in Pretoria demanding a moratorium on their continuing harassment and evictions. Despite the on-going negotiations since the march, the crisis at the stations continue unabated because they are imposing their own decisions on us," says Mqaba. 

Cheche Selepe World Class Cities for All campaign 073 864 5424 

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Durban Street Children

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25th June, 2007, Durban: Durban's street wars - StreetNet International calls on Ethekwini Metro to negotiate in good faith with street vendors

StreetNet International calls on the Durban Metropolitan Council to take the opportunity which has been offered to them by street vendors’ organisations. A Platform of Demands was submitted to Acting Head of the Business Support Unit, Philip Sithole, at a meeting on the 4^th June 2007 – but has this far been ignored, resulting in violent confrontations on the streets. The intention of the Platform of Demands is to resolve the problems of regulation of street trade through negotiation and social dialogue, and to avoid further bloody street wars such as those which took place on the 18^th and 19^th June in Warwick Avenue and outside the Magistrate’s Court.

The Siyagunda Association, Phoenix Plaza Street Traders’ Association and The Eye Traders’ Association are concerned about draconian moves against street vendors intensifying in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with disastrous consequences for the livelihoods of street vendors and their families. 

The demands of the street vendors are to:

-   put in place a transparent system of regulation which is inclusive (i.e. does not criminalise the majority of the city’s 25 000 street vendors by refusing them trading permits);

-   enforce the Recommendations of a Review of Durban’s Informal Economy Policy undertaken in 2006 (which proposes that the system of regulation must cater for all street vendors, and avoid police action except as a last resort);

-   establish an independent Commission of Enquiry into all facets of corruption around the issue of street trade permits;

-   reform the Ethekwini Informal Economy Forum (EMIEF) to function as a proper negotiation forum where all stakeholders have equal rights to advance their positions – not a one-way conveyor belt for municipal officials to issue commands and instructions to street vendors.

Press Statement: Durban's street wars - StreetNet International calls on Ethekwini Metro to negotiate in good faith with street vendors (25th June 2007)  

Durban Street vendors 2007 platform of demands  

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16th May, 2007, Johannesburg: South African Railway Hawkers Association (SARHA) march -  Railway hawkers march to Pretoria to deliver memorandum to President in protest over harassment: SARHA demands include a moratorium on all evictions of hawkers on the railways and stadiums and places where hawkers try to make a decent living. The SARHA memorandum further demands information sharing and dialogue on the budget allocations for informal trade and disclosure on who is responsible for making decisions affecting informal trade in the country. SARHA has called for a general review of all policies affecting informal traders.   

Press Release on SARHA march to Union Building

SARHA Memorandum to President Thabo Mbeki

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WCCA Campaign Bulletin  published by The Developer (pdf format):  June 2007 Page 1: "Hawkers brace for FIFA storm" Page 2: "Organising street traders in Kenya" - Presentation made by Winnie Mittulah at the WCCA National Campaign Meeting, Johannesburg 7/8th March 2007    Page 3: "Rail Hawkers uprising"; "WCCA National Day of Action" Page 4: "Hawkers march to Mbeki"; "Hawkers demand a pro-poor 2010"; "2010 displaces breadwinners""

11th May, 2007: FNB Stadium hawkers - 2010 World Cup displaces breadwinners

By Cheche Selepe, The Developer

'Thabo Mbeki and overseas people will come to watch the soccer world cup and they will never buy food from you, and therefore you must go.' This is the message that the stadium hawkers were told by Grinaker LTA, a construction company charged with the redevelopment of FNB's soccer city stadium situated between Soweto and Johannesburg. 

The livelihood of the hawkers and their families is under a serious threat from the construction company. Accordingly, most of the hawkers have been selling at the stadium during soccer matches for many years. The situation changed in January this year when the soccer matches came to end as the stadium came under reconstruction. 

Since the hawkers had no where to go, they decided to sell food to the very workers doing the construction at the stadium. Surely this became a boom for the hawkers. Instead of trading only on weekends during the soccer matches, they traded every working day, selling food to the construction workers. As business was going on, the management of the construction company decided to frustrate the hawkers. They started telling hawkers that the food they sell might be unhygienic and therefore they must go. The management decided to restrict the flow of workers in and out of the work-place. All other gates of the stadium were closed, opening only one gate – the main gate. Having only 30 minutes lunch time between 12H00 and 12H30, it became increasingly difficult for the workers to enter and exit the workplace for lunch without compromising the bosses' time. 

Coupled with time restrictions, the construction company tells the hawkers that four BEE companies have been enlisted and shall sell food at the stadium within months. On hearing this sad state of affair, the leaders of the SA Rail Hawkers Association (Sarha) took the matter up with the union organising construction workers, the National Union of Mineworkers (Num). At a meeting with a NUM shopsteward (below left) the hawkers (below right) were are assured that solidarity with NUM is guaranteed. He indicated that just as the construction companies are having subcontractors assisting them, it could be advisable that even the enlisted BEE caterers subcontract the work to hawkers as well. Amandla!!!

 

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Rustenberg Royal Bafokeng Stadium -  Hawkers demand a pro-poor 2010 By Cheche Selepe May 1, 2007: RUSTENBURG: David Mosome (above) is not just a hawker peddling hats, socks, nail-cutters and a host of other non-perishables under the bridge at the Rustenburg taxi rank. He is also chairperson at the local SA national civic association and a hawker leader. Mosome has joined the call by the local hawker organisations and the international hawker movement – StreetNet. The organisations are calling for the inclusion of the poor in the build-up to the 2010 world-cup. The city’s Royal Bafokeng Stadium is host to the 2010 soccer extravagance. The stadium is owned by presumably Africa’s richest monarch, the Royal Bafokeng reigning in the land boasting the world’s largest platinum deposits. ‘Surely, the 2010 games are an affair of the rich. What about badidi (the poor),’ questions Mosome. According to him, there has been no communication between the local organising team and the hawkers – the poor communities. Mosome says the 2010 event should not just be for the rich people. ‘The hawkers and poor people on the ground should be included in all preparations for the games.’

Klerksdorp Oppenheimer Stadium - Hawkers should benefit  By Cheche Selepe 11th May, 2007 - William Mxhakaza Mashiya (082 595-3776) (above) is the president of the United Hawkers Association in Klerksdorp, North-West province. The organisation has no office and most of its members peddle their wares just around the town-hall housing the municipal headquarters of Matlosana/Klerksdorp. He cites money problems as the impediment towards organising the hawkers beyond their current state. Klerksdorp/Matlosana forms part of the Southern district municipality that also includes Orkney – the largest mining community in the area. The Oppenheimer Stadium in Orkney will soon host some of the 2010 Fifa World Cup games. As the name suggests, the stadium is named after multi-millionaire Ernest Oppenheimer. Hope is that the games at the Oppenheimer Stadium shall not be for those like Ernest himself, but let the poor benefit.

21st November, 2006, Durban - The Eye Traders', Siyagunda and Phoenix Plaza Traders’ Association demand the city consult with street trader organisations about the issues that affect their day-to-day efforts to earn an honest living and request negotiation and dialogue with the municipality. The organisations challenged the Ethekwini Municipality to join the World Class Cities for All Campaign which calls for consultative processes in the lead up the 2010 FIFA World Cup to ensure that street traders, and other groups of the urban poor, are not unilaterally evicted without alternatives, or unnecessarily disadvantaged by urban renewal plans. 

Press release: "Durban street trader organisations demand a halt to harassment and evictions"

Pamphlet: "OUR CHALLENGE TO THE ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY: MAKE DURBAN A WORLD CLASS CITY FOR ALL IN THE RUN-UP TO THE FIFA WORLD CUP IN 2010" (English) 

"INSELELE ESIYIPHONSELA UMASIPALA WASETHEKWINI: YENZA ITHEKU LIBE YIDOLOBHA ELISEZINGENI (IsiZulu) 

LOMHLABA KUBO BONKE ABANTU NJENGOBA SEKUSONDELE INDEBE YOMHLABA YEFIFA NGO-2010" (IsiZulu)