Going to KwaZulu-Natal and Swaziland next week! Met twee baie lekker mense, Chelsea and Matt. To see Durban, the Valley of 1000 Hills, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natala National Park (A world heritage site w/ second highest waterfall in the World (tugela falls)! Then up to Swaziland. I'm stoked.
Hell work week is now over. Pizza party at Liesbeeck. Stayed at a farm outside of Liesbeeck Wednesday after a going to joint with a nice jive, the Melting Pot--open mic night hipster stuff.
Also, it's getting really cold here! Not really compared to the States. There are two differences, however. When it gets cold here it rains, and cold rain is awful. Second, no one has central heating so you can never get warm.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Passop statement on de doorns camp closure
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: braam hanekom
Date: 5 May 2010 22:51
Subject: passop statement on de doorns camp closure.
To: William Kerfoot
Cc: tendai@passop.co.za, everisto@passop.co.za
“We are shocked and appalled that government officials have told displaced Zimbabweans they need to leave the camp by the 17th of May. This is extremely reckless in light of the evidently high frustration levels in the community. The displaced have suffered great emotional distress and much financial loss, thus many lack the confidence to reintegrate and the ability, means and resources to relocate or repatriate. It is unacceptable and an attempt by government to intimidate them into leaving.”
Cost of eviction: Even after an expensive and protracted legal battle, the City of Cape Town was only able to force eviction of the displaced in Blue Waters on condition that the City provided R1000 per person. The blue water's camp residents were displaced in 2008 and had refused several offers of assistance to reintegrate, relocate or repatriate. The De Doorns camp has just over 1000 residents. We believe that by offering financial assistance to the displaced to leave, government will save much money. Currently the government is wasting R250000 a month on unclean and badly maintained toilets and a security company that has failed to protect people.
--Every four months costs the equivalent as offering R1000 incentive.
Unfair treatment of De Doorns displaced: In contrast the displaced in De Doorns (who were displaced in November) have been offered no assistance and are rudely told by officials that they are not refugees. (Only the Department of Home Affair's refugee status determination officers can identify who is or is not a refugee).
Current climate: This week SANCO held protests and demanded the removal of a local councilor accused of inciting xenophobic violence. These protests clearly show the dangers against the displaced are still very real. While threats against foreigners were made as recently as last week, government has now announced that they intend on shutting the camp on the 17th of May.
Our opinion: Closing the camps without financial assistance neglects human rights and neglects the safety of the displaced. Provincial government should take responsibility to ensure the safety of the displaced and ensure that they are provided with basic assistance before any closure is considered. We further believe that only the courts can order an eviction and that any legal battle will waste government money and prolong the process of reintegration.
From: braam hanekom
Date: 5 May 2010 22:51
Subject: passop statement on de doorns camp closure.
To: William Kerfoot
Cc: tendai@passop.co.za, everisto@passop.co.za
“We are shocked and appalled that government officials have told displaced Zimbabweans they need to leave the camp by the 17th of May. This is extremely reckless in light of the evidently high frustration levels in the community. The displaced have suffered great emotional distress and much financial loss, thus many lack the confidence to reintegrate and the ability, means and resources to relocate or repatriate. It is unacceptable and an attempt by government to intimidate them into leaving.”
Cost of eviction: Even after an expensive and protracted legal battle, the City of Cape Town was only able to force eviction of the displaced in Blue Waters on condition that the City provided R1000 per person. The blue water's camp residents were displaced in 2008 and had refused several offers of assistance to reintegrate, relocate or repatriate. The De Doorns camp has just over 1000 residents. We believe that by offering financial assistance to the displaced to leave, government will save much money. Currently the government is wasting R250000 a month on unclean and badly maintained toilets and a security company that has failed to protect people.
--Every four months costs the equivalent as offering R1000 incentive.
Unfair treatment of De Doorns displaced: In contrast the displaced in De Doorns (who were displaced in November) have been offered no assistance and are rudely told by officials that they are not refugees. (Only the Department of Home Affair's refugee status determination officers can identify who is or is not a refugee).
Current climate: This week SANCO held protests and demanded the removal of a local councilor accused of inciting xenophobic violence. These protests clearly show the dangers against the displaced are still very real. While threats against foreigners were made as recently as last week, government has now announced that they intend on shutting the camp on the 17th of May.
Our opinion: Closing the camps without financial assistance neglects human rights and neglects the safety of the displaced. Provincial government should take responsibility to ensure the safety of the displaced and ensure that they are provided with basic assistance before any closure is considered. We further believe that only the courts can order an eviction and that any legal battle will waste government money and prolong the process of reintegration.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Media Coverage
Looks like my article on Zimbabwean Refugees was picked up by a media outlet:
The State of Zimbabwean Refugees">href="http://www.ngonewsafrica.org/2010/04/state-of-zimbabwean-refugees.html
The State of Zimbabwean refugees
Posted by NGO News Africa on: Monday, April 26, 2010
Also published here Tuesday in a slightly abridged version by University of Cape Town's student newspaper, The Varsity:
http://www.varsitynewspaper.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=359:in-to-the-undiscovered-midst-of-zimbabwe&catid=57:features&Itemid=97
The State of Zimbabwean Refugees">href="http://www.ngonewsafrica.org/2010/04/state-of-zimbabwean-refugees.html
The State of Zimbabwean refugees
Posted by NGO News Africa on: Monday, April 26, 2010
Also published here Tuesday in a slightly abridged version by University of Cape Town's student newspaper, The Varsity:
http://www.varsitynewspaper.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=359:in-to-the-undiscovered-midst-of-zimbabwe&catid=57:features&Itemid=97
Shaking hands with the Tutu
Bishop Tutu spotted!
Yesterday, we attended a Catholic Mass at the Saint George's Cathedral in the city center (known as the "city bowl"). It was no ordinary mass, but one commemorating Anti-Apartheid Bishop Michael Lapsley who lost both hands and an eye when he opened a letter bomb sent by the Apartheid Government twenty years to the day in 1990.
Bishop Tutu was in attendance, along with important functionaries from around the world. Tutu, along with Lasley, gave short speeches. About half the attendees were Americans on my CIEE program--apparently word on the grapevine spreads quickly about Tutu!
After mass, we attended a reception in the courtyard outside, eating the free breads, cheeses and pastries(yum) and of course looking for Tutu.
As we were thinking of leaving, he appeared, sporting that goofy-gremlin like style of his that's so well known.
"Now's my chance, now my chance!" I remembered thinking
Matt whispered from behind me, "Let's go up there, now. Get close to him."
We interposed as he was moving to the breads and cheeses and got two vaguely dismissive hand shakes, like "who the hell are you."
Also yesterday we attended a COSATU (the most powerful labor union in SA) rally at the Good Hope center in the city bowl. Nothing but pure "criminalize labor brokers, and power to the people stuff." Us white American selves looked far too bourgeois to fit in.
Later that same day I was at a poker night with some South African friends I had met through the student newspaper here, the Varsity and I was bragging about my day: "I bet you can't guess who I just shook hands with."
"Who?"
"Desmond Tutu"
One of them said something to the effect of, "Oh, we've all shaken his hand. He even slapped my knees and gave me a gremlin laugh." I guess Tutu gets around. What a man!
Now it's time to start my two 3,000 word essays, one due tomorrow and one due Wednesday.
Pictures to follow.
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