SOUTH AFRICA: The Struggle for social service delivery

southern africa | community struggles | non-anarchist press Thursday April 19, 2007 04:11 by Golden Triangle Community Crisis Committee (GOLCCOM) - (posted by ZACF) thamihukwe at toughguy dot net www.zabalaza.net +2711 072 655 1376 or +2711 73 749 5794

A community member loses his eye during the struggle for social service delivery in "Freedom" Park

Since the beginning of the year the Golden Triangle Community Crisis Committee (GOLCCOM), a community-based organisation in the south of Johannesburg, has been leading a struggle for access to basic services and housing in the Freedom Park informal settlement.

Since the beginning of the year the Golden Triangle Community Crisis Committee (GOLCCOM), a community-based organisation in the south of Johannesburg, has been leading a struggle for access to basic and housing in the Freedom Park informal settlement.

On 15 March members of the community had a successful march to Eldorado Park Municipality offices. Part of the demands captured in the memorandum, which was delivered to the municipal council, included the right to land, housing, water, electricity and education. The municipality was asked to respond to demands within a period of seven days. Even today as we write the council has not yet responded to the demands of the community.

Subsequently, at the beginning of April 2007, the community decided to peacefully protest in support of its demands for housing, land and basic services. The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police and the South African Police Services responded by shooting randomly at the protesters and arbitrarily arrested fourteen community members. The intensification of the community struggle and the support of organisations like the Anti-Privatisation Forum, Khanya College, Freedom of _Expression Institute, and the Socialist Party of Azania led to the release of comrades.

The unfortunate incident is that the police shot at one of our comrades, comrade Simon Mkupe. Because of the shooting comrade Mkupe lost his right eye. The comrade was discharged from the hospital yesterday. GOLCCOM is meeting the family of the comrade to discuss various forms of support. The organisation and comrade Mkupe will definitely take legal action.

GOLCCOM condemns in its strongest terms the barbaric action of the police. We call upon the South African and international public to also denounce the inhumane behaviour of the police. We are also calling upon the public to support our legitimate struggle for basic services. The action of the police will not stop us from intensifying our legitimate struggle.