eMzantsi Ubuntu Coalition

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Hi all,

Sorry for radio silence - been stuck offline for days, aaargh, great timing.

Latest news is that, after spending the whole afternoon in the camp yesterday discussing the move with groups adamantly objecting to it (i.e. the Ethiopians, the Somalians, and the Congolese women) trying to dispassionately lay out their options in light of the Constitutional Court judgement, and explaining how civil society can only carry on fighting for them in the courts if they go, the Somali leader Shekh Abdullahi called me last night to say they had changed their minds and decided to move. I think the final point I made about how the govt would probably be happy if the strong (=difficult) Soetwater people stayed behind so they could wash their hands of them might have hit home.

Hopefully, the Ethiopians will follow their brother Somalians, but getting a UN rep in there would seal it - they don’t trust any govt rep after all the broken promises, but if the UN tell them processing will only happen in Blue Waters, they will go. The Congolese women are very sharp, they can see the long view, and they know the govt probably won’t deliver as promised and they’ve probably got months and months more of this. They’re exhausted already and were only prepared to go through the upheaval of moving their kids if it was to Youngsfield, which at least is more central, not to Blue Waters which doesn’t have a school etc. But they won’t stay alone, so… fingers crossed.

I only pray now that it is better on the other side, or I will feel we have betrayed them by stating that it is probably better to go - (I never said it was ‘good’ to go, but that it is definitely a bad idea to stay because we can’t legally fight their corner from Soetwater). They want to be sorted out asap, and perhaps if they stayed and forced a very public confrontation on the issues, things might be more quickly addressed than if they move - but the danger to their families is too great a risk. Silverstroom will be the test case. I spoke to leader Papi last night, and he says they will walk to Namibia before they will come back to Cape Town. I couldn’t sleep for thinking of them.

Cheers all,

Sam

eMzantsi Carnival project manager
Harlequin Foundation
creating a common culture through carnival