f '
CROSSROADS AND NYANGA:
and p l a c e s t o stay
TIC AfflrCLE 'Legalism and Demonretlc Organisation' in-WXP 18 raises a r u b e r o f c r i t i c a l i s s u e s mhich a r e e v i l i l l u s t r a t e d by c o s e s t u d i e s o f
•
Crossroads community resistance, and the Nyanga buah confrontation•
An o u U i n e o f event* i n the Nyanga bush u n t i l 2 6 J u l y , WB1, was g i v e n I n ' O P 1 9 . *Thia . a r t i c l e c o v e r s t h e C r o s s r o a d s c o s e s t u d y t an
u p d a t e o f t h e Nyanga b u s h p o s i t i o n end some on the ffteUanties end d i f f c
UttXErlunDS: 1978 - WH1
•The f i g h t e s s a c t u a l l y eon e i t h t h e A p r i l VTt* •lntiBMint o f Koomhof e h l c h l a i d damn t h e g e n e r a l r u l e s f o r r o - s a t t i e m m n t . * - Urban Foundation R e g i o n a l D i r e c t o r
On S A p r i l , 1979, Dr P Koomhof issued s public statammnt. which h e p r e s e n t e d a s a b l u e - p r i n t t o s o l v e e h a t h e c a l l e d ' t h e C r o s s r o a d s p r o b l e m * .
The s o l u t i o n e s s a n e e t o e n s h i p t o b e b u i l t b s t e e e n Nyanga and G u g u l e t u . I n i t h e mode i t c l e a r t h a t t h i s ens on 'ad h o c ' d e c i s i o n f o r
C r o s s r o a d s and on t h e o t h e r hand s t a t e d t h e t I n f l u x c o n t r o l a e e a u r e s would be i n c r e a s e d t o e n s u r e t h a t e s i m i l a r s i t u a t i o n d i d n o t
Tea y e a r s l a t e r i t a p p e a r s t i m e l y and impor- tant t o r e v i e e n o t o n l y t h e e v e n t s e h l c h g o v s r i s e t o t h e I s s u i n g o f *hat s t a t e e e n t , b u t a l s o
• . * '. ^ - \ *'• W I1^ * ; \ : ' ; » > •-<'
t o r e v i e e t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f t h e " s o l u t i o n * upon t h e c o e n u n i t y a s a whole* The p r o c e s s d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e c o n f u s i o n , d i v i s i o n , c o - o p t i o n and o r g a n i s a t i o n a l d i s i n t e g r a t i o n when community r e s i s t a n c e i s e a t n o t by t h e b u l l - d o z e r o f t h e p a s t , but t h e n e g o t i a t i o n and c o - o p e r a t i o n p o l i t i c s o f t h e Dr Koomhof e r a . Crossroads i s an e x a e p l e o f t o t a l s t r a t e g y e t i t s b e e t .
•The l e v e l o f t e n s i o n s t a r t e d h i g h , but through communication t h i s was lowered and t h e y responded a s any group under s i m i l a r c i r c u m s t a n c e s . They were n o t o u t o f t h e o r d i n a r y * ' - S t a y n Ou P l e s e l s , Urban Foundation.
•
PRE S APRIL STATEMENT PERIOD
SINCE 197S t h e p e o p l e hod been s t r u g g l i n g t o remain a s a community i n t h e a r e a . During t h i s time t h e r e mere numerous p e s s r a i d s , harassment and i n d i v i d u a l home d e m o l i t i o n s . The women o r g a n i s e d t h e m s e l v e s i n t o e n e d hoc committee and s o l i c i t e d t h e h e l p o f a l a w y e r . As e r e s u l t e number o f s u c c e s s f u l c o u r t c e s e s were e o n . { T h i s e a r l y l e g a l h i s t o r y g a v e r i s e t o t h e l a t e r dependence and h i g h e x p e c t a t i o n s p l a c e d upon
l a w y e r s end l e g a l b a t t l e s ) . I n 1976 t h e camp e a s D e c l a r e d a l e g a l Emergency Camp and e i t h t h i s
t i a e o u s l e g a l i t y i t e s c a p e d t h e 1977 d e m o l i t i o n s o f mtxiderdam, e e r k g e n o t and U h i b e l l . These
d e m o l i t i o n s and t h e i r e f f e c t upon t h e e l d e r Cape Town p u b l i c had f u t u r e i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r t h e Crosaroads community, s i n c e eony o f t h e p e o p l e mho l a t e r committed t h e m s e l v e s t o ' h e l p save. Crosaroads* d i d i t o u t o f an s e c t i o n a l r e s p o n s e t o t h e d e m o l i t i o n s o f 1977 and e a r l y
^ 1 9 7 6 .
m I n F e b r u a r y - 1 9 7 8 , C r o s s r o a d s i t s e l f was t h r e a t e n e d e i t h d e m o l i t i o n . The * s t r u g g l e Tor Crossroads4 1 b e g a n a n e e p h a s e .
The community, through i t s e x i s t i n g c o m m i t - t e e s , l e t I t b e known t h a t i t was n o t w i l l i n g t o
move; The •omen, mho hmd been l o o s e l y o r g a n i s e d , f o r m a l i s e d t h e i r o r g a n i s a t i o n , e l e c t i n g a c o m a l t e e e i t h e n e e chairwoman, s e c r e t a r y and t r e a s u r e r . The Women's Committee t o o k I t s p l a c e a l o n g s i d e t h e e x i s t i n g N o x o l o and S i z e m d l e C o m m i t t e e s . A l l t h r e e met o n c e w e e k l y e t e J o i n t committee meeting t o f o l l o w and d i s c u s s t h e i s s u e s a f f e c t * l n g t h e i r community. ( T e n s i o n s a l r e a d y e x i s t e d b e t e e e n v a r i o u s i n d i v i d u a l s o f t h e s e c o m m i t t e r s but t h e t h r e a t o f d e m o l i t i o n f o r g e d e d e g r e e o f c o - o p e r a t i o n end u n i t y . Theme d i f f e r e n c e s e h l c h
were s u p p r e s s e d emerged e t e l a t e r s t a g e o f t h e p r o c e s s . )
The women p l a y e d t h e most important r o l e i n t h e community d u r i n g 1978, t a c k l i n g i s s u e s a s t h e y a r o s e :
1 . The t h r e a t e n e d d e m o l i t i o n o f 4 0 0 homes by D i v i s i o n a l C o u n c i l f o r non-payment o f r e n t a l a r r e a r s mas s u c c e s s f u l l y c o u n t e r e d by t h e
women, Tor a p e r i o d o f 2 j months t h e y s c r e e n e d c a s e s from 07hO0 - 12h00 and .<
h e l p e d s u b s i d i z e h a r d s h i p c a s e s .
2 . A p a i n t i n g p r o j e c t mas o r g a n i s e d I n a l l 4 s e c t i o n s o f t h e camp a s an a t t e m p t t o u p - . . g r a d e t h e community end t o e x p r e s s r e s i s - t a n c e t o t h e a l l e g e d t e m p o r a r l n e s s o f t h e camp. The women c o l l e c t e d 5 0 c from meahaie t o buy t h e p a i n t .
3 . During t h e d a l l y p o s e r a i d s o f J u n e , t h e women o r g a n i s e d a march o f ±500 women t o s e e B r i g a d i e r van dar V e s t h u l z e n (Chairman o f BAAB) e t Goodeood I n p r o t e s t a g a i n s t t h e r a i d s , end t o demand an e x p l a n a t i o n , 4 . C l o s e l i n k s were e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h l o c a l
and o v e r s e a s p r e s s end f r e q u e n t p r e s s s t a t e - ments were r e l e a s e d by t h e women t o p u b l i c i s e e v e n t s a s w e l l a s t h e i r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f t h e s e a c t i o n s t o t h e p u b l i c ,
w h i l s t t h e o t h e r ^ c o m m i t t e e s worked a l o n g s i d e t h e i, i t i s important t o s t r e s s t h e t i t mas t h e
- ^ ' • • - • - • • • • • • • • • - • ^
women who tbok the l e a d and saw t h e t h r e a t e n e d d e m o l i t i o n as a f f e c t i n g them i n p a r t i c u l a r -
Whereas many o f t h e men had r i g h t s t o be h e r e , t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e women knew t h e y wore
' i l l e g a l * by Government s t a n d a r d s end f e l t they had n o t h i n g t o l o s e i n openly r e s i s t i n g . They ware p r e s e n t on t h e s i t e d u r i n g t h e day ( t o r e c e i v e v i s i t o r s and d i s c u s s s t r a t e g i e s ) w h i l e the men were a t work*
E x t e r n a l t o the community was a n o t h e r o r g a n i s a t i o n i n v o l v e d i n t h i s s t r u g g l e - the s o - c a l l e d Crossroads s u p p o r t g r o u p . I t had been c a l l e d t o g e t h e r by t h e Crossroads l a w y e r i n F e b - r u a r y and c o n s i s t e d o f a number o f l o c a l
i n d i v i d u a l s end o r g a n i s a t i o n s w i t h a h i s t o r y o f involvement i n s q u a t t e r and human r i g h t s
i s s u e s *
T h i s group was e v e n t u a l l y t o p l a y a m a j o r r o l e i n t h e events l e a d i n g t o t h e i n t e r v e n t i o n
o f Dr K o o r n h o f . The i s s u e s o f concern f o r ; - t h e group i n c l u d e d ; f a m i l y l i f e . C h r i s t i a n c o n c e r n , t h e maintenance o f a
s t a b l e , e c o n o m i c a l l y v i a b l e community ( u s i n g t h e e x i s t i n g i n f o r m a l s e c t o r i n Crossroads as en e x a m p l e ) , t h e s p i r i t and u n i t y o f t h e 'model1
community, and those who wanted t o r a i s e t h e p o l i t i c a l c o s t o f d e m o l i t i o n . The u n d e r l y i n g causes o f Crossroads were h a r d l y t o u c h e d , i e t h e m i g r a n t l a b o u r system. Some members o f t h e group
f e l t t h e i s s u e should n o t be broadened and seen i n i t s whole c o n t e x t i f a s o l u t i o n was g o i n g t o be f o u n d . ( T h i s s t r a t e g y gave Or Koornhof t h e
l e v e r e g e t o be a b l e t o t r e a t Crossroads i n an
•ad hoc1 manner and d r i v e a wedge between C r o s s - roads and the e x i s t i n g t o w n s h i p s . )
The s u p p o r t group met weekly w i t h a m e a l l number o f community l e a d e r s t h r o u g h o u t 1976.
There was no c l e e r programme o f a c t i o n . They t r i e d t h e p e t i t i o n , community s t a t e m e n t s , l i a i s o n w i t h l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s , p u b l i c awareness through
I - #• •
f r e q u e n t newspaper a r t i c l e s e t c . The dynamics *;
w i t h i n t h e community i t s e l f ware n o t c l e a r l y
u n d e r s t o o d , nor p e r c e i v e d as t h a t c r u c i a l . O f t e n community workers i n t h e area found themselves having t o c o n f r o n t key i n d i v i d u a l s on community development p r i n c i p l e s v e r s u s t h e success o f t h e
' c a m p a i g n ' . E g , t h e lawyer wanted t o o b t a i n f u n d s t o s u b s i d i z e t h e women's p a i n t i n g p r o j e c t i n o r d e r t o have the houses p a i n t e d i n t i m e f o r t h e Day o f Prayer and became angry* a t t h e community
w o r k e r s ' r e f u s a l t o speed up what was a community i n i t i a t e d p r o j e c t .
Many i n t h e g r o u p , n o t r e c o g n i s i n g t h e e x i s t i n g d i v i s i o n s w i t h i n t h e community, operated as though working w i t h a v e r i f i e d and democratic l e a d e r s h i p . Others f o s t e r e d t h e i n d i v i d u a l i s i n g o f l o c a l l o a d e r s eg paying people t o i n t e r p r e t when t a k i n g , o v e r s e a s v i s i t o r s a r o u n d . This caused soma resentment, and l e d t o d i f f i c u l t i e s i n
o b t a i n i n g i n t e r p r e t e r s f o r community m e e t i n g s . A l b e i t w i t h ' t h e b e s t o f I n t e n t i o n s * ,
t h e seeds f o r the l a t e r e s c a l a t i o n o f I n t e r n a l con-*
f l l c t e and d i v i s i o n s were b e i n g sown d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d of support group i n v o l v e m e n t .
L a t e r i n 197B, the harassment upon the
community i n t e n s i f i e d w i t h f r e q u e n t pass r a i d s . I The b i g g e s t and l a s t on 14 September c u l m i n a t e d
i n the death o f a r e s i d e n t . GN/emight Crossroads became a household word and an i s s u e beyond t h e w i l d e s t e x p e c t a t i o n s o f a l l concerned. The r a i d s were f o l l o w e d by l o c a l end i n t e r n a t i o n a l o u t c r y . Pressure upon t h e community c o n t i n u e d . People were a l r e a d y p h y s i c a l l y and p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y worn down and when i n November ( f o l l o w i n g the squashing o f tha p l a n drawn up by t h e GP, BAAt) and M i l i t a r y . i n the C a s t l e t o surround and d e m o l i s h t h e camp) Dr Koornhof i n t e r v e n e d , i n d i c a t i n g t h a t he wanted t o come t o Cape Town p e r s o n a l l y t o s o l v e t h e Crossroads ' p r o b l e m1, he n o t o n l y caught a l l concerned o f f - f l u a r d , b u t was welcomed by a
. community weakened on a l l l e v e l s and by now \ dependent upon e x t e r n a l s o l u t i o n s t o t h e i r s i t u a - t i o n s
. D u r i n g September and October the Urban Foundation had become i n c r e a s i n g l y i n v o l v e d I n a t t e m p t s t o n e g o t i a t e on b e h a l f o f the community.
They f e a r e d t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o l i t i c a l and economic i m p l i c a t i o n s o f Crossroads as w e l l as t h e p o s a l b l s l o c a l p o l i t i c a l i n s t a b i l i t y should i t be demolished. They were s e c r e t l y meeting I * w i t h chosen l o a d e r s from the community and
a l r e a d y d i s c u s s i n g and p r o p o s i n g s o l u t i o n s p r i o r t o D r K o o r n h o f ' s v i s i t t o t h e cqmp i n November.
when Or Koornhof v i s i t e d t h e camp i n November i t marked t h e end o f t h e b u l l d o z e r e r a end ushered i n a new one o f c o - o p e r a t i v e p o l i t i c a and promises o f humane s o l u t i o n s t o the ' p r o b l e m ' .
L e t t h e r e be no m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g . There i s a p o l i c y and the l a w . That i a why your G O - d p t r e t i o n i s so i m p o r t a n t . W i t h your c o - o p % r a t i o n i t may be p o s s i b l e t o f i n d a s o l u t i o n t o t h e p r o b l e m . I f I g e t t h e c o - o p Q r a t l o n o f " t h e churches Z w i l l do e v e r y t h i n g >to look a t Crossroads as a problem i n . i t s e l f .
The year ended w i t h a memorandum t o Dr Koornhof prepared by the J o i n t Committees, i n which t h e y put f o r w a r d two p r o p o s a l s :
1 , t o remain on t h e p r e s e n t s i t e and have the houses u p - g r a d e d ;
2 . as an a l t e r n a t i v e , permanent accommodation s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d f o r a l l r e s i d e n t s i n Crossroads i n the g r e a t e r Cape Town a r e a .
Dr Koornhof r e j e c t e d these p r o p o s a l s , b u t i n d i c a - * t e d t h a t he was w i l l i n g t o e n t e r i n t o n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h an e l e c t e d d e l e g a t i o n i n e a r l y 1979 i n an a t t e m p t t o reach a b s o l u t i o n t o t h e ' p r o b l e m * .
I f 1978 had i t s own p a r t i c u l a r problems and d i f f i c u l t i e s , i n some ways they were e a s i e r
t o d e a l w i t h .than t h e complex and sometimes more
s u b t l e s t r u g g l e which ensued i n 1979. [ The n s g o t i a t i o n s promised by Dr Koornhof
. -
I n l a t a 197B began i n e a r n e s t i n 1979 a n d l a s t e d u n l t i l t h a a n d o f M a r c h , e n d i n g w i t h t h e n o * famous A p r i l s t a t e m e n t .
F r o a t h a b e g i n n i n g i t a a a c l a a r t h a t efcat a a a t a k i n g p l a c a a a a n o t a n e g o t i a t e d a a t t l a a a n t b u t a s o l u t i o n i n t h a i n t a r a a t a o f t n a
Tha f a c t t h a t Or Koornhof aaa a b l e t o eanoouvre t h a a a a l a t a n c a o f t h a c o m m u n i t y ' s cam r e p r e a e n t - s t l v e a i n o b t a i n i n g t h a s o l u t i o n a a a « s t r o k e o f p o l i t i c a l g e n i u s ,
A r e a d i n g o f t h a m i n u t e s o f t h a a a B e a t i n g s ahoaa t h a t t h a r a a a a w a r y l i t t l e r o o a t o manoeuvre on t h a p a r t o f t h e CrDSsroada d e l e g a t i o n . Or K o o r - nhof i n d l o a t a d a t t h a f i r s t m e e t i n g t h a t h a f a i t t h a s o l u t i o n t o t h e C r o s s r o a d s ' p r o b l e m ' aas a t o a n a h i p ona a n d ahan q u a a t l o n a c o n c e r n i n g u
t h i s a o r a raised by t h a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ? * hu n e v e r g a v e d i r e c t a n — » n. He B a r e l y asked t h a d e l e g a - t ion t o r,o-ooerntw a r d t r u s t M a i .
X em a p r a a c h e r * s s o n . I d i m ' t a a n t t o p r e a c h t o y o u , b u t you must b e a r w i t h a s . I b e l i e v e i t l a i n y o u r i n t e r e s t t o do s o . As 1 h a v e a a i d i n t h a b e g i n n i n g . Sf you e a a l a t t h e o f f l c i a l a t o f i l l i n t h e e e f o r m s
I n a t r u t h f u l may, ee can s o l v e t h i s p r o b - lem i n a huaana any* Ypu h a v e h e a r d e e say o f t e n t h e t I sprit c o - o p e r a t i o n . I t e l l y o u noe a g a i n t h a t J a a n t c o - o p e r a t i o n faatoaen t h e o f f l c i a l a a n d y o u . I f t h e r e i s
c o - o p e r a t i o n t h e n t h i n g s e i l l go w e l l . I h a v e been i n t h i s d e p a r t m e n t f o r 3 0 y e a r s e n d t h a a a o f f i c i a l s have p u t up w i t h . a l o t o f d i f f i c u l t l e a a h l c h you d o n ' t knoe
of*, b u t I knoe o f and I r e a l l y r e q u e s t you t o mmke i t a s easy a s p o s s i b l e f o r t h e e by c o - o p e r a t i n g . I f I eas p r e a c h i n g e y Mess- age sou Id b e s i m p l e , i t a o u l d c o n s i s t o f t e a e u r o s " p l e a s e c o - o p e r a t e * . You e i l l n o t b e s o r r y . T h a t i a t h e eay i n which - t h i 3 p r o b l e a e i l l b e e o l v e d . I e l a n y o u
G o d ' s b l e s s i n g s . ( O r K o o r n h o f , F e b r u a r y 1 9 7 9 , i n . r e s p o n s e t o q u e s t i o n a r a i s e d by community l e a d e r s r e c o - o p e r a t i n g w i t h t h e o f f i c i a l s on a s u r v e y , g i v e n p a s t e x p e r i e n c e a n d a l a t r u s t . )
The d e l e g a t a s e e r e bound by c o n f i d e n t i a l i t y
; c o n c e r n i n g t h e s e B e a t i n g s and i t e a s e i t h d i f f l — c u l t y t h a t m e e t i n g s e e r e e v e n t u a l l y convened t o
r e v i e e t h e n e g o t i a t i o n p r o c e s a . O b j e c t i v e i n p u t f r o a p e o p l e o u t s i d e o f t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s d i d n o t a p p e a r t o b e seen a s c r u c i a l t o t h e p r o c e s s -
C r i t i c i s m s and a d v i c e e e r e l a r g e l y i g n o r e d , e g a t t h a m e e t i n g a t a h l c h t h e b l u e p r i n t eas p r e s e n t e d c o n t a i n i n g t h e c a t e g o r i e s a h l c h would supposedly
c a t e r f o r t h e a a j a r l t y o f t h e c o a e u n l t y t h e r e eas c o n c e r n a n d c l e a r r e j e c t i o n o f l n v o l v e a e n t i n such e s e t t l e a e n t u s i n g government c a t e g o r i e s . D e s p i t e t h e s e c r i t i c i s e s i t e a s t h i s v e r y b l u e - p r i n t e h l c h a p p e a r e d a s Or K o o r n h o f ' s c a t e g o r i e s f o r C r o s s r o a d s i n h i s ft t a t s a i n t o f S A p r i l . O t h e r c r i t i c i s e s c o n c e r n e d t h e speed o f t h e n e g o - t i a t i o n s , t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i t y and i t s a f f e c t upon
•
the b r o o d e r c o a e u n l t y and t h e i n a d v i s a b i l i t y o f m e e t i n g I n d i v i d u a l l y e i t h Or Koornhof- They appeared t o f a l l on d e a f e a r s . The p r o c e s s eas c l e a r l y i n t h e h a n d s o f a f e e s p e c i a l i s t s a n d a l t h o u g h t h e a d v i s o r s c a n a n d do a r g u e t h a t d e c i s i o n s e e r e n e v e r t h e i r own, by t h e t i m e t h e
' n e g o t i a t i o n s * ended t h e s t r u g g l e , e a s c o m p l e t e l y o u t o f t h e hands o f t h e p e o p l e . Throughout'
' n e g o t l e t i o n s * t h e l e a d e r s e x p r e s s e d u n w i l l i n g - ; ness t o l a j i a e t o any p l a n a h l c h a o u l d d i v i d e t h e c o e a u n i t y a n d a a r e s c e p t i c a l o f t r u s t i n g t h e promises o f O r K o o r n h o f . As a r e s u l t o f t h i s m i s t r u s t n e g o t i a t i o n s d i d I n f a c t break down i n
l a t e march o v e r t h e s e v e r y p o i n t s . However i n e l a s t endeavour t o p e r s u a d e t h e community t o
a c c e p t t h e s o l u t i o n t h e ' a d v i s o r s * c a l l e d i n t h e ' Urban F o u n d a t i o n ( j u d g e S t e y n ) eho spent a n a f t e r - noon c o n v i n c i n g t h e community ' t o a c q u i e s c e as opposed t o a g r e e * .
The f a c t o r s o f i n c r e a s i n g p r e s s u r e f r o a t h e e d v l s c i r e , t h e Urban F o u n d a t i o n , Or K o o r n h o f , end t h e r e a l i t y o f t h e i r own p o s i t i o n o f weakness and s i m p l i s t i c p o l i t i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g l e d t o t h e community ' a c q u i e s c i n g * t o a n eg r e ami wit t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f w h i c h t h e y n e v e r f u l l y u n d e r - s t o o d .
These t h e n ware t h e a a j o r e v e n t s a h l c h p r e - ceded t h e A p r i l s t a t e m e n t - e s t a t e m e n t h e l l e d by many a s a m a j o r b r e e k - t h r o u g h on t h e p a r t o f t h a government e i t h h i g h hopes t h e t e l l would Q u a l i f y f o r t h e new t o w n s h i p . O t h e r s were l a s s o p t i m i s t i c s i n c e s t a t e p o l i c y r e m a i n e d i n t a c t . Tha f a c t t h a t t h e r e earn t o b e a n I n c r e a s e i n i n f l u x c o n t r o l measures on b l o c k s i n g e n e r a l
I n t h e w e s t e r n Cape s s a a s d t o escape t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c . The d i f f e r e n c e o f assessment a n d t r u s t o f O r Koornhof *s p r o m i s e s s e t t h e t o n e o f e v e n t s which were t o f o l l o w w i t h i n t h e community and amongst t h o s e who had p r e v i o u s l y p l a y e d e s u p p o r - t i v e role.
Or Koornhof * s s t a t e m e n t o f 5 A p r i l managed t o a ) d e f u s e e h i g h l y p o l i t i c a l l o c a l and i n t e r - n a t i o n a l i s s u e , b ) s e t f o r w a r d a b l u e - p r i n t a h l c h would mean e f f e c t i v e s t r o n g e r c o n t r o l n o t o n l y o f C r o s s r o a d s b u t o f e f r i c a n s i n t h e w e s t e r n C a p e , c ) c o n f u s e and d i v i d e p e o p l e f u r t h e r b o t h w i t h i n a n d o u t s i d e t h e community.
POST 5 APRIL PERIOD
AS STATED above t h e i m m e d i a t e e f f e c t o f t h e s t a t e m e n t eas t o e s c a l a t e t h e a l r e a d y e x i s t i n g d i v i s i o n s and c o n f u s i o n w i t h i n t h e community.
P e o p l e ware now f o r c e d t o answer t h e q u e s t i o n ' • h o t were we r e a l l y f i g h t i n g f o r ' 7 I n r e a l i t y n o t h i n g changed a s t h e r e s i d e n t s s t i l l f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s a r r e s t e d f o r pass o f f e n c e s and n o t f r e e f r o m t h e r e a l i t y o f b e i n g b l o c k and l i v i n g i n t h e w e s t e r n C a p s .
Tha f i r s t v i s i b l e s i g n o f a nee p r o c e s s was t h e s u r v e y which Or K o o r n h o f had i n d i c a t e d w o u l d t e k e p l a c e i n a n a t t e m p t t o a s c e r t a i n eho would q u a l i f y f o r t h e new t o a n a h i p .
The p e r i o d Hay t o J u l y was f i l l e d w i t h m e e t i n g s between t h e urban F o u n d a t i o n , BAAB, t h e
' a d v i s e r s * and t h e committee i n a t t e m p t s t o r e - a s s u r e t h e l e a d e r s t h a t t h e y h a d n o t h i n g t e f e a r
page
i n f r e e l y answering the questionnaires- Once again there was r e s i s t a n c e and a deed-lock was reached as community leaders refused t o agree t o p a r t i c u l a r questions concerning present urban area q u a l i f i c a t i o n s . When Or Koornhof heard t h i s the lawyer was s p e c i f i c a l l y phoned and sent by him t o obtain the t r u s t o f the committees. Unless they co-operated, a l l would be l o s t was the mess- a g e . The leaders were at t h i s point i n no p o s i -
t i o n t o argue. Much of t h e i r strength had already d i s s i p a t e d and the dependence upon
external advice was firmly entrenched. (The i s s u e was never taken t o e mass meeting.)
Despite tbe f e a r s , the survey'proceeded and the c l o s e working r e l a t i o n s h i p between l o c a l leaders and the BAA8 o f f i c i a l s began: a r e l a t i o n - ship which, as previously feared, ear-marked the further d i s i n t e g r a t i o n of community l e a d e r - s h i p ; a l i a i s o n which eventually r e s u l t e d in charges of fraud on the part of both committee members and l o c a l BAAB o f f i c i a l s as permits were a l l e g e d l y issued f o r RIO and a b o t t l e o f brandy.
The next s i g n i f i c a n t event t o take place i n -the community was mn e l e c t i o n . A new execu- t i v e committee was ushered in during l a t e July with Ngxbongrano as the e l e c t e d chairman, with h i s own hand-picked committee - a committee which excluded women from the decision-making
body and immediately d i s s o l v e d a l l previously e l e c t e d committees i n Crossroads (frcm Sizamlle t o the school committees t o the creche committee).
Oespite some r e s i s t a n c e i n s i d e the community t o the undemocratic handling of the e l e c t i o n s , t h i s want r e l a t i v e l y unsupported by o u t s i d e groups who chose t o work with the e l e c t e d body s i n c e i t was f e l t t o be expedient t o do so i f the Koomhof deal was t o go through. A group was
needed t o r e l a t e t o and make d e c i s i o n s . The internal dynamics and democratic processes of the community were l a r g e l y ignored i n an attempt t o
achieve the ' s o l u t i o n * .
The d i v i s i o n s could n o t , however, be con- tained and 1979 ended with physical violence w l t h l f r t h e community as the d i f f e r e n t i n t e r e s t groups c l a s h e d , leaving two dead and the execu- t i v e committee i n t o t a l c o n t r o l . A l l who questioned t h e i r authority ware attacked and o s t r a c i s e d .
As the year ended Crossroads appeared t o be a d i f f e r e n t community with stark d i v i s i o n s ,
wholesale corruption and i n t e r n a l d i s o r g a n i s a t i o n . Members of the support group e i t h e r pulled out
or l e f t confused a s to wh*t t h e i r r o l e should be i n the present s i t u a t i o n .
1960 began with the a r r e s t o f 6 Crossroads r e s i d e n t s for fraud; with L Fouche, the Secretary for Community Development, announcing plans for "
the new township in Nyanga c a l l e d Nyanga Two (he indicated that the township would house Crossroads r e s i d e n t s a s w e l l a s o t h e r s from neighbouring townships); and with rmports that Crossroads r e s i d e n t s applying for permit e x t e n - s i o n s a t the Nyanga o f f i c e s were being questioned by the s e c u r i t y p o l i c e - some were being given only 3 month e x t e n s i o n s a s a r e s u l t .
In February, with the a s s i s t a n c e o f commu- n i t y workers, a 14 point memorandum was presented t o Timo Bexuidenhout. Chief Commissioner of the Western Cape. The memo referred t o :
1. an apparent break-down in the r e l a t i o n s h i p between the a u t h o r i t i e s and the people;
2 . large security p o l i c e presence at the i s s u i n g of extension permits r e s u l t i n g i n i n t i m i - dation of r e s i d e n t s ;
3 . the committee demanded s e c u r i t y p o l i c e with- drawal and impartial observers t o be present e t the Nyanga o f f i c e * ( t o be chosen by the committee);
4* regarding permit i s s u i n g c e r t a i n i r r e g u l a r i - t i e s were taking p l a c e : reports thot some
even required t o s i g n for t h e i r wives and f a m i l i e s t o return t o the homelands before being granted e x t e n s i o n s ; scm>e were told that unauthorised lodgers were r e f l e c t e d i n BAAB
records and, t h e r e f o r e , only three month extensions were g i v e n ;
5* Crossroads r e s i d e n t s were being charged for fraudi but Questions were put forward about the o f f i c i a l s involved end whether they too
• would be charged;
6 . d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n with the name 'Nyanga Two' instead of the New Crossroads a s promised;
7* d i f f i c u l t i e s were already occurring i n the permit process and the promised Appeal Committee not yet operating;
B. Crossroads r e s i d e n t s were informally promised jobe in the building of the new township and t h i s wasn't happening s a t i s f a c t o r i l y ; 9 . meetings between BAAB and the r e s i d e n t s
shouldn't Just be t o inform the committee of d e c i s i o n s already takent but should be meaningful consultation i n the true s p i r i t
of the word. v ^
Some assurances were g i v e n on the pointa r a i s e d , but there was growing community i n s e -
t
c u r i t y . This i n t e n s i f i e d when BAAB announced -*
that Crossroads would become a formal township ' at the end of march. Hhat formerly hod bmen en
a b s t r a c t i o n was now becoming e r e a l i t y and fears and doubts began to surface, As a r e s u l t the executive took the i s s u e t o the broader community and were given a mandate t o aee Dr Koornhof.
The meeting with Dr Koornhof took place in April, 1960. Be once again reassured them on mil points r a i s e d , avoiding d i r e c t answers to questions about t h e i r future p o s i t i o n . I t was a repeat of h i s e a r l i e r diplomatic performance end once again the tension wee lowered through <
d i r e c t communication.
For the remainder of the year things went
" • ?.f ~ \ - ' - - - . . . • - . - •
-
. from bad t o worse. The advent o f Bezuldenhout a a Chief Coeadssloner i n the Western Cape (he replaced h a r d - l i n e r Frikkie Botha i n September
197?) was a s i g n i f i c a n t move on the part of Dr Konrnhof i He played an i n c r e a s i n g l y Important r o l o i n c o - o p t i n g the executive and playing o f f one power group against the other i n the community.
VI th an executive which no longer reported t o , and, thereforettook no d i r e c t i o n from the broader c o - u n i t y , with the careful p o l i t i c a l eenoeuvarings of t h e Commissioner and h i s l o c a l
o f f i c i a l s , with t h e women no longer a b l e t o play a meaningful r o l e and the increaaed presence of the Urban Foundation i n the area (Keeza was s e n t i n a s a community worker) i t became impossible t o change the d i r e c t i o n of e v e n t s . The support group, including the a d v i s e r s , were nowhere t o be seen. The only hdpe being t h a t eventually the general co—unity would r e s i s t the d i c t a t o r - ship of the e x e c u t i v e , aa they experienced the r e a l i t y o f being l e f t off the survey for the nee townshipt or could take the f i n a n c i a l e x p l o i t a t i o n • of t h e i r leaders no more. ;
One could only hope t h a t the day to day r e a l i t y of oppression within Crossroads I t s e l f and the r e a l i t y t h a t not everyone was i n f a c t qualifying for the nee township (many were l e f t out o f the s u r v e y ) , would eventually f o r c e the general community t o make i t s leadership account*
a b l e end r e v i v e t h e i r s t r u g g l e .
During t h i s period ' c o n s u l t a t i o n s * s e r e being held over the nee township, then n o t i c e s
were delivered for the f i r s t f a m i l i e s t o move, the women's committee (whose meebers had been monitoring and watching e v e n t s up u n t i l t h i s p o i n t ) decided t o re engage i n the d e c i s i o n s a f f e c t i n g t h e i r community and s e t up en appoint-
• e n t t o s e e Bezuldenhout, (They had on a number o f o c c a s i o n s attempted t o speak with the execu—
t i v e / b ^ without s u c c e s s . ) This they d i d .
' :
-•'• • > v 7 •*
' - '
v• //.v- •• *-." tt-m
However, once egain Bezuldenhout played off one group a g a i n s t the o t h e r . He phoned the execu- t i v e t o inform them o f t h i s meeting. This further polarised the men from the women.
In November 1980, the f i r s t f a m i l i e s moved t o the new township. The move found the cowmuni-
ty divided between those who wished t o move, those eho f e l t they c o u l d n ' t move u n l e s s c e r t a i n concrete guarantees were g i v e n / and those who
wished t o remain i n Crossroads t o explore the p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f a s i t e and s e r v i c e scheme.
The degree of s u c c e s s f u l c o - o p t i o n of community individual** s i n c e t h e ' d e a l ' was demonstrated by the f a c t that e t the time of
the move four o f the executive were paid employees o f 8AM. One o f the men even drove the truck which removed the z i n c s and belongings o f the r e s i d e n t s i n t r a n s i t t o the new a r e a . The d i s - mantling of t h e houses end s u b t l e demolition of the community went r e l a t i v e l y unnoticed. As Bezuldenhout stood a t the s i d e o f the road watch- ing the p r o c e s s , he could with some j u s t i f i c a t i o n view i t a s a v i c t o r y on the part o f the S t a t e .
PRESENT SITUATION
IF ONE reviews the period from l a t e 1976 t o the Koomhof statement o f A p r i l , 1979, there i s a d e f i n i t e s h i f t from the previous s t y l e of ccwjeunl-
ty organisation i n t h e 1975-78 period (frequent*
mass meetings and reports-back) t o a growing dependence upon external o r g a n i s a t i o n s and the edvice of s p e c i a l i s t s eho defined the nature o f
the s t r u g g l e . This s h i f t r e s u l t e d i n the l e a d e r - ship and broader community having l i m i t e d under-
standing o f the n e g o t i a t i o n process and agreements, e s p e c i e l l y the implications o f the settlement upon the community i n the long-term.
m
I t further created an e l i t i s t group o f those d i r e c t l y i n touch with the s p e c i a l i s t s , who saw themselves a s separate from and above
the covatunity - a f a c t o r which r e s u l t e d i n the e a r l y t r a n s i t i o n from such an e l i t i s t group t o the extremely bureaucratic e x e c u t i v e c c e n l t t e e which emerged i n mid 1979.
But organisation i s not a s t a t i c p r o c e s s . There are periods o f progression and r e g r e s s i o n . The p o s i t i o n o f the cowwjunlty from 1978, u n t i l r e s i d e n t s moved i n t o the new houses i n November
1980, was one o f confusion, d i v i s i o n end lock B
of d i r e c t i o n . Organisation was retarded and the s t a t e was c l e a r l y i n control o f the p r o c e s s .
However, e s one views the e v e n t s of 1981 (up t o the present - September) there appears t o be a return of the s t r u g g l e t o the hands of the community.
i
WHY THIS SHIFT?
A NUvBEft o f pressures from the State» the conwxj- n i t y i t s e l f and other s e c t o r s have moved the process i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n .
On the pert o f the s t a t e , confident t h a t d e c i s i o n s could be taken with minimal challenge ( i f any) from what appeared t o be a divided community, l o c a l o f f i c i a l s
1. proceeded t o re-houae r e s i d e n t s from the
nearby squatter camp KTC i n the New Crossroads township, by-passing the coMatittee a s a whole and the r e s i d e n t s ;
2 . the i s s u i n g of permits was not s a t i s f a c t o r - i l y coapleted with many not y e t surveyed, who ae a r e s u l t found themselves subject t o
the 'normal' pass checks i n the peninsula;
9 , r e s i d e n t s i n New Crossroads were n o t i f i e d o f a d d i t i o n a l water charges a s meters were
i n s t a l l e d i n the township (no other townships are subject t o t h i s ) . Some foced accounts o f up t o R80.
4 . c h i l d r e n from the old Crossroads s c h o o l s ware t o l d t o attend the school i n New Crossroads without consulting the e x i s t i n g school
. . .
committee;
-four t e a c h e r s , including a p r i n c i p a l , were i n s t a l l e d i n the na* s c h o o l , again with no school committee c o n s u l t a t i o n ;
-th-t p o s i t i o n of tha teachers a t Noxolo s c h o o l , rasidant i n Crossroads, remained insacura daspita assurances during tha
nagotiations and subsequently that they would be transferrad.
Pressure from tha community t o deal with a l l t h e s e i s s u e s forced the leadership back i n t o a p o s i t i o n o f a c t i o n and community a c c o u n t a b i l i t y . Mass meetings were demanded ( l e r g e l y motivated by the women) and the bureaucratic nature of decision-making end the execution i n p a r t i c u l a r , S u c c e s s f u l l y challenged. Once again there i s a c t i v e community p a r t i c i p a t i o n on key i s s u e s a f f e c t i n g the community. This i s c l e a r l y demon- s t r a t e d by focussing on the s t r u g g l e over the school*
SCHOOLS
•HEN the school committee, parents and teachers I a t Crossroads were by-passed i n the running o f
the new school the community responded by
B a ) teachers and c h i l d r e n i n i t i e l l y boycotting the new school; b) the school committee c a l l i n g a mass meeting (with the support of the executive committee) t o e x p l a i n the p o s i t i o n and t o obtain
• community support for t h e i r stand; c ) demanding an explanation from the l o c a l school i n s p e c t o r s .
Community support was obtained.1 However,
•
when the l o c a l i n s p e c t o r s mat the community they made i t c l e a r that as far as t h e i r department was concerned the running of schools and d e c i s i o n s were no longer c o n t r o l l e d by Crossroads people.
This evoked a heated resoonse and raised the concrete r e a l i t y of township control versus community c o n t r o l In the h i s t o r y o f Crossroads*
The meeting demanded t o see Scheepers (Chief
c i r c u i t i n s p e c t o r ) , wnen contacted by the school committee the following day he refused t o come
t o Crossroads but suggested that they send a d e l e g a t i o n t o him i n s t e a d .
•hen t h i s was put t o * mass meeting i t was viewed a s an attempt t o co-opt them end the
p o s i t i o n remained one of deadlock f o r a few weeks.
Eventually (with i n s t r u c t i o n s from above) Scheepera came t o Crossroads and agreed t o r e - n e g o t i a t e the p o s i t i o n , but asked that they g i v e the department u n t i l the4present school term expired t o do s o . This w«s accepted.
However, when the new school term began, tha p o s i t i o n remained confused. The school committee was not contacted, the t e a c h e r s ' Job p o s i t i o n s i n Crossroads s t tha old schools were s t i l l
i n s e c u r s , not a l l c h i l d r e n were r e g i s t e r e d , end the new principal and teachers s t i l l remained e t New Crossroads without being processed through
the e x i s t i n g school committee.
Attempts were made t o contact Scheepera, but t o no a v a i l . The leadership responded by c a l l i n g a mass meeting on 26 July at which a d e c i s i o n
was tmken t o stage a s i t - i n a t the school i n New Crossroads In an attempt t o make the education a u t h o r i t i e s ( p a r t i c u l a r l y Scheepera) take note of
t h e i r grievancae.
Cars and buses transported parents and c h i l d - ren t o the new school e a r l y Monday morning.
While t h i s was taking p l a c e , the chairman of the Crossrpads committee, Ngxobongwena, went t o s e e Scheepera end advised him t h a t he should come t o New Crossroads and meet the parents and achool committee.
At f i r s t r e l u c t e n t , Scheepera was eventually persuaded ( a f r a n t i c phone c a l l from tha
p r i n c i p a l at the nearby school helped) t o v i s i t thw school and was met by sinking parents end c h i l d r e n . He agreed t o a meeting which was held i n the nearby community h a l l . Parents s i r e d
page 30
» I • t h e i r views concerning the a x l a t l n g confusion
and d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n . Eventually Scheepera agreed t o c l o s e the new school u n t i l such time a s
a ) pupils were r e g i s t e r e d ; b) the teachers' p o s i - t i o n s c l a r i f i e d ; c ) the school committee elected according to government r e g u l a t i o n s . A deadline
of 16 August wes s e t . At t h i s meeting a new N echool committee was democratically e l e c t e d , c o n s i s t i n g of most of the former achool committee members, and accepted by the department a s the o f f i c i a l achool committee. A l l future eppoint*
ments o f teachers w i l l be approved by them.
Pupils have been r e g i s t e r e d e t £he two new schools and a l l teachers from o l d Crossroads ware trans*
ferred and s a t i s f i e d with t h e i r present p o s i t i o n . The struggle over the achool i s i n many eays a t e s t e s s e . I t not only mobilised the community, but a l s o i l l u s t r a t e d that Crossroads community atrength i s being r e - b u i l t end e b l e t o f o r c e concessions from the s t a t e . I t t e s t e d Crossroads*
response to the r e a l i t y o f normal townehip control compared with thw d e c i s i o n making processes In Crossroads which the community i s c l e a r l y
unwilling t o r e l i n q u i s h .
In the s t r u g g l e over* the s c h o o l s , the need t o maintain c l o s e r l i a i s o n with New prosaroads emerged a s c r u c i a l , i f the unity of the e n t i r e community was t o be maintained d e s p i t e t h e i r geographical separation. A d e c i s i o n was taken t o e l e c t a woxlting committee In New Crossroad* t o
l i a i s e with the e x i s t i n g committees i n old Cross- roads i n en attempt t o minimise t h i s happening.
New e l e c t l o n a for the e n t i r e community have been discussed end are planned i n the near future to c o n s o l i d a t e leadership and strengthen the mandate
for future e c t l o n .
In e d d i t i o n t o the pressures from t h e s t a t e , and the Crossroads community I t s e l f , which have
helped shape present developments, a further pressure has evolved from the r e a l i s a t i o n t h a t .
P-0.--3*
although I s o l a t e d and t r e a t e d as a ' s p e c i a l case' by Or Koornhof, Crossroads residents i n f a c t remain subject t o the laws a f f e c t i n g a l l a f r i c a n s I n the eastern Cope. When pressure eas exerted upon the Nyanga bush people, questions concerning t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p th W i s struggle **«d township people i n general were r a i s e d .
The Crossroads leadership responded by i n v i t i n g e l l OeawmWdty-bsaed toenshlp organisa- tions and a successful Meeting took place a t Noxola school on ?8 August.
At t h i s meeting the present p o s i t i o n i n Crossroads was r e l a t e d and an appeal made from the Crossroads leadership f o r a l l toenshlp organisations t o u n i t e i n t h e i r common struggle aa black people i n the Western Cape,
The cotmeunlty'a response t o a l l these issues shoes not only a r e t u r n t o foneer ease coejnunity p a r t i c i p a t i o n on issues, but also a move away from t h e i r r e l i a n c e upon external advice, l e g a l b o t t l e s , e t c , t o deal e i t h community issues.
And, more i m p o r t a n t l y , a r e a l i s a t i o n t h a t t h e i r struggle i s not I s o l a t e d from the broader
p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e .
I t appears t h a t despite the s t r a t e g i e s adopted i n 1978-79-80, lessons have been learned. There are c l e a r indications t h a t t o t a l strategy has not marked successfully and t h a t Crossroads i s nc longer t h e d i v i d e d , confused community o f 1900.
NYMGA BUSH
THE HISTORY of the 'no name1 camp next t o t h e Peninsula Administration Board o f f i c e s a t Nyanga u n t i l 26 July eas d e t a i l e d In WIP 19.
The Crossroads Executive Committee and 4 3 community organisations had o f f e r e d t o help the Nyanga Bush people, but had been rebuffed by the Bush Committee ehich chose t o eork e i t h church end outside (mainly mhlte) support groups.
On 27 July D i e Burger reported t h a t o f f i c i a l s
mmm-BmmmmmmmBmmmmmM.m.BBBBBmmmm-mmm.mm--mmBBBBBBm had t o be brought from the r e s t o f the country t o cope with 1 100 people charged with pass offences i n the Langa Courts, Lawyers had o f f e r e d t h e i r * services dwfending those arrested during the r a i d s of the past f e e weeks. The number o f defended cases slowed the notorious 'assembly
l i n e ' pass c o u r t s . There had been some" t a l k o f not taking b a l l o r defence a t the beginning but i t i s not c l e a r what happened t o t h a t s t r a t e g y * U n t i l Parliament debated the squatter p o s i t i o n , the main news was the l e g a l proceedings surroun- ding the bush people.
On 5 August D i e Burger reported t h a t Or Koorn- hof had said South A f r i c a would not t o l e r a t e e
second Crossroads, and t h a t the government had no i n t e n t i o n o f l i f t i n g I n f l u x c o n t r o l . On 8 August, Dr Koornhof denied t h e t s h e l t e r s had been removed from those i n the bush and the Cape Times published a photograph taken on 17 J u l y , of a policeman removing s h e l t e r from an old l a d y .
Thomas Handle, chairperson o f the African Chamber o f Commerce, said t h a t those i n Cape Town
' l e g a l l y * were not against the r e s t - ' w e ' l l share our crumbs of b r e e d ' , he said i n a s t a t e - ment t o the Argus on 10 August*
Next morning there eas another pre-dawn r a i d . American Congress members v i s i t i n g Cape Town condemned the inhuman treatment of the Nyanga Bush people. By 13 August s o c i a l workers, churchmen end r e l i e f workers were no longer allowed i n t o the camp. A fund was set up t o r a i s e money f o r the squatters; a p e t i t i o n , strongly objecting t o the recent e v i c t i o n s , a r r e s t s and i n t i m i d a t i o n , signed by thousands of Cape ton ians eas handed t o Dr Koornhof; a mass meeting i n the C i t y htall condemned government a c t i o n and four Progressive Federal Party (PFP) Members of Parliament had a long discussion with Dr Koornhof on 14 August. Helen Guzmen said
t h a t they had had 'no Joy' from the M i n i s t e r .
> - ^ m m m — — — m — m — e m m m m m m e m • i | News o f the a c t i o n was being published around
the world.
The Bush Committee was t o l d t o expect a v i s i t from Or Koornhof t h a t n i g h t . He d i d not a r r i v e and instead released a 'new d e a l ' through the p r e s s . According t o the statement in the Cape
Times (15 August) Or Koornhof had made an agree-
• ment e i t h the Transkei government t t i a t :
- ^ c o n t r o l l e d squatting could not be t o l e r a t e d and would not be allowed i n the i n t e r e s t s o f the squatters themselves;
-No squatting would be allowed on the r e l e v a n t S i t e i n Nyanga;
-The case o f each i n d i v i d u a l apprehended on the s i t e I n question as from 16 J u l y t o 3 August, 1961, would be considered on m e r i t . Where the person was i n employment, h i s / h e r p o s i t i o n would be l e g a l i s e d . Housing would be taken up with the employer end, i f accommodation was not a v a l -
f l a b l e , the person would accommodated on a
' s i n g l e * b a s i s . J
-The unemployed would be helped t o f i n d Jobs e l s e - where i n the country. Steps had been taken t o f i n d then p r i v a t e sector employment i n the T r a n - svaal and Orange Free S t a t e where Jobs were a v a i l a b l e . Women not having employment and men not w i l l i n g * t o take up Jobs o f f e r e d could not be accommodated i n the Western Cape.
He added: 'The people can r e l y on me not t o r a t on or go back on what i s w r i t t e n hare, but we must have co-operation t o resolve the problem)"..
Or Koornhof repeatedly r e j e c t e d c r i t i c i s m o f recent a c t i o n s , saying h i s department mas t r y i n g t o solve a d i f f i c u l t problem i n as humane a way as p o s s i b l e .
On 16 August Brian Bishop, chairperson o f the C i v i l Rights League, said the deal was not accept- able as the people would not be able t o take
t h e i r f a m i l i e s with them. He urged moderation and tolerance on both sides and added t h a t ' i f ee
can arrange a nesting ws would bo plsasnd t o do so although we r w l i n o that t h i s w i l l p u c o our c r e d i b i l i t y a t r i s k ' .
Meanwhile sight PfP MPs hsd i p a n t the weekend v i s i t i n g Ciakei resettlement csaps. This wea
tha f i r s t p u b l i c a t t a a p t t o broaden the lsaus t o Forced raaovals and the p u b l i c was inforaed about tha seals snd conditions of r e l o c a t i o n s .
By 17 August 2 500 psopls had gathered a t t h a bush 'no naae' caap, having haard t h a t Or Koornhof ass o f f a r i n g jobs* Pscpis interviewed aey t h a t thay wars t o l d t o go t o ths caap i f thay * wars looking f o r j o b s o r passas. Ons svan said
t h a t an o f f i c i a l had t o l d hsr t o stay a t tha caap as tha a u t h o r l t i s s wars coning around t o ' r e g u -
l a r i a e ' tha paopls. ( T h i s was tha ascond t l a a such raporta vara a i d e . Tha f i r s t arts tha t l a a whan paopls gathered on tha night o f 16 J u l y . I t i s not iapossibls t h a t t h i s was a s t a t s strategy to gsthsr aany o f thoas ' l l l s g s l l y1 I n tha aras i n ons placa t o ba d a p o r t a d . )
Tha C h l s f CcasUeeioner axplelned Or Koornhof ' a stataasnt t o tha psopls on 1? August. A masting was scheduled f o r tha next dsy f o r tha Buah Comal - t t a a t o rsport what tha aquattars f s l t about ths
deal* I t was cancelled and i n s t a a d tha caap was raided by 100 p o l i o s i n 60 vahlolas with dogs a t 06h20. About 2 000 psopls wars a r r w i t t d , takan
t o Pollaaoor and t o l d t o dlvlds thaasaXvss I n t o .
•.Ciakeians' and 'Traftskelane*. Many paopls ragardsd thaaaalvas as n e i t h e r * Ona swm aaid t h a t fl n Tranakei avsrythlng I s n o t h i n g * . Hs had worked I n Capa Town 13 years and was one o f tha BOO asat warkerf who were sacked f o r s t r i k e a c t i o n I n 1960. Hs aald ha knee ha could gat a Job i f he had a Paninaula fttaap; ha d i d not nasd t o bs sent t o the 0F8 o r elsewhere.
.Jftsanwhlla tha Trenskei Ministsr of Foreign A f f a i r s and I n f o r e w t i o n , the Aev Q T V l k e , said on i e August t h a t t h s squatters had bean i n c i t e d .
> Thay had refused Jobs o f f e r e d by Or Koomhof, I n s i s t i n g t h a t thay ba allowed t o stay with t h e i r f a m i l i e s . The tana dsy the Urban Foundation asde flIO 000 a v a i l s b l s f o r r e l i s t work-
On 20 August 1 059 psopls sera reported t o have been deported. They wars taken by bus t o ths T r s n s k s l , than given t r a i n t i c k e t s t o ths - s t a t i o n nearest ft h s i r v i l l a g e * ' . 1 283 had bsen detainee/ a t the caap, six took job o f f e r s , 60 were l e g a l l y in Capa Town and 74 had not ^wmt\
d e a l t with by tha t l a a of tha r e p o r t .
A masting of 1 000 people was hsld a t lunch* . t l a a a t S t George's Cathedral t o p r o t e s t and
deaand r i g h t s f o r ths s q u a t t e r a . I t was followed by an attempted march t o Parliament t o hand a * aaaorandua t o Or Koornhof. I t was handed t o the
Minister o f Polios while r i o t p o l i c e dispersed tha crowd. For tha next weak P e r l i a a a n t wea I n uproar with tha National Party accusing the PFP of t a k i n g p e r t I n i l l e g a l a c t i v i t y such * e ««rchss.
On 21 Auguat the Tranekal 'border* waa sealed and roadblocks ware set up between Cspe Town and tha Tranakel i n a n a t t e a p t t o stop deportees f r o a r e t u r n i n g t o Cape Town. On the 23rd Chief Uetarulaa acousad South A f r i c a of not r e c o g n i -
sing ths s t a t u s of tha Tranaksi by sanding paopls / b a c k * . ' Next day f o r a l g n d l p l o a a t a I n Capa Town
t r i e d t o launch a Joint p r o t e s t but i t was h a l t e d by the American r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s .
600 paopls ears held I n a pre-dewn r a i d on tha Holy Croae Church a t Nyange on 26 Auguat.
Most TO re1 deported. The Lenga Courts ware no longer being ueed f o r those a l l e g e d l y f r o a t h a Transksl • thay a r e deported i n teraa o f l a a i g r a * t l o n l e g i s l a t i o n ae ' p r o h i b i t e d l a a l g r a n t s ' , whlls thoss f r o a tha Ciakei e r e being t r i e d i n Ccssmisslonera' courts i n t e r a a o f t h e Urban Arses Act ( u n t i l , prtwaamtoly, t h a Ciakei becoaee ' i n d e -
pendent' i n Oaceabar 1901),
On 27 August 60 deportees aensged t o gst
: • ? • . ; . . . - , • ; ; • , - P « Q . a ?
'. - . . ! « , - , " •
!' ^ - • ' I
through roadblocks t o ' r d t u r n t p Cape Town t o
;.- * V . . *• < . : - * * *- \ :. *
f e t c h c h i l d r e n and belongings l e f t i n tha chaos.
Kathy Luckst, a church «orksr, waa t r y i n g t o f i n d . 90 c h i l d r e n of aothera stranded i n the Tranakei.
Or Koomhof ennouncM i n P a r i laaent t h a t about 43% o f e f r l c a n a i n Capa Toan e r a there ' i l l e g a l l y * .
Ths governaant s s t i a s t s d a de f a c t o population o f - 199 600 end de j u r a 114 164.
On 1 September Or Koornhof announced t h a t ha1
would aisaya t r e a t i l l e g a l s t h i s way. Hs named t „ the tfoaans Hovaaant f o r Peace, the C i v i l Rights League, the Veatern Province Council o f Churches, t h s Black Sash and t h a C a t h o l i c J u s t i c s end Peace Commission as organisers behind the s q u a t t e r s . accusing thaa of i n c i t i n g psopls end paying f o r thea t o r e t u r n froa t h a T r e n a k s ^ j The organisa- tions denied tha a l l e g a t i o n s . Or koornhof added
that i t wee i n t e r e s t i n g t o nots t h s t n e i t h e r tha
Crossroad* nor the ' l e g a l ' township paopla had „ becoae Involved i n the l e a u a .
Tha deportee's i n Uetata ware being sheltered . by the churchae, fad by tha Tranekal aray. At t h a t l a a of w r i t i n g about POO ers s t i l l r a f u e l n g
t o aove u n t i l thay can r e t u r n t o Cspa Town. Tha Trenskei governaant accused South A f r i c a of not
carrying out i t e undertaking o f l e g a l i s i n g those people with jobs i n Gape Town. Instead t h e . S o u t h '7 Afrloane had deported everyone. I t aewas that PAB o f f i c i a l ! M y be sent t o i n v e s t l g s t e t h i s . I n Cape Town townships ware surrounded by - . roadblocks, p a r t i c u l a r l y during weekends, with acre then 300 people being a r r e a t e d f o r paee offences on the wsaksnd 5-6 Saptaaber according, t o ths Black Sash Advice o f f i c e . • * "
Having described t h e evsnts aurroundlng tha deportation o f thousande of people^to tha Trana- k e l , probably the f i r s t asas raaoval t o that-
t e r r i t o r y a b r i e f comment on tha current s i t u s - t l o n night be u s e f u l .
