11 August 2013

A democratic society is defined as a society in which the public has the means to participate in the management of their affairs, information is open and free and participation is safe for everyone.

Recently we had a demonstration in Ext 9 in Grahamstown demanding that the list of beneficiaries for the new RDP houses be made public and people participate in the construction of the low cost houses. To us it was clear that the ruling party is abusing the list for patronage, corruption and elections. Some councillor’s kids are on the list as well as party members and their families.

For this call we were demonized, delegitimized and attacked by the members of the ruling party as opportunists, fronts for other organizations, pawns of white academics and rebels with no cause.

On the 06 August 2013 we convened a meeting at Nombulelo High School and we requested the Mayor to speak on the list. He apologized on behalf of the council, citing the fact that the list was characterized by corruption and irregularities. The Mayor’s admission that the list has been badly corrupted has been prominently covered in Grocott’s Mail.

We have been vindicated and not for the first time. Our adversaries always refuse to engage with us critically. Instead they use slander, class power and at times racist remarks to attack us. All that we are asking is that when we organise and mobilise around an issue we should be engaged on that issue rather than by constantly having our integrity called into question. We may be poor but we are full blown political subjects and that is how we should be engaged.

There’s an outcry all over the country over the corruption of housing lists by the ruling party. We are pleased that we have been able to stop the corruption in Grahamstown and we will continue to organise and mobilise to ensure that the new process is fair and open.

For more information, contact:

Ayanda Kota – 078 625 6462

Gladys Mepo – 060 393 0402

Belinda Allan, who was a founding Director and Trustee of Fahamu, died in June this year at the age of 77. Belinda was a strong supporter of all the things that Fahamu stands for – social justice and human rights. Victoria Britain, in an obituary in the Guardian Newspaper (14 July 2013), refers to Belinda’s 'early days of Amnesty International, [as a co-founder in] the successful launching of refugee studies as an Oxford University discipline, to years of active support for Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and the grim camps in Lebanon’.

Belinda was unassuming in character, but had a strong presence in any audience, partly due to her commanding stature and colourful dress sense. Belinda resigned as a Director and Trustee in 2010, but remained a loyal friend of the charity, such that when Fahamu started to experience difficulties in 2012 and she discovered that her resignation had not been, as presumed, made official, she returned to support the organization, despite the diagnosis of a life threatening illness. During this difficult time she only wanted good news and was cheered whenever she was told about the determination of the staff to ensure the survival of Fahamu. Not all the current Fahamu staff had the chance to meet her, but those who did write about her generosity of spirit and her welcoming home.

Her support is sadly missed by all.

* Dr Patricia Daley is the Chairperson of Fahamu Board.