The 120 participants who come to the School represented various regional forums of landless people, rural organisations, unions,NGOs focussing on land redistribution and local councillors.
The Summer School grew out of a growing frustration and recognition amongst landless people and civil society that South African society, in line with the rest of the neoliberal world, favours the rich while further marginalizing the poor. Landless people, peasant farmers, farm dwellers, forestry dwellers, urban shack dwellers, Spoornet employees and rural women compete with the richest of the rich for access to land and control over natural resources. Market-based land reform has not and will not correct the historical injustices and inequities of land ownership patterns. After 10
years of democratic government in South Africa the market based economy, and in particular market based land reform, has been consolidated with glaring evidence thereof:
- The government’s emphasis on foreign invest- ment and global economy.
- A shift in local government emphasis from de- livery to cost recovery, giving power to wealthy ratepayers and further marginalising poor com- munities.
- Privatisation of services, forests, transport systems, land and coastlines cutting people off from natural resources and plunging people into further poverty.
- The promotion of a black, rich elite through Black Economic Empowerment initiatives, af- firmative action and redistribution policies.
Focus of the Summer School
The focus of the Summer School was on globalisation and its effects on local authorities and rural development. The first 2 days were an introduction to globalisation, including a discussion on the politics underpinning South African economic policies such as GEAR and ASGISA. Participants then divided into 2 focus groups Globalisation and local authorities, on the one hand, and Globalisation and rural development, on the other. The last day focussed on resistance to Neoliberalism and was used to share mobilisation strategies. Evening discussion groups included challenging xenophobia and a discussion around the World Social Forum in preparation for the WSF meeting inJanuary 2007.
The Summer School was:
- A place for activists, community leaders and
members, social movements and civil society
to meet and reflect on the negative effects of
neoliberalism on the poor.
- An opportunity to share and learn from each
other about mobilisation strategies nationally,
within Southern Africa as well as internationally.
- A space where all activists, regardless of race,
sex, religious or sexual preference were respected
and encouraged to share their struggles for
justice and equity.
The Summer School was not:
- A decision making body or a new organisation /
movement
- A platform for political party or religious ideology
The school was aimed at creating a world where in
the words of the SCLC vision all are able to enjoy:
“….. a totally transformed society wherein
Justice, Empowerment and Equity prevail and where
the Environment is utilised without compromising
future generations”.
Struggles by Communities who attended
the School
The school was a space to share experiences of
struggle. Some of the struggles people at the
Summer School shared included:
The struggle for land
In the Southern Cape alone there are over 80
organised groups of farmers, the majority of whom
have been struggling to access land for the past 10 years. Yet in the same region agricultural land
continues to be converted into elite developments,
such as golf estates, catering for investors and
holiday makers. The price of land has escalated
with a growing mismatch between the government
grants and price of land, thus forcing people to
form unwieldy and unviable groups to pool grants
in an effort to afford the land.
Evictions
Evictions from agricultural land and homes
continue. ESTA (the law governing land tenure)
only regulates evictions and outlines a process
to follow. Thus in “successful” eviction cases the
evicted family secures some sort of settlement
package – a couple of thousand rand, a RDP house
in a township or some planks to build a shelter in
an informal settlement. Farm dwellers struggle to
maintain rural livelihoods, secure tenure, enjoy
worker’s rights and live in dignity.
One of the struggles raised at the Summer School
and indicative of farm dweller’s struggles is that
of the Geelhoutboom farm dwellers who, although
they secured a donation of 10 hectares of agricultural
land 8 years ago, are unable to secure tenure and
develop homes and livelihoods on the land. The
local authority says service provision will not be
affordable and wants the people of Geelhoutboom to
relocate to a large planned township.
Privatisation
16 forestry settlements affected by the privatisation
of SAFCOL all face and insecure future and possible
relocation into the townships, as well as loss of
employment. Two of the forests have already been
sold to a large German multinational, Steinhof,
who openly state they are in “the business of trees
not people”. The forestry comrades have organised
themselves into a regional forum to take up the
struggles. Many other communities are affected in
the same way by the privatisation of the railways
and the downscaling of Spoornet – the railway
parastatal.
Struggle of fisher folk
The fishermen of Knysna are unable to use their
traditional access to the beach to catch food for their
families. They watch in frustration while Pezula
Golf Estate erects fences and bolts gates – cutting off
access paths which have been used for generations.
Some fishermen have even had shots fired upon
them as they go to their usual fishing sites.
BEE and landgrabbing
Black Economic Empowerment benefits an elite few
as former comrades pronounce “it is our time now”.
The proposed Lagoon Bay Estate has shareholders
from the highest calibre of (ex-) comrades, and
yet advertises itself as “offering access to private
beaches”. Land, 77% of which according to
the Institute of Agriculture Research has high
agricultural potential is used for recreation for the
rich. This is in an area where farmers like Sam Las
(who attended the Summer School) with over 100
head of cattle are forced to graze their cows illegally.
Abuse of workers
An illustration of the abuse of worker rights are
the findings of the research undertaken around
adherence to the Sectoral Determination (minimum
wages, standards of housing, work conditions etc)
on farms. The research found that there was up to
80% non-adherence on farms in the Oudsthoorn
area. Women’s rights are particularly abused with
very few permanent employment opportunities in
rural areas and no secure tenure even for longterm
occupiers who must vacate houses and properties
within a year of the death of their partners.
A new world is possible
The majority of participants welcomed this
opportunity to share. For many it was the first
time to explore and understand better the causes
of everyday struggles. There was a call to continue
with such discussions. The issue of xenophobia and
building solidarity across boarders was highlighted
as strategic.
Concerns raised included a fear from some
participants that this was a direct challenge to the
ANC government and that a new political party
was being formed. Local councillors who attended
the first day of the school were quickly “removed”
by their parties.
The Summer School will be followed with
learning circles where comrades will continue to
share and mobilise one another. SCLC, Khanya
College and Ilrig are also committed to continuing
to raise awareness and provide spaces for
mobilisation through ongoing events of this nature.
The 3 organisations will work together to strategise
and plan schools. We are committed to growing
critical mass for transformation. We believe that
justice, equity and empowerment are possible and
towards this we commit ourselves.
To coin the slogan of the World Social Forum, A
NEW WORLD IS POSSIBLE
*SCLC [Southern Cape Land Committee] is an NGOinvolved in supporting landless and rural communitiesin their struggle for land and decent livelihood.
December 2006
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