A Radio Show for Bocosfo

BOCOSFO accommodates all disadvantaged communities and ensures that every person is entitled to all human basic needs and services like water, electricity, housing and education. We are against all forms of privatisation and we strongly oppose all pre-paid water and electricity meters.

ORGANISATION’S STATUS IN THE TOWNSHIP

BOCOSFO\ APF has done a great job these past few months in trying to establish itself as an organisation opposing any violation or deprivation of human rights and services in the area of Bophelong and neighbouring townships. Many have showed a tremendous interest in the organisation and have also offered their support in a number of marches and rallies we’ve had in the past few months. We have also been able to increase the number of our membership in the township.

THE RADIO SHOW AND THE NEWSLETTER

In the last few weeks, we have launched our first newsletter and we have now our own radio show on IFM 102.2. The people and the affiliates of the VAAL now have a tribune where they can express themselves and tell what’s happening in their communities. Here is the information if you want to listen to the show: 12th & 26th April 2003 on 102.2FM ka 18:30 - 19:00 10th & 24th May 2003 on 102.2FM ka 18:30 - 19:00

If you want to have a slot on your community radio, we can help you with an example of a radio show proposal. You can call Thandekile DODO at 084 763 8929.

OPPOSITION PARTIES

Since the establishment of BOCOSFO\APF we have encountered a number of problems from opposition parties, especially the ruling party (ANC). They have banned us from using any community buildings when conducting our meetings, workshops or rallies. We are not allowed to occupy any community facilities in case we need to address the community. They accuse us of misleading the community and of turning the people against them. So far the ruling party is trying its best to destroy the ever growing struggles of the APF, nevertheless they are fighting a losing battle since we are like a tennis ball, the more they are pressing us down, the higher we go!!!!

OUR STRUGGLES AS BOCOSFO/APF

Over the last several months our struggles have revolved around a number of issues. From this year, we have had two marches due to evictions, housing, electricity and educational problems. On the 21st of March this year, we held an enormous Political Awareness Rally in which the community were educated about their rights politically, economically, educationally and socially. Many people were able to gain a clear understanding of what the APF stands for and our struggles at large.

EVICTIONS

On the 11th of February 2003, at Bophelong squatter camp, about thirteen families were brutally evicted, their belongings thrown in the street and their shacks dismantled. In that incident, people’s zincs used to build the shacks were stolen by the heartless thugs called the red ants who were escorted by the police. Until today, people’s furniture and clothes are still exposed to the rain and hot weather but their zincs are not yet being returned to them. The councillors and the mayor seemed less concerned and unaffected by the circumstances. They have never offered to help or suggested any alternative land. Those people were left to fend for themselves with no food, no shelter or place to call their home.

On the 4th of March 2003, we as BOCOSFO|APF had a great march to the Vanderbijlpark Police Station and to the Emfuleni Local Municipal council. Our demands were, amongst others; that the people’s zincs be returned with immediate effect, stop unnecessary arrests, the mayor must ensure that the evicted are offered an alternative land and must also fulfil his promises of free basic services.

The march was a success though the memorandum was not responded to. On the 21st of March 2003 (Human Rights Day), we had a march\rally and we were supposed to hand over the memorandum to ward councillors who never showed up. Nevertheless we had a successful political awareness rally. The participation of more than 800 people, from 9am to 4pm, was amazing (see the article BREAK-IN BY 800 PEOPLE ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY).

EDUCATION

In most of our local schools we realised that most children are still unaware of their educational rights. As a result, we have formed TSEBO and intend to conduct workshops on education rights in our schools and our community at large. TSEBO is a community education project formed to help people who are unable to read and write. So far, we have about 12 classes of Adult Basic Literacy and 5 pre-schools. We also train youth regarding cultural matters where they perform cultural songs and dances of different cultural groups and many educational activities. TSEBO works hand in hand with BOCOSFO|APF since it educates the same people who are oppressed, only that educationally we are TSEBO but politically we are BOCOSFO|APF.

ELECTRICITY

In Bophelong we also experience the problems of pre-paid meters. The quantity of electricity paid for has been reduced (e.g., for R10 the electricity used to be worth 2799kwh - now its only 2129kwh and it lasts for less than a week). When you don’t have electricity, you won’t have any lights on. As BOCOSFO\APF we have decided to bridge for our own electricity and we’ll do the same for any member of our community who is in need since we were promised free electricity but all we see is prepaid meters and we are tired of them, we are unemployed.

HOUSING

Housing is still a major problem in our community. Almost half of our community is living in squatter camps. Those who were fortunate enough to get houses are not satisfied since the houses are too small so there is lack of privacy. Many houses were also badly built. We demand therefore that the council should build proper, more reasonable houses with more sense of privacy.

These are some of our struggles in Bophelong and we are planning to fight until the ruling party delivers. It better be soon - before the elections - since we are planning to obstruct the procedure of voting around our area. We are actually planning to hinder the voting process on all fronts. So unless our demands are fulfilled, we are not going to vote!

DOWN WITH DRUNK COUNCILLORS DOWN!!! NO LAND! NO VOTE! WE ARE TIRED OF EMPTY PROMISES! IT’S TIME TO DELIVER!!!