SEBOKENG. – “Time for negotiation is over. There’s no freedom without land”.
Most of the community say they still struggle to access RDP houses. One person owns two RDP houses in a yard at the Boipatong and Golden Gardens. The government has lost focus, the community say. Thousands of people are still without houses.
“Why should the government build two houses for one family while millions are on a waiting list? “South Africa has become a promised land ever since it gained democracy,” said United Front activist Brick Mokolo. Mokolo said that residents have not enjoyed the freedom they fought for. Addressing the community, he said: “Blood was not shed for nothing. Today we experience more pain than in the past.
“The lives of community members have gone from bad to worse since the dawn of democracy. Today our enemies are our own black leaders, who are even taking a stand to evict us through Red Ants. The matchbox RDP houses built by the same leaders are worse than those built by the old regime,” he added.
He said that when they fought the then regime, they did not want to pay for water, electricity, graves and a sewage system. UF united the struggles in the communities against the cutting of electricity, evictions and retrenchments. “We must reclaim our name – Vaal – and do away with the given name Sedibeng that suits individuals.” Sandra Tsotetsi, a vocal youth, encouraged her peers to unite to shake the sleepy Vaal region: “As the youth, we don’t believe in volunteers. We are still looking forward to the free education promised to us by the ANC government,” she said.
