Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09CAPETOWN169, PROTESTS OVER LACK OF HOUSING CONTINUES

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09CAPETOWN169.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09CAPETOWN169 2009-07-31 19:14 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Consulate Cape Town
VZCZCXRO1548
PP RUEHDU RUEHJO
DE RUEHTN #0169 2121914
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311914Z JUL 09
FM AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3148
INFO RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 6458
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0119
RUEHJO/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG 2160
RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 3304
UNCLAS CAPE TOWN 000169 
 
AF/S  FOR RMARBURG AND MJAMES 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SF
SUBJECT:  PROTESTS OVER LACK OF HOUSING CONTINUES 
1. (U)  On July 30, 2009 about 300 people gathered at the entrance 
to Masiphumelele, an informal settlement near Fish Hoek in the 
Southern Suburbs of Cape Town to protest against lack of housing. 
The protesters blocked Kommetjie Road obstructing access to 
 
motorists on their way to work and burnt tires and stoned pa3@tuQZ1QMca reside 
in an informal 
dwelling. While most live in informal settlements, significant 
proportions have erected shacks in the backyard of another property, 
a distinctly South African phenomenon. Backyard dwellings have 
historically been overlooked by housing policies that focus on 
upgrading and eradicating informal settlements. Previously, backyard 
dwellers were perceived as marginalized, living in appalling 
conditions and exploited by cavalier landlords. 
4. (U) Several protests over housing have taken place in the area 
over the last few weeks as backyard dwellers are unhappy about the 
Amakhaya Ngoku housing development in the area.  Amakhaya Ngoku 
(meaning homes now) was formed in 2006 by local residents after a 
fire destroyed about 400 shacks, leaving more than 1 000 people 
homeless. After months of consultations and meetings residents 
agreed the shortage of land made free-standing houses impossible and 
settled for 352 sectional title apartments. The project will offer 
residents a rent-to-buy scheme that allows them to rent their homes 
for four years at R400 a month, after which they can buy and own 
them. The project, which was approved by the Department of Local 
Government and Housing has not been without controversy.  Ever since 
the development was proposed, various groups of residents have 
clashed over the plan and its proposed site, an area formerly 
suggested as school premises. Long-time residents of Masiphumelele 
support the Amakhaya project, but people who arrived later and 
erected shacks on theQrQQwith the MEC for Housing, Bonginkosi Madikizela. 
Amakhaya Ngoku is under immense pressure to start construction in 
order to fulfill the funding conditions of some of its international 
sponsors. Foreign donations are contributing more than R35-million 
to the project and failure to start building soon could put some of 
this money at risk, as well as increase building costs. PolAsst 
spoke with the media spokesperson for the MEC for Housing who 
declined to comment on the current situation in Masiphumelele. 
 
 
.