PETITION AGAINST THE MOVE OF INFORMAL HOUSING TO ANDEON AH - KENNETH AND MACK STREETS

Informal settlements are housing areas that are often illegally built on municipal land. In South Africa, these settlements are found in a variety of areas and are home to a large percentage of the country's impoverished population.

“All role players must strive for the establishment of viable, socially
and economically integrated communities which are situated in
areas allowing convenient access to economic opportunities, health,
educational and social amenities and within which South Africa’s people
will have access on a progressive basis to: a permanent residential
structure with secure tenure, ensuring privacy and providing adequate
protection against the elements; potable water and adequate sanitary
facilities including waste disposal and domestic electricity supply.”
- Joe Slovo, the former Minister of Housing at the signing of the Botshabelo Housing Accord, 27 October 1994.

Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter) guarantees the right to property, stating that this right shall only be encroached upon in the interest of public need or in the general interest of the community, and in accordance with the provisions of appropriate laws. It also states, in Article 24, that all people shall have the right to a general satisfactory environment favourable to their development.

The South African Constitution defines ‘children’ as persons below the age of 18.  An estimated one fifth of children are orphaned and at least 64.5% of children live in low-income households and are impacted by poverty. Children also experience food insecurity and struggle to access basic education and basic services such as sanitation and water.  South African children are also exposed to high levels of violence.

By establishing the informal housing in the area, we as a community would allow the South African Government to stand against their own Human Rights Act, an Act that allows us equality, human dignity, life, privacy, freedom and security. By allowing this informal housing settlement, we are taking part in denying the people their right to healthy, stable and sanitary living conditions. We are also allowing the South African Government to take away the rights of our chidren.

Join us today by signing this petition in order for the South African Government to acknowledge the faults in their system, and to follow the laid down rules, regulations and procedures that was made by them. The people of South Africa deserves more than just an open field where they are forced to survive due to the lack of respect and dignity by the South African Government.

Coen-Mari Louw    Contact the author of the petition