The Joe Slovo Informal Settlement

By Alyson Zandt

On a recent weekend, the Weekend Argus ran an article entitled ‘Youths at forefront of Joe Slovo protests.’ This article is chronicling the involvement of the youth in last week’s N2 Gateway protests by residents of Joe Slovo, the informal housing settlement named for perhaps the most famous white activist in the Anti-Apartheid movement. The government is currently implementing a plan to advance the economic situation of communities directly alongside the N2 highway. This project has two primary goals: to improve the circumstances of the numerous residents of informal settlements flanking the N2 and to make Cape Town more appealing to tourists and international investment. The N2 is the main thoroughfare between the airport and the city, and as a result it is the first impression of Cape Town that visitors have.


Because the government would prefer investors and tourists to view development rather than abject poverty upon arrival, a plan was developed to move residents of communities out of their shacks so that formal housing could be built in the area. As the article discusses, this means uprooting an entire community and moving them to a less desirable area. When the formal housing is completed, there will not even be enough room for everyone to return. Today I was in an informal settlement in Atlantis. Despite the housing backlog, the informal houses are slowly being replaced by government houses. In this case, the residents remain in their informal homes until the formal housing (just on the other end of the settlement) is completed. This would not work in Joe Slovo because there is no undeveloped land nearby for the government to build on, but it does show that not all removals are so negative for the residents.


The N2 Gateway Project has been in the works for several years now, and it has been in no way secret. Only recently have the protests begun, despite the awareness in Joe Slovo of the planning that was occurring. The reasoning for the recent uproar is unclear, but it could stem from the shift in government priorities. There was a program withtin the Office of Social Development that was tasked with communicating with those that would be affected by the N2 Gateway Project, but it was halted with the change in the local government. Since one of the problems is the residents of Joe Slovo not being informed of the process and another is that the government is unclear of the specific concerns and realities of Joe Slovo residents. Another possible reason is the current national tide of protests which began in Soweto and have spread to other urban centers.


This article was particularly interesting to me because I was inadvertently caught in the middle of the thousands gathering to go to the Cape Town High Court. They choose to march towards the court after gathering around the Phillip J. Sauer Building downtown—which just so happens to be where my office is located. Walking out of your office to be greeted by a mass of thousands of angry (but decidedly composed) protestors is a tad disconcerting. I found myself curious to know more about their reasons for gathering, but as a lone white female (and employee of the City) I thought it best to make my way through the large and intimidating crowd and continue on my way.


The connection to health of this situation is obvious—conditions in informal settlements are unsanitary, hazardous, and conducive to a variety of diseases and health risks. However, mental health is often overlooked by the development field, and the strength of community felt by Joe Slovo residents should not be disrupted without due consideration. Additionally, the proposed move to Delft will carry with it new heath concerns. The residents raise concerns about the cold and transport. Because of the more difficult transportation system in Delft, the youth would not be able to reach school or employment as easily. This means more down time and the loss of their support network, which increases risky lifestyle choices.


This situation has taught me a very important lesson about development—your view of progress as an affluent outsider is not necessarily shared nor is it always correct. While it is important to fight against poverty, traditional methods such as providing formal housing are not automatically the best option. It is essential to make sure that the people involved in orchestrating development (whether it is the government, civil society, or private interests) must emphasize communication and dialogue with the people ‘benefiting’ from the development. Culturally important aspects of peoples’ lives, such as a strong sense of community, should not be undervalued.