Activists picket outside Cape Town Civic Centre

Blikkiesdorp resident Let Hanekom was among about 60 people who picketed outside the civic centre in Cape Town on Friday. Photo: Abonge Chiya

Cape Town residents and activists from 13 organisations picketed outside the Civic Centre on Friday.

The group’s concerns included the lack of affordable housing, safety, and the construction of data centres and the N2 safety wall.

Organisations represented included Project 90 by 2030, the Climate Justice Coalition, the Housing Assembly, Feed the Future for Life, Fossil Free South Africa, Extinction Rebellion Cape Town, Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute, and members of the Western Cape Coalition Against Xenophobia.

“We demand affordable, safe, sustainable and climate-resilient housing and transport for all. The City of Cape Town must prioritise equitable access to land, security of tenure, basic services and community-led decision-making in housing and urban development,” read the memorandum.

The group handed over their memorandum of demands to Helen Davies, head of risk and resilience at the City. Davies promised to share the memo with the relevant departments.

Blikkiesdorp resident Let Hanekom said she joined the protest to plead with the City for better services.

“We’re suffering in Blikkiesdorp with a shooting every day. We are so scared for our kids and our lives,” she said.

Hanekom said she hopes their pleas for better safety and health services will be heard.

Protest organiser Gabriel Klaasen said, “We organised this protest ahead of the local elections because residents have suffered under these injustices for too long.”

“We came to ask our leaders how much more must we pay when it comes to our dignity, safety and freedom,” said Klaasen.

He said many members from Delft, Mfuleni and Khayelitsha who had planned to join the picket feared coming into the city due to the ongoing taxi violence.

Breyton Declaire, from Feed The Future for Life, said one of their members was shot and killed last week.

“I had to stand here today and fight ten times harder,” he said.

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