Initiative Dinner
11 June 2007
Master of Ceremonies
Whenever the history of Soweto is told, invariably it has its central tenet
and that is the role it played in the history of the liberation struggle. Of
course accompanying this are images of box houses we all grew in, the
smoke-filled dusk � the remnants of a dust-filled day. This is an essential
part of the strong symbolism of Soweto. But this history has not been written
by the people of Soweto themselves, except in the poignant pictures of the
likes of Peter Magubane and Alf Khumalo and a few brave pieces from a
journalist here and there. The sad reality about history is that it does move
on beyond the high point in resistance and it is here that I hope that as the
story moves on it will tell the incredible triumph that each one here
represents in politics, art, sport, business, academia, journalism and
churches. I am hoping that the story will tell that out of the dusty streets
was born a generation that would hold its own against the best anywhere in the
world.
I have reflected on this idea I want to sell to you today for some time now.
Each time however I have been struck � always anew � by this side issue: In
you, Soweto has produced the best this country had been able to offer. Just
look to the people to your right, to your left and tell me where else this crop
could have been garnered so richly. But then, it had to be. We are the first
beneficiaries of solidly urbanised blacks. From us, much was expected. Our
forebears endured all manner of hardships to provide each of us here a home
through which they could instil a culture that would ultimately drive and guide
us, a home through which they could instil a culture that would be created for
each to grow to be a significant contributor in the betterment of our lives and
theirs. The community assumed a collective responsibility of protecting and
nurturing.
In the hierarchy of human needs, shelter ranks as the most basic. This is
the need that separates homo sapiens from other species, the need for shelter
and the human species depends on communities to survive. We have taken time to
study the effects of the environment on the development of an individual and it
confirms what we have always known that our environment shapes us. It would
therefore be correct to extract from this that we survived the ravages of the
time because there was such a strong sense of community around us and that we
cannot escape the reality that the community of Soweto made us what we are.
We are here now having come from a disadvantaged background. From where I
stand I can attest to the fact that disadvantage is relative. Our disadvantage
is a condition that sadly, many of those we left behind can only dream of. They
dream of the match-box houses because what separates them from the elements are
corrugated iron sheets. They dream of the dusty streets because what separates
them from their neighbour is often a rivulet of sewer. They dream of all the
disadvantages you had because in comparison the social condition of your lives
they aspire to. Poverty has very rapidly been urbanised, the poverty that
results from the move to towns and the after effects of influx control.
Soweto was built in 1936 because at this time the demand for housing had
become so great that and because some of the residents of Soweto had invaded
land � under Mpanza. The first land invasion recorded in an urban setting and
some 20 000 people squatted near Orlando called Masagan. Houses were built in
Orlando West, some parts of Dube. Soon the township of Tladi, Zondi, Dlamini,
Chiawelo and Semoane at the end of 1956; thus following there was Jabulani,
Phiri and Naledi. In total 25 000 houses for rental purposes were built for
black people. The last house was built in 1975, beyond that no houses were
built by the government.
What this means is that if you had a family of five children, they would
live in the same house even as they themselves accumulated their families. No
stock existed to cater for the natural growth of society. The natural
spill-over would either establish itself in the backrooms or move to join the
newly urbanised in the squatter settlements that have now become part of the
landscape of Soweto and these are the people whom most of us have left behind.
Occasionally, we go back briefly to catch up on our childhood and have a spell
of guilt about the conditions of the left behind. But we invariably leave the
misery behind and the people who have made us what we are to face yet another
stark winter without too much hope. Occasionally they complain, but by and
large they have imposed no moral tax on us. They are just very proud of what
all of you have become. Some name their children after you (well, I would like
to think that the reasons for that are only because they are proud of you and
nothing more).
When the history of our time is written, by ourselves, how will it judge us
� I wonder? How will it judge our conscience? Will they say of us: here were a
people who jumped off the Titanic and rowed away on the last available boat and
never looked back? That is not us, we pioneering leaders of our time brought up
on a heavy diet of social justice, of social responsibility. That is not us and
I know that because I have had glimpses of our guilt. I invited you here
tonight to say we can do something while we have the strength and opportunity.
We can give back something of what we have been given in such rich measure. I
have invited too, the eminent citizens of Soweto. I would like you to allow me
to guide you back home where collectively we can contribute to creating the
conditions that have shaped us. Come with me on this journey, it will give you
such a sense of fulfilment and pride. This is not only good for our own growth.
It is important for our conscience. It simply is the right thing to do. I, we
can do worse with our lives than do the right thing.
For most of us here our renewal depends on us ploughing back. It is as good
for you as it is for the people of Soweto. It creates an environment where you
can invest and have returns in those investments because as we all know
investment needs to be buttressed by a fairly safe and conducive environment.
This is a welcome intervention that should be encouraged. It is important at
this point that I emphasise government's position. We currently have 2,2
million on our waiting list. We require an estimated R120 billion to provide
these people with houses. Currently government provides R8 billion rand a year
against competing interests on the fiscus. If you have this at the back of your
mind you will understand that the people of Soweto need you. You are not being
asked to solve all their woes, but that which you can do will make an
impact.
An important fact I chanced upon in my research is this that Ernest
Oppenheimer was so appalled by the housing shortage that he was personally
instrumental in arranging a loan for a massive construction that saw the rise
of Jabulani, Phiri and Naledi. I therefore ask you to come and build homes with
me in Soweto because at the bottom of a stable community, at the base of human
dignity is the privacy of one's home. Come and bond with the people of Soweto,
they will be there to build too. Give them something no one could ever take
away, time with you and the asset that we will leave behind. Come with me on
this wondrous journey. You will feel such a sense of fulfilment that you will
wonder why it took so long.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Housing
11 June 2007
Source: Department of Housing (http://www.housing.gov.za
