The Retrenched and Disadvantaged

Vaal is the economic hub for South Africa, is the industrial arrear were you find companies dealing with different poisonous chemicals. This chemical affects workers and the people leaving in the surrounding areas.

Majority of people flock from Lesotho, Siskei, Transkai and Kwazulu Natal to work for companies like Iscor (mittal steel), Sasol, Samancor and other industries as the migrant workers.

The company will hire people and accommodates them in the hostels and this hostels will be classified according to there ethnicity. There will be sections for the Zulu speaking people, section for Xhosas etc.Acording to the group area act of 1913.

The groups will be thought to speak the language that will be understood by there bosses only and not to interact with other group. (That language was Fanakaloko) which was the mixture of Zulu, Afrikaans or Xhosa Afrikaans. There were schools inside the hostel specifically to train workers to know this language.
The workers will work at this company’s withought any safety. When they see that you are now sick in the way that you can’t work anymore they will retrench you send you to go back home and die with nothing.

1994 election where won and the President was the Democratic elected and workers expected the lot to happen in there live than during apartheid.

2000 the gear policies was enforced and the majority of people loosed there Jobs as the companies were now in the hands of the Private sectors. The migrant workers expected the Black Government to deliver its promises, but all in vain.

Comrades Phenius Malapela, Themba Mbhele, Oupa hlangalala ,Caswell Motseapuo,Mr Xokoi and Elliot Ntsundo were in the for front to challenge the Government to deliver and give the workers there surplus moneys.

The year 2002 they mobilized the retrenched workers from the different companies to demand there money and the compensation for been poisoned by the companies like Mittal, Sasol etc. the retrenched most have worked at the companies for more than thirty years but when they were retrenched they were given nothing. So now they are busy waiting the companies and Government.

The different strategies have been applied to force the companies to pay the retrenched, but they turn the blind eye to the problems. As you can see most of the people attending the meeting at Zone 11 stadium every Wedsday are most elderly people. Life is very difficult for them, some they go to bed with hungry stomach, some they even have the problem of getting the grant from government. Our struggle is to force the companies to pay and Government to interfere.

2010 will be a dream not real if workers don’t get there monies.

Struggle continue

2010 Soccer World Cup is Coming

The Community of Kanana is situated next to the big roads like the Golden Highway and the National road N1, fifty kilometers away from Johannesburg. Fifteen years back the community faced with the threat from apartheid police and soldiers for invading the land which belongs to the then Transvaal Administration. After the 1994 elections : new government , new elections, new promises, new constitution. Chapter 2 subsection 24 states that "everyobe has the right to environment that is not harmful to their health or well being.


This open field is the place the children of Kanana had to play soccer. It was used as teh soccer field since the formation of the Kanana. It was used by elderly people and the young people to play soccer and for training in teh morning and in the afternoon.The first councillor decided to change the field to be the plough field without the concern of the community.Although there was a dispute against the action.The community appraoched the mayor who turned a blind eye to the matter.Today the children continue to play in teh field as there is no alternative place to play for them.The failure of the councillor to further his mission has made the community to use that place as the dumping site for them. They dump bottles nappies plastics and garden refuse.



We are counting the day before teh 2010 soccer world cup.The lots of preparations are been done to welcome the visitors from other countries and investors.Billions of rands are being spent to erect first class stadiums, advertisements etc. to impress visitors for soccer tournament.The questions is who is important than others.South African or people from other countries.If the children of the soil are still playingwith their bare feet at dusty soccer field in our townships.What is the best constitution of South Africa doing to protect its people.Because if you read through it , it talks of dignity. What are we giving to the children who are future leaders of the country.It is more than 13 years people of Kanana are promised that this soccer field will be erected to suit the standard of living but is the dumping area for the community. The tax payers monies are spent to satisfy the need of the capitalist.

My interview with a member of the community who stay next to teh soccer field. She is one of teh ward committee members . She stated that the field is surrounded by the big stones and dumping. One of the children who use to play socer has been hurt by pieces of bottles which are thrown around the field. Teh matter has been taken up by the Ward Councillor, who promised to make follow up and ensure that the field is developed for the children to play, even today nothing has happened. She further said that the smell of dead animals come right in our houses. Most of them are struggling from lungs related diseases and no one is taking rsponsiblity for that our health health is taken very cheap by our Government.

The community must unite adn defend their dignity there right to decent living standard. Children has teh right to play so we need to ensure that these rights are protected.

Is Kanana the first class Area Now?

Driving inn the area, 15 years of democracy and existence of Kanana you will be welcomed by the dusty streets even the car can’t travel inn, Dumping on the side of the road and every community site, no recreational center, no library, no school, no clinics, no child care centres the only private for those who are employed and have money, no street lights which contribute to the crime in the area. Poverty is the order of the day, 95% unemployment rate in the area. Houses are like toilets some even cracking. Despite the numbers of demonstrations and negotiations with the local and provincial government but still no changes.

After Apartheid

After Election

After the elections when the new Black government took over the Presidency. Everyone had the hope for better future, better houses and services as promised. As the first Informal settlement in the South Africa everyone who took the office wanted to come and tour the area.995 as the first Housing Minister Joe Slovo saw the area as the chance for him to prove apartheid wrong and crime against humanity he never hesitated to put his food and make promise to give bigger houses than the one of apartheid. He also declares Kanana as the priority settlement then put the area under the rapid land programme. He invested R10million in federation housing funds called (Uchani funds) on housing scheme of Kanana. As cancer ate his body and his imminent departure score his soul. He seems to acknowledge in a small way the fundamental strategy to repay the apartheid debts to the black population by forcing the private sectors to build house for the black population of South Africa.withought any possibility of seeing the ends of justice that had been his life. He offered enough to take the people of Kanana to the next stage and no more.

About Kanana

KANANA is the name of the informal settlement situated at Vaal which is now called Sedibeng at the Southrensite of Johannesburg. When going to the area forced to drive over the Secondary road Called Golden highway or National road called N1. You pass through Grasmere, willies farm, Orange farm then left site you come across Kanana.

Historical Background

The Vaal itself is a historical area, when one hear the name you think of the defiance campaigns like Asinamali campaigns (one of the big Rent Boycott) Boipatong Massaccar, Boipatong massaccar which now Human rights day. The lot of things that can remind someon about the area.

During the time of the struggle though it toward the end of liberation struggle in South Africa when the Backyard Dwellers from the old townships of the Vaal like Evaton, Small farm and Sebokeng wanted to put the last nail to the end of Apartheid as they were tied up in the situation where they have to pay rent to there land owners hence everyone was restrained from paying a rent. The way to find the solution to the problem was to look for an alternative place to avoid Black against Black Violence. They community recognised the land which was an open space outside small farm. The land belonging to the then called Vaal provincial Administration. Though they had the plan but the Apartheid government was very hash on land invasion. Even though they know the result will be tortured and arrests, as the wounds of Boipatong massacre, Sharpeville shooting and other suffering we had was still open and painful. The people united to take over what belongs to them. It was on the 16^th April 1994 when they invade the land as you can see it was 11 Day towards the first National election in South Africa. Soldiers and the police were deployed to threaten the community they surround the area everyday to threaten people from building there shacks, but people ignored them. We knew it was dangerous but we never give-up we continue we mobilised our own defend unit. In the day we had 1500 sharks, the community unites and donate R20, 00 for installation of water which they had to do for themselves. It was amazed that 171 communal taps were installed. the Community leaders referred back to the bible to find the name for the area, the community find it Good to called it the place of milk and honey as it was won through hard times of struggle.

Now everyone is settled the name is KANANA.