RESPONSE TO THE POLICE ATTACKS ON INFORMAL TRADERS IN PRETORIA

The Ecumenical Service for Socio-Economic Transformation (ESSET), an independent ecumenical organisation that works for social and economic justice and transformation against the systematic exclusion and exploitation of the poor condemns in the strongest words possible the continued police attacks on informal traders as witnessed in various areas in Tshwane last week and over the weekend.

As an organisation that has been accompanying informal traders for years now, ESSET was deeply disturbed to see on the news informal traders being chased around and shot with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons. This was taking place at the backdrop of the brutal killings of the Lonmin miners in Marikana at the hands of police. We would not want to see the repeat of the horrific images of such unnecessary killings, especially whilst still fresh on our memories. On the 27 August 2012, ESSET went with a delegation consisting of church ministers and representatives of informal traders associations to Tshwane to show solidarity with traders and seek to understand what was going on. As we arrived in Tshwane, the informal traders had embarked on yet another march and camped outside the Mayor of the City of Tshwane’s offices, where police contingent monitored the situation.

We learnt that the informal traders had been seeking audience with the City of Tshwane Executive Mayor Sputla Ramokgopa in an endeavour to engage him about unilateral decisions taken to evict them from their trading sites. Despite not being able to meet the Executive Mayor, the traders are giving the Municipal Steering Committee appointed to deal with their demands a chance. Yesterday (31/08/2012), the Tshwane informal traders’ leadership will meet the committee to engage further. In our interaction with informal traders, we found out that most of them were frustrated at their relocation. They are aware that once they are evicted from their trading sites, their income would not be guaranteed anymore. Recently, we have learnt how widows of killed miners whom most are from poverty-stricken provinces like Eastern Cape have to fend for themselves and raise children alone.

The Informal traders in Tshwane have informed us of how the police started impounding their stock and told them to leave their trading sites. Neli Shabangu one of the traders in Tshwane explained: “we had planned a march to the Office of the Executive Mayor where we were to hand over our memorandum of demands. Our march was necessitated by the police attacks on us earlier in the week. They forced us to vacate our trading sites, especially those of us who were trading in Van der Walt street in the Central Business District and in Marabastad. The police said they were following the orders of the Executive Mayor who wanted us off the streets to make way for the Tshwane beautification project. We do not think that it is fair to just evict us from where we have been trading without providing alternative trading sites for us”.

The unjustified attacks on informal traders in Tshwane are not an isolated incident, they reprise in various other cities across the country. As Neli rightly suggests, these attacks are part of the beautification project undertaken by city councils aimed at boosting tourism and attracting investors. These are done, we are told to attract investments to the cities whilst at the same time promoting and protecting the interests of big businesses. In the process, there is very little care about the effects on the livelihoods of the poor. It is outrageous the extent to which our governments are willing to go to fulfil the dream of World Class cities associated with these beautification campaigns. In Lesotho, the informal traders are exasperated with their government for allocating huge tracts of public land to big businesses-owned private shopping malls, whilst failing to build linear markets for street and market traders.  Whilst big businesses complain about competition from informal traders, we find it rather disturbing that big businesses are allowed to compete directly with informal trades. In Lesotho and Swaziland, these businesses go to an extent of employing informal traders and erect trading stalls outside their business premises to compete with street traders. This is unfair trading that force informal traders out of business. The tendency to prohibit informal trade affects women greatly because they are in the majority in the sector and most of them thought they had escaped poverty by joining informal trade to feed their families.

The recent police attacks on informal traders in Tshwane can only tell us one thing; that we have not learnt our lessons from the tragedy in Marikana. Instead of seeking to resolve issues peacefully and amicably where there are disagreements, police are used as a ploy to shut down those with less power, especially the poor. Section 12 of the Bill of rights in the Constitution states that everyone has the right to freedom and security, which includes the right to be free from all forms of violence, not to be tortured; and not to be treated or punished in a cruel, in human or degrading way.  However, it is clear that the poor do not enjoy the benefits of this clause and those who are perpetuating the brutality on the poor is those who are supposed to protect them. We are however not surprised at the actions of the City of Tshwane and his refusal to engage with the informal traders. Executive Mayor Sputla Ramokgopa was previously the CEO of Johannesburg Metro Trading Company, which is known for its ill –treatment on informal traders. This company, which is supposed to manage informal trading in some cities in the country, is often surrounded by allegations of corruption through demands for bribes by its staff. Fed up imperturbability calm

The fact that the informal traders and miners confronted death by standing up against the police should tell us about irascibility because of sustained injustice, inequality and abject poverty meted at them. The protests and marches we are witnessing lately indicate the anger and frustration of the poor workers at the attack of their rights and dignity. These workers refuse to be seen as vulnerable victims of the unjust system that continues to undermine them. They have in themselves the ability to bring about the change they want to see in their lives. The determination of the informal traders in Tshwane to withstand the police attacks on them and evictions bears testimony to this. To avoid more of these kinds of protests in future, it would seem that it is no longer a choice for our government but to prioritise the systematic nature of our economy which breeds poverty and inequality to ensure economic liberation to all.

ESSET is calling on all South Africans, Churches and social justice practitioners to stand in solidarity with the informal traders other formations of the poor and condemn injustice imposed on them. For the church, this is a scriptural mandate that calls for the affirmation of the fullness of life for all (John 10:10) and to seek and announce the reign and kingdom of God on earth. We are also appealing for the implementation of the call made by the Archbishop of Cape Town for all church leaders to visit informal traders in their sites of struggle across the country. This call led to pastoral visits that took place in June 2012 around Gauteng to selected sites of informal traders. However, other decisions that were made to this effect are yet to be implemented. Amongst these, is the engagement of political leaders who impose on municipalities to implement their unjust and heartless by-laws and policies.  

Reflecting on the gist of Women’s month

ESSET certainly support and agree with the original intent of Women’s Month that seeks to honour women from all walks of life in our country. Off course tribute goes to the famous Women's march against the pass laws of 9^th August 1956 which challenged the Apartheid era policies and altered how women are perceived in society today. This famous march organized by the Federation of South African Women challenged the idea that 'a woman's place is in the kitchen’. We should always be inspired by the valiant feats of women of 1956 because they rose to fight for their emancipation though they were in the margins of society and naturally considered feeble.

In order to appreciate and better advance the contribution of women, our society needs to understand that women are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image. Thus we should utilise Women’s Month as a time to thank women for being the gifts God has placed on the earth and the many hats they wear; from raising children, helping with household chores, providing for their families etc. The story of the creation of Adam and Eve is the first place where we would trace the worth of women. Genesis 1: 27-28 tells us that when God created human beings, he made them to be like himself. He created them male and female. In fact before God created human beings, as He was creating animals and objects He pronounced different aspects of it as "good." The first "not good" ensued on the sixth day after God had created Adam and then said it was "not good for the man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18). After this, God caused Adam to fall into deep sleep, then He took a rib from him and created Eve (Genesis 2:21). The exclamation: “At last! This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.” made by Adam when he first saw Eve is telling how very good God had made her (Genesis 2: 23).

However, it is interesting that though God has created women in His image the society that we leave in today, still look down on women. Some people seem to have traditionally justified giving women a subservient and oppressive role in society based on the fact that God made Eve from Adam's rib. They remain ignorant that Eve was taken from Adam's rib because she was his equal and God intended for her to stand beside him, not below him, not behind him and not above him. In South Africa, despite efforts to dedicate the month of August to celebrate and honour women as well as putting in place legislations and policies to recognise and protect them, many of them are still prejudiced by some men and the system of the day. Therefore, a pertinent question we need to ask ourselves as we commemorate Women’s Month is whether there has been any significant shifts made since we declared 9th August a public holiday and dedicated the whole month to show respect to women. Has the many encouraging speeches made during Women’s Month by government leaders and glamorous events often organised to celebrate women ever helped to better their lives?

Women traders, the community partners that ESSET works with have on numerous occasions complained about how some men hides behind religion and culture to abuse them. They told us how spiritual healers often accuse them for practising witchcraft when they are in contact with them during their menstrual periods. Sometimes they could tell them that they are possessed by an evil spirit whilst not knowing that it’s because they are only on their periods. Women traders also complained of traditionalist male customers who refuse to buy food that is cooked and served by a woman trader who is on her menstrual period. These men argue that women traders must stay at home when having their periods. Meanwhile, the recent findings of the Participatory Research conducted amongst the informal and cross border traders within the Southern African Development Community shows that there are also unequal gender power relations between the men and women traders. Men traders exclude women traders from organizational discussions and decision-making processes. On the other hand, women traders also silence each other’s voices and contribute to their own subordination.

It is a sad reality that for many years’ women were socially treated as an inferior gender and often put under the guidance of either their husbands or fathers. For instance, the Customary law gave black women the status of minors and excluded them from rights regarding children and property whilst the common law deprived white women of guardianship and various economic rights. It was only after the introduction of the Bill of Rights that women were considered equal citizens as men. However, the fact that women are recognized did not mean that they are instantaneous saved from the shame of working in lowly paid jobs. According to the survey by Women24, South African women earn 65% less than their male counterparts, sometimes even when they are employed to do the same jobs. This put more burdens on women, especially single parents who have to make ends meet with less money. The fact that women tend to live longer than men and often with less income in retirement make their economic distresses even agonizing.

ESSET is of the view that Women’s Month is also an opportune time to reflect on the progress made to advance the struggle of women. A time to challenge stereotypes that a woman’s role is only limited to the kitchen, child rearing or being a helper to her husband? Interestingly, the Bible is not limiting of the roles women can play, instead it affirms women in many positions, including business. In Acts 16:13-15, we are told of Lydia from the city of Thyatira (Asia Minor) who was a prudent dealer of purple cloth. Her city was also known for its commerce and abundant crops. Purple cloth was expensive and valuable as a sign of nobility or royalty so as a dealer of the cloth she would have probably been a wealthy businesswoman herself. The famous Proverbs 31 woman story is an archetypal of what would happen in our society if we help to support and advance women in their many endeavours of life. The Proverbs 31 woman was a successful businesswoman who not only was able to take care of her family, but also made her husband to be respected within his community.

As we dialogue and reflect on women issues, challenges and advancement during Women’s month we should not be selectively. We must also cater for the needs and issues of women who are put to the margins of our society either by birth or their deeds. We should not feel ashamed to even talk about sensitive and moral issues such as that of prostitution. It is common knowledge that there is marginalisation and stigma of women prostitutes in our communities and many of them are often deprived of basic rights and remain victims of hate crimes. The encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan woman in John 4: 3-42 demonstrate that Jesus also came for the outcasts. Jesus did something that was a Jewish culturally forbidden at Jacob’s well: he spoke to a woman in public. Jesus asked her for a drink of water. She was justifiably shocked: a Jewish man was speaking to her, a Samaritan woman? He also should not have wanted to share a vessel with her for drinking water since it would be considered unclean.

As their conversation continued Jesus eventually told her that she has had five husbands, and was now living with a man who was not her husband. After Jesus told the woman about her life, she knew that he was a prophet. It would be possible that the reason she was on the sixth men was because men had married her, then found out that she couldn’t have children and divorced her. The other possibility would be that her only other choice after husband number five died or divorced her was prostitution. Therefore, it could also be possible that this woman was an outcast and looked down by her community hence she even can to the well alone. Jesus was probably sensitive to her needs, to be restored of her dignity and reconciled with those who used to laugh at her. After their conversation with Jesus she went and told her people about Jesus and brought them to him, so they could see and hear for themselves. This demonstrates the restoration and transformation that has taken place in her life and her community.

Whilst passing through sadness, trials and tribulations women have inner strength to withstand pain. The story about Ruth in the first chapter of Ruth in the Bible helps to capture the fortitude, sacrifice, integrity and loyalty of women during trying times. Unlike her sister in law, Ruth, a gentile from the country of Moab refused to return to her parent’s home and remarry after the death of her husband. She told her mother-in-law, Naomi: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me” (Ruth 1:16–17). At the end we see Ruth’s commitment and character paying off (Ruth 4:9-10); she was married by Boaz, a rich farmer and one of Naomi’s relatives. With Ruth married to Boaz, Naomi knew that she would not have to worry about lacking food any more. She is also named as one of four females named in the genealogy of Jesus at the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew.

In the 21^st century women ought not to shy away from displaying their God given talents and leadership capabilities. Like the women 1956 today’s women must challenge the current status quo which asserts men as superior gender whilst disregarding their capabilities and worth. Judges 4: 4 shows that women also have leadership abilities. The chapter narrates how Deborah, a prophetess and a female judge in Israel devised a battle strategy that gave the out-numbered and badly-equipped Israelite troops victory over their Canaanite enemy. As a prophetess and a judge, Deborah was a tribal leader, who settles disputes and problems of her people and in times of war acted as a rallying point to gather the tribes and organize resistance. She had authority rather than power, and people respected her for the qualities she had, rather than for her military might or physical strength. Unlike her predecessors who were mostly male judges, Deborah stands out from them for her wisdom, courage and faith in God.

We must not sit on our laurels as the country and say that we have Women’s month to celebrate and dialogue around pertinent issues affecting women. Certainly, more need to be done to address the gender prejudice that still exists in our society today. We must do more to afford women equal opportunities that are often given to men and ensure that the role of women in society is enhanced. For God created a woman in His image not lesser than a man. Liberia and Malawi have set good examples for Africa and the entire world by having women Presidents and thus demonstrating the abilities of women. The recent election of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the first woman to Chair the African Union is also a welcomed move in allowing women to take greater responsibilities and to display their God given talents. Let us not seek to demean women in leadership in our churches and ecumenical organisations but instead be supportive and celebrate their ascendency to positions of power as the feat for gender justice.

 

REST IN PEACE, MS OTTILIA CHIKOSHA!!!

It is with great The former President described Prime Minister Zenawi as “an outstanding and committed African patriot and leader” who did his best to address Ethiopia’s and Africa’s developmental challenges.”

“Those of us who have had the privilege to spend time with our brother and leader will sorely miss his razor-sharp intellect which he deployed for the advancement of Ethiopia, the East African region and the continent as a whole.”

Former President Mbeki recalled the readiness with which Prime Minister Zenawi contributed a 4,200 Ethiopian peace-keeping force to Abyei, Sudan, under the auspecies of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). This was at the request of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP) which former President Mbeki chairs.

Said Mr. Mbeki: “Throughout the life of the AUHIP, Ethiopia, through Prime Minister Zenawi, has been a critical component to the Panel’s success.

“He often found time in his busy schedule to think together with members of the Panel on how to realise the Panel’s mandate and to overcome various obstacles and challenges.

“We join millions of Africans from across the continent as we convey our deepest condolences to Prime Minister Zenawi’s family, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.”sadness to inform you about the passing away of Ms Ottilia Chikosha who was buried on the 18 August 2012 in Zimbabwe. We learnt this week that Ms Chikosha passed away after a short illness. Ms Chikosha served as an Executive Director for Regional Export Promotion Women's Trust, an organisation based in Zimbabwe that amongst others; do independent research on trade markets to provide Zimbabwean women with expertise and training on business expansion in emerging regional markets.

The partnership between ESSET and Regional Export Promotion Women's Trust started after Ms Chikosha attended the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Churches Dialogue on Justice and Informal Trade hosted by ESSET in October 2010. Our partnership with her organization after this event was very critical as they work with women, informal and cross border traders in Zimbabwe. Ms Chikosha played a leading role last year partnered by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches in co-ordinating Economic and Sexual Violence campaign in Zimbabwe. The same campaign was concurrently run in other SADC countries like South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia.

Those who interacted with Ms Chikosha appreciated her assertiveness, lively personality, her commitment to women empowerment and advancing their socio-economic rights. ESSET would like to convey a message of condolences to the Chikosha family, the Regional Export Promotion Women's Trust staff and all her friends and partners in struggle.

May her soul Rest in Peace!!!