The South African Shack Dwellers Trying to Find a Voice (2008)

A Place in the City (2008): Inside the struggle of South Africa s post-apartheid shack dwellers For downloads and more information visit: http://journeyman.tv/59335/short-films/a-place-in-the-city.html More than a decade after apartheid ended millions of South Africans still live in basic home-made shacks. We hear from the inhabitants as they eloquently argue their case for real citizenship rights. The shack dwellers movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo, began in 2005. Their slogan is Talk to us, not about us. It s not that people like to live in shacks. No one will ever want to live in these conditions but they need to be close to their work explains S bu Zikode, Abahlali s elected leader. However, the group has not been welcomed by the ANC. They ve been met with aggression rather than with negotiations. Police shot Mariet Kikine with six rubber bullets at a peaceful demonstration. I m not stopping to fight the government for my rights. Now they ve made me brave. In the build-up to the 2010 soccer World Cup, Durban shack dwellers fear they will be bulldozed out of the city, or arrested. This new legislation makes it a crime to build shacks or resist demolition and eviction. But the shack dwellers are determined not to give up. Morgan - Ref. 4279 Journeyman Pictures is your independent source for the world s most powerful films, exploring the burning issues of today. We represent stories from the world s top producers, with brand new content coming in all the time. On our channel you ll find outstanding and controversial journalism covering any global subject you can imagine wanting to know about.