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| Author | Symphony Way Pavement Dwellers |
|---|---|
| Language | English, Afrikaans |
| Subject | Land Rights,Civil Rights.Citizenship |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Published | 1 March 2011Pambazuka Press (first edition) |
| Publication place | South Africa |
| Media type | Paperback |
| Pages | 160 |
| ISBN | 9781906387846 (pbk.) 9780857490308 (ebook - PDF) |
No Land! No House! No Vote! Voices from Symphony Way is an anthology published in 2011 of 45 factual tales written and edited by theSymphony Way Pavement Dwellers.
The foreword to the book is written by activist and authorRaj Patel and the introduction is penned byMiloon Kothari, formerUnited Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing.
The book follows hundreds of shackdwellers in the township ofDelft inCape Town. The stories are real-life accounts of the struggle of theSymphony Way Pavement Dwellers. In early 2007, they were moved into houses they had been waiting for since the end ofApartheid but soon were told that the move had been illegal and they were removed from their new homes. In protest, they occupied Symphony Way, a main road opposite the housing project. It soon blossomed into a settlement of hundreds of shacks inhabited by organised protesting families. It became known as Symphony Way and was the home ground of the Symphony WayAnti-Eviction Campaign, whose membership vowed to stay on the road until the government gave them permanent housing.[1]
The community was eventually evicted after almost two years occupying Symphony Way. They were moved to theBlikkiesdorp temporary relocation area where they are still struggling for land and housing.[2][3]
In his forward,Raj Patel says that the book is "both testimony and poetry" and contributor Conway Payn "opens the door to a world of compassion, of fellow-suffering, that holds you firm."[4] The introduction is contributed byMiloon Kothari, who wasUnited Nations Special Rapporteur on adequate housing between 2000 and 2008.[5]
The overall theme in the book is the shackdwellers' struggle for land, housing and dignity as human beings. However, the stories also cover many general issues within poor communities including relationships and physical abuse. The authors' concerns range from safety on "their" road to the impending eviction because of the2010 FIFA World Cup.[6][7]
Another recurring theme throughout the anthology is how the struggle enabled the pavement dwellers to build a strong community on the road.[8]
Journalist and authorNaomi Klein said that the book is "A beauty, extraordinary in every way."[9][10] Critical geographerMichael Watts, called the book "a clarion call for basic human rights and for human dignity".[10]
Historian and anti-apartheid activist,Martin Legassick, says in his review of the book forAmandla! Magazine: "I wish I could bury the noses ofTokyo Sexwale and Bonginkosi Madikazela in its pages. Everyone should buy this book and read it".[11] In his review inRed Pepper Magazine he says that the book is "a remarkable and moving volume, charged with emotion and satiated with reasonableness".[12]
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