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Occupations are the tool to hold government to account, say housing activists

"It's important to show that we can host this congress whatever the conditions," said Megan Bobotyana, one of the occupiers and MC for the evening. "Here there's no electricity, no running water, no working toilets, but we can still host this meeting.”

The occupation, organised by Reclaim the City, began in March 2017.

"For two years, not a brick has been laid [at proposed government social housing sites]," said Karen Hendricks, the group's Woodstock chapter leader. "So we will continue to occupy, resist, and disrupt until affordable housing is built in the inner city.

"Historical dispossession has left us absolutely no choice but to continue to point out that we are living in an unjust, unequal city," added Hendricks. "Occupations are the tool used to hold the government to account."

On display were photographs of various protests and occupations by Reclaim the City over the past three years. Protest banners reading "Redistribute this public land! Redistribute all public land! Reclaim the City!" and "You can't lead this struggle, see you in court! #StoptheSale" hung in the trees.

"We are all here with our own unique stories, but our struggle is the same," said Fagmeedah Ling, one of the movement's leader. "The struggle is long but we are not going to stop. We will continue to fight."

Ling, who was evicted from her home in Woodstock in 2016, was one of four speakers who opened the congress with a discussion on how "movements move politics".

Along with activists from partner organisations - the District Six Museum, Social Justice Coalition, and Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education - she set the tone for the rest of the meeting, prioritising solidarity in the movement.

"No more relocation camps. No more displacement," said Ling as she ended her speech. "We are staying right where we are. There are many other occupations still to come and that is why we need the solidarity of everyone sitting here."

Messages of support from partner organisations peppered the programme. On Saturday, Reclaim the City members were split into six groups to reflect on what had been achieved in the past year and where the movement needed to focus next year.

Members voiced concern over the increasing number of evictions taking place, not only in the city but in rural areas and farms as well. Many commented on the growing issue of displacement in the Western Cape and the need to expand the movement to include those living outside the city who needed support.

Elizabeth Gqoboka, a founding member, said, "It’s not about fighting for affordable housing in the inner city, but it's now about fighting for vulnerable people who are being displaced from where they lived."

Abdool Karim is a Daily Maverick intern seconded to GroundUp.

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