Volume 37 Number 02

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mee'Come and kill us and take ourdead bodies to Khayelitshabecause that is the only way we,llgo there'- Crossroads residentsin 1983.After 17 months nothins haschanged. The people of -Crossroadsstill vehemently defendtheir right to choose where tollve.Crossroads is an internationalsymbol of resistance to apartheidand influx control. Three weeksago Crossroads exploded.UDF publicity secretary in theWestern Cape, Jonathan deVries, said rumours of imminentremovals and the presence ofgovernment employees from theTransvaal recently trucked in toKhayelitsha had created fear inAbout 700 Venda, Tswana andShangaan speaking men werebrought to Khayelitsha by theDepartment of Co-operationand Development on TuesdayFebruary 12.The people of Crossroads sawthis move as an obvious step inthe process of removals. Theirsuspicions were deepened whenthe Deputy Minister of Co-operationand Development stated inparliament that 'all squatters inthe Western Cape must go'.In the face of forced removalsstrong unity developed amongstall residents of Crossroads. Theywould resist removal until 'thelast drop of blood had beenshed,' they vowed at a massmeeting on Sunday, FebruaryI t.A unanimous decision wasmade by the community to stayhome from work on Mondav.February l8 to protect theirproperty.As a further sign of resistancebarricades were set up aroundthe camp. At about 6am thepolice moved in. Within hoursCrossroads resembled a warzone.In the ensuing unrest 18 residentsdied and over 200 wereinjured. Many of the victims hadbeen shot in the back, accordingto a report by the South AfricaiChristian Leadership Assembly,SACLA, clinic at Crossroads.On Thursday, February 21 theROSSROADS FEB-UARY 1985WEDNESDAY, 13 - Dr G Viljoen,Deputy Minister of Corationand Development,es in parliament that 'allers in the Western Capest go'.ID-AY, 15 - All meetings inWestern Cape's Africantownships banned until Sunday,17.TURDAY, 16 - Respresentativesfrom different squatterines decide to unite in faceY, 17 - Crossroads resiJ9defy banning order aat a mass meeting to staay from work on Mondav. 1protect their homes.take oath swearing onlyve Crossroads 'over theiMONDAY, 18 - Residerect barricades around ttter camp. Police move inm with teargas and rubber bu. A beer hall in Nyangared and attempts madethe Administration Board13, over 200 injured.Y, 2l - Police tear-400 youths after 1000raters march towardspe Town demandingease of the people's leaders.rther 3 deaths brine death toll18. Government backs downplans to create mini-bantusatKhayelitsha - promisingyear leasehold rights to Langa,Nyanga and Guguletu residents.RSDAY,28-Governmenlagree to develop Crossroads and
unday, Februaryls decision was)mmunity to stayork on Monday,to protect theirsign of resistance:e set up aroundabout 6am thein. Within hoursrsembled a warg unrest 18 resi-C over 200 wereof the victims hade back, accordinghe South Africanership Assembly,at Crossroads., February 21 thegovernment backed down on itsproposals to move all Africans inCape Town's townships toKhayelitsha and announced thatLanga, Nyanga and Guguleturesidents would be able to obtain99 year leasehold rights.A week later they promised todevelop housing at Crossroads. and KTC and to reconsiderpeople of crossroadshave verylittle defencenst the bulldozersthat threaten toflattencampdeveloping New Crossroads, asKoornhof promised to do in1981.Resident say this is not enoughas 'illegals', estimated at 90000people in Crossroads and KTCalone, will not be accomodatedand may be forced into overcrowdedbantustans.Rut why does Crossroads existand why do the residents of thesquatter town resist removal sostrongly.Why CrossroadsFrom the turn of the centurySouth Africa's rulers have triedto ensure they have sufficientworkers where they want themand how they want them.Agricultural, minin g, industrialand commercial concerns werefaced with a shortage of labourbecause the indigenous peoplehad their own land, animals andcrops and were economicallyself- sufficient.To create a potential workforce the government had tosmash the self-sufficienteconomy - leaving African.people with no means of supportOToJUreo.2l - Police tearrthsafter 1000march towardsdemanding thepeople's leaders.rs bring death tollnent backs down3ate mini-bantussha- promising 99rights to Langa,rguletu residents.8-Governmentp Crossroads andANd COMFORTA conference, hosted by tUDF Anti-ForcedCommittee was heldDecember 1, 1984. Overes from 25 orsanisationnded. Some of the questire removals, influx controlss laws, housing policy andA draft list of demands w:tTe1qt delnands:those in jail.2) Build houses at rentspeople can afford.3) Stop all rent increases.4) Build schools, creches andother facilities immediately.5) Do away with black localauthorities, management committeesand the tri-cameral parliament.6) Venues in the township to beopened to use by all.7) Scrap township permit systems.) All people must have theorganisation of their choice.Long Term Demands:1) One housing policy for all.2) Transport for people notfits.3) Pass Laws must go.4) Scrap Grorip Areas Act.Many of these demands areencapsulated in a clause of theFreedom Charter drawn upyears ago, "'There shalfHouses, Security and Comfort
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