On Tuesday, our class got an unexpected glimpse into the inner workings of South African government and how individuals and organizations can make a difference. Our meeting with Nazeer Sonday, a leading figure from the Philippi Horticultural Area, was held in the Cape Town court of appeals. As the PHA waited to present their case, they vehemently thanked us for showing interest in their cause and explained their ultimate goals.
The Philippi Horticultural Area Food and Farming Campaign is fighting the government in its efforts to transform Philippi from a farming area to a residential area. The aquifer underneath that particular plot of land makes for extremely fertile soil and ideal growing conditions. Even though there is a deficit of housing in Cape Town, the South African Constitution guarantees both access to food and housing. Which takes precedence? The PHA is appealing the court’s decision to destroy the farmland on the grounds that it is a heritage site. Ironically, the heritage is actually that of the white people who owned the majority of the land in South Africa, even though they are not the main beneficiaries of the farms in Philippi. Basically, they are using their history of oppression to win them their future, a fact that I find empowering.
Even though the court ended up rejecting the appeal by the PHA, Nazeer was hopeful for an unlikely reason. He said that even though their proposal was rejected, many of their rights as an organization were violated, which actually gives them leverage. For example, the appeal was supposed to take place much later, and instead the court decided to hold it earlier, giving the organization less time to prepare. These violations are actually beneficial to the PHA, as the case can be taken to a higher court, which can deal with the issue more fairly and take into account the violations when making a decision.
Although we did not get to witness the decision as a class, it was one of the most interesting parts of the trip. We got to see democracy in action, in all of its slow, boring glory. The PHA cares so deeply for their cause, and they were so happy to get us involved, even if our involvement was merely showing our faces. The beauty of democracy is that even though decisions might be made that we don’t agree with, there’s usually a chance to fight and to push as hard as we can to get what we want. All it takes is a voice.
After our time at the court, we got to tour Philippi and the farms that we had been part of the fight for. Nazeer took us to his center of operations, a small warehouse that screamed the cause from every nook and cranny you could find. Posters lined every inch of the walls with various phrases such as “Water is life,” “I’d rather be farming,” and “Resistance is fertile,” and they sold t-shirts with similar slogans.
I bought three.
A government that is trying to keep its promise of housing to its citizens. A resistance group that is using its controversial history to pave a new future for themselves. A plot of land that has the potential to provide so much to so many. A group of students eager to help get the message out. It’s a strange cast of characters, but somehow they all came together on Tuesday and provided me with one of my most potent lessons so far.
Change happens on such a small level that sometimes you don’t even notice it. We sometimes get so caught up in the big news and distractions that we forget that all it takes is a small group of people to influence such an important future.
- Helene Kenney
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