Blikkiesdorp
Encyclopedia
Symphony Way Temporary Relocation Area in Delft, Cape Town
, better known by its nickname Blikkiesdorp, is a relocation camp made-up of corrugated iron shacks. Blikkiesdorp, which is Afrikaans
for “Tin Can Town”, was given its name by residents because of the row-upon-row of tin-like one room structures throughout the settlement.
in 2007 by then Mayor Helen Zille
. It contains approximately 1,600 one room structures. According to government officials, it has cost over 30 million rand to build.
The structures have walls and roofs made of thin tin and zinc sheets. They are of 18 square meters in size. Ablution, sanitation, and water facilities are shared between four structures.
It has been called an informal settlement by City of Cape Town officials despite its formal structure being built by the government. In response to the citicisms, the City has called Blikkiesdorp the safest informal settlement in Cape Town. It has also been compared to a concentration camp by residents and in national
and international media.
The City of Cape Town has been criticised for its role in creating Blikkiesdorp. Premier Helen Zille and Mayor Dan Plato
have come under fire from residents on many occasions. On 18 November Dan Plato was visibly harassed by residents who claimed he had lied about when they would receive better housing.
NGOs, international human rights organisations, and the Anti-Eviction Campaign have publicly criticised the conditions in Blikkiesdorp and how they say it is used to reinforce the eviction of poor families especially to make way for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
. Residents have also threatened to burn down Blikkiesdorp because of the bad conditions in the settlement. Ahead of the 2010 World Cup the British anti-poverty charity War on Want
created a virtual model of Blikkiesdorp featuring videos of residents talking about conditions in the settlement.
Blikkiesdorp has also been compared with the alien camp called District 9
from the international hit movie on numerous occasions. This even earned it a front page spread in the South African tabloid Daily Voice
.
and Woodstock have found themselves in the relocation camp almost 30 kilometers away from town. It has been called a dumping ground for unwanted and or homeless people from all over Cape Town. The evicted Symphony Way Pavement Dwellers
were moved to Blikkiesdorp in October 2009 after occupying Symphony Way for almost two years.
(SAPS) has been implicated in draconian policing measures in Blikkiesdorp Temporary Relocation Area in Delft, Cape Town
. Police have been accused of suppression of freedoms and illegal curfews. They have also been accused of gratuitous violence against innocent bystanders during drug raids and turning the settlement into a concentration camp.
Delft, Cape Town
Delft is a township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated next to the Cape Town International Airport, Belhar, Blue Downs & Site C, Khayelitsha. It is known for its high crime rate, substandard schools, lack of jobs, and numerous government built housing projects such as the...
, better known by its nickname Blikkiesdorp, is a relocation camp made-up of corrugated iron shacks. Blikkiesdorp, which is Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
for “Tin Can Town”, was given its name by residents because of the row-upon-row of tin-like one room structures throughout the settlement.
Settlement structure
Blikkiesdorp was built by the City of Cape TownCity of Cape Town
The City of Cape Town is the metropolitan municipality which governs the city of Cape Town, South Africa and its suburbs and exurbs. As of 2007, it had a population of 3,497,097....
in 2007 by then Mayor Helen Zille
Helen Zille
Helen Zille is the Premier of the Western Cape, a member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, leader of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance political party, and a former Mayor of Cape Town.Zille is a former journalist and anti-apartheid activist, and famously exposed the truth...
. It contains approximately 1,600 one room structures. According to government officials, it has cost over 30 million rand to build.
The structures have walls and roofs made of thin tin and zinc sheets. They are of 18 square meters in size. Ablution, sanitation, and water facilities are shared between four structures.
Conditions and criticisms
Blikkiesdorp is regarded as unsafe and it has become well-known for its high crime rate, its substandard living conditions, and its extremely hot or cold, windy and sandy living environment.It has been called an informal settlement by City of Cape Town officials despite its formal structure being built by the government. In response to the citicisms, the City has called Blikkiesdorp the safest informal settlement in Cape Town. It has also been compared to a concentration camp by residents and in national
and international media.
The City of Cape Town has been criticised for its role in creating Blikkiesdorp. Premier Helen Zille and Mayor Dan Plato
Dan Plato
Daniel "Dan" Plato is the Minister for Community Safety in the Western Cape and the former Executive Mayor of Cape Town, South Africa.-References:...
have come under fire from residents on many occasions. On 18 November Dan Plato was visibly harassed by residents who claimed he had lied about when they would receive better housing.
NGOs, international human rights organisations, and the Anti-Eviction Campaign have publicly criticised the conditions in Blikkiesdorp and how they say it is used to reinforce the eviction of poor families especially to make way for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
. Residents have also threatened to burn down Blikkiesdorp because of the bad conditions in the settlement. Ahead of the 2010 World Cup the British anti-poverty charity War on Want
War on Want
War on Want is an anti-poverty charity based in London, England. It seeks to highlight the needs of poverty-stricken areas around the world and lobbies governments and international agencies to tackle problems as well as raising public awareness of the concerns of developing nations while...
created a virtual model of Blikkiesdorp featuring videos of residents talking about conditions in the settlement.
Blikkiesdorp has also been compared with the alien camp called District 9
District 9
District 9 is a 2009 South African science fiction thriller film directed by Neill Blomkamp. It was written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. The film stars Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, and David James...
from the international hit movie on numerous occasions. This even earned it a front page spread in the South African tabloid Daily Voice
The Daily Voice
The Daily Voice is Western Cape tabloid which is distributed daily and published by Independent Newspapers.-Team of journalists:The executive editor of the Daily Voice was Karl Brophy...
.
Evictions
Blikkiesdorp has been instrumental in relocating residents evicted from elsewhere in the City. Many evicted residents of Salt RiverSalt River, Cape Town
Salt River is a mainly industrial suburb of Cape Town located near Table Bay to the east of the city. It is named after a river of the same name, this being a continuation of the Black River. The name Salt River is a translation of the Dutch "Soutrivier"...
and Woodstock have found themselves in the relocation camp almost 30 kilometers away from town. It has been called a dumping ground for unwanted and or homeless people from all over Cape Town. The evicted Symphony Way Pavement Dwellers
Symphony Way Pavement Dwellers
Symphony Way Informal Settlement is a small community of pavement dwellers that have been living on Symphony Way, a main road in Delft, South Africa, since February 2008...
were moved to Blikkiesdorp in October 2009 after occupying Symphony Way for almost two years.
Police Brutality
The South African Police ServiceSouth African Police Service
The South African Police Service is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1116 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the provincial borders, and a Provincial Commissioner is appointed in each province...
(SAPS) has been implicated in draconian policing measures in Blikkiesdorp Temporary Relocation Area in Delft, Cape Town
Delft, Cape Town
Delft is a township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated next to the Cape Town International Airport, Belhar, Blue Downs & Site C, Khayelitsha. It is known for its high crime rate, substandard schools, lack of jobs, and numerous government built housing projects such as the...
. Police have been accused of suppression of freedoms and illegal curfews. They have also been accused of gratuitous violence against innocent bystanders during drug raids and turning the settlement into a concentration camp.
Films and Books
- No Land! No House! No Vote! Voices from Symphony Way is an anthology written by the Symphony Way Pavement DwellersSymphony Way Pavement DwellersSymphony Way Informal Settlement is a small community of pavement dwellers that have been living on Symphony Way, a main road in Delft, South Africa, since February 2008...
about their - at the time - pending eviction to Blikkiesdorp - 'Tin Town', a short documentary on the Symphony Way community in Blikkiesdorp
External links
- Blikkiesdorp Photos
- 'Tin Town', a short documentary on the Symphony Way community in Blikkiesdorp
- Blikkiesdorp Photos from the Guardian UK
- Blikkiesdorp (film)
- The Beautiful Gain, music video of a song that refers to Blikkiesdorp by the Chomsky Allstars
- War on Want Blikkiesdorp Interactive photographic panorama