From housing to the bucket system
For our last assignment, we again covered a press conference. This conference was being held by National Minister of Human Settlements, Connie September and Provincial MEC for Human Settlements, Safety and Liaison Helen Sauls-August. The goal was to launch a Bucket Eradication Program in Makana in order to replace thousands of bucket toilets with flushing toilets. The meeting also served to announce the opening of a new residential settlement.
On a cold wet morning in Joza, we waited for three hours for the arrival of the Minister, the MEC and the mayor. While we waited, we spoke to some of the community members who had turned up for the event. Amongst them, we met Thanduxolo Zonke, who told us that he had been a freedom fighters in his youth. He also noted that he had recently been given a newly built RDP house. However, he was concerned about the condition of the house, which seemed to be falling apart because of problems with its structure. He explained that he had reported this problem to the authorities, but no on has helped him.
After the press conference, we took the opportunity to introduce Zonke to the mayor, who spoke to him and exchanged numbers. Hopefully, something was going to be done about his house.
For us, this was a story that spoke volumes about the need to bridge the gap between the elite and ordinary citizens. It also demonstrated that we, as journalists, could do something to help to build such bridges.
We have now reached the end of our time with Radio Grahamstown. Being able to work with Xolani on this project has done more for us than we could ever have dreamed. As journalists we have been growing, as students we are learning, and as community members we are getting involved. From the start of this project, we wanted to contribute to finding solutions to the ever-present social problems that surround us. We would like to see all of Grahamstown prosper, not just a small group of privileged citizens - and we are proud to say we are helping.
Through Radio Grahamstown, our work has elicited social deliberation and possible solutions for the community. We can say confidently that this has facilitated citizens to engage more actively and meaningfully in democratic processes.