I'm not a writer.

July 2, 2010
Area Clean up: Clairwood

We, Nawaal and I, thought we were going to speak a little on what we did this past week on the clean up and workshop in Wentworth. However, when we got there (Clairwood), it wasn't so. There was a shack set up with chairs for some people to sit on. One speaker was giving a talk on waste while standing in the middle on the road. There was a translator since the people spoke only Zulu.

One of the first things I noticed as I stepped out of the car was a rotten pungent smell. There were heaps of garbage/litter on the sides of the sidewalk. I kept thinking to myself that this was where hundreds of people were staying. Once the speaker finished his talk, the clean-up began. There were enough packets to be distributed for collecting the trash. There were enough gloves as well; however, these gloves were cheap plastic ones, the kind that cafeteria ladies use, ones that rip easily. I found it highly ironic that the government officials leading the clean-up kept encouraging the children to use these cheap gloves when most of the same children were walking on the heaps of trash, barefoot. I did not realize until I was informed by my colleague that the dirt mixed in with the trash was also probably soaked with petroleum. The dirt was wet and of a dark grey color, and right opposite the shacks, there was a parking lot filled with trucks either transporting or leaking petroleum.

There were several government officials and reporters at the event. However, I gathered a very superficial feeling of their presence. For instance, some officials picked up the empty packets and took pictures as if they were helping out with the clean-up. A few took pictures of us as well, which I wasn't too happy about. I didn't want to be associated with this group of hypocrites. I wanted the people of Clairwood to know that there were people who sincerely cared about them and weren't there to act for the press. I wanted them to think that we who cared would return. But of course, coming back was out of my control.

We were offered water bottles by the officials, which I politely refused, not because my thirst was quenched already, because it wasn't, but because I thought by my not taking the water bottle, it would mean one extra bottle available for the people from the shacks. Boy, was I wrong.

I interacted with some of the Zulu children, with some success. I asked one his name in Zulu (it goes something like "ubani kamalako?"). To my amazement, he understood and replied "Isipele". I think he appreciated it when I repeated "Isipele" to show him that I understood as well. Then one of the children asked Nawaal for water so she decided to give the water bottle to him. Soon as this child began sipping from the bottle, more children saw and came over for their share of the water. They all were huddled around the child with the bottle, some snatching for the bottle, but each taking turns for a sip. It occured to me at that point that the children probably did not have immediate access to clean and sufficient drinking water. And, I also realized that the children were not getting their own water bottles as I assumed. (My assumption was based on the last clean up I attended, this one sponsored by the NGO I work for, SDCEA, where the children each received their own bottles of minerals/soda.) Nawaal pointed out to me what looked like two gallons of juice that was supposed to be distributed to the clean-up volunteers. We were both infuriated that the officials openly drank bottled water, whereas the volunteers received the cheapest "no name" juice there is.

Before we left, some reporter took a group picture of the government officials. Somehow we were included in this picture. Basically, I felt that the newspaper report would uphold the officials (and now us) to saint-like statures, describing their deep concern and generosity for the people from the shacks. To me, it looked more of a political stunt that would only further distance the people of Clairwood from the government officials.

The Clairwood area has been the worst area I have thus far experienced in South Africa. I thought Wentworth, where I live, was shocking with trash lying everywhere and the Engen refinery polluting in close proximity. Wentworth, however, is nothing compared to Clairwood. Clairwood, once a vibrant Indian community, now seems run-down due to the industries that still continue to expand in the area. The roads are narrow, and the houses, falling apart, seem to sprawl in every direction. The atmosphere is confining and restricting in many ways. To add to the already existing problems of pollution and et cetera, the government is now building a new oil pipeline, twice the size or larger than the old one, next to the old one in the same area. According to Lushendrie, the shacks in the area that we cleaned up will probably be forcibly removed by the government in the upcoming years for more industrial expansion.

Pictures may be coming soon.