Zuma to re-visit poor whites

2008-07-23 19:13

Pretoria - Hundreds of poor whites from the Bethlehem informal settlement in Pretoria West would again meet ANC president Jacob Zuma on Thursday, trade union Solidarity said.

In a statement, the union said community leaders from at least 40 informal settlements in Pretoria would gather under the auspices of Solidarity Helping Hand to discuss their problems with Zuma.

"Zuma returns to the white informal settlement Bethlehem tomorrow after promising earlier this year to tackle the community's problems."

The union would also present a report on the growing problem of white poverty in Pretoria to Zuma and the executive mayor of the Tshwane Metro Council Gwen Ramokgopa.

Zuma was expected to be joined by other ministers, government officials and Ramokgopa.

Registering for social grants

The department of social development would also provide a mobile unit where poor white people could register for social grants. It was expected that several officials from the department would provide the poor with advice regarding social services, said the union.

The residents would also exhibit products made by them in an attempt to get support from the department of social development for their community projects.

All the food for the day would be prepared by residents.

"The myth that white poverty in South Africa doesn't exist took root as a result of President Thabo Mbeki's 'Two Nations' speech," said Solidarity's general secretary Flip Buys.

He said according to Mbeki, South Africa consisted of two nations - the one poor and black, the other white and rich.

"White poverty has been a silent poverty over the past decade. We believe that Mr Zuma will once and for all break the silence on white poverty by getting involved himself.

'Racist' decision

According to the Helping Hand report to be released on Thursday, only 54% of all white people in South Africa can afford a house of more than R200 000.

The number of white people that do not have access to housing increased from 83 000 to 131 000 or by 58% between 2002 and 2006.

Solidarity said it would also discuss with the Zuma delegation the decision by the Gauteng department of social development, in terms of which subsidies to organisations working among poor white people would be phased out.

Buys said it was "totally unacceptable" that a decision could be taken that a person was denied social support on the basis of race.

"The decision is racist. We are convinced that this decision won't hold its ground in any court or international forum," he said.

- SAPA