63% claimed that either they or a family member owned the structure that was demolished,
with 33% reporting that they were paying rent to a non‐family member.
Respondents report that available accommodation on properties at the time of demolition
was sizeable, with only 8% consisting of a single room. 60% of properties affected by
demolitions originally had between 2 and 5 rooms, with 12% having more than 8 rooms.
People further reported that in:
86% of cases, demolished structures had access to clean water
88% had access to electricity.
80% reported that the structure had brick walls.
These reports are in keeping with previous findings, including by the UN, that the majority of
housing demolished did not meet the criteria for “slums”, as claimed by the government, but
were in fact substantial structures with basic services.
3.
Immediate movements after Displacement 2005
In the first days and weeks after the demolitions, almost half of respondents remained more
or less in the same place. This was as a result of needing to guard displaced possessions amid
the ruins, or the need to be close to work or schools. Simply having no plan to move on and
nowhere to go, as relatives were also affected by demolitions, was also a factor. However,
51% reported having to move, and in many instances having to split up their families as a
result.
49% of those displaced either stayed on the same plot, or moved within the same
urban area.
A further 14% moved to another urban area.
This means that a total of 63% remained urban.
29% were displaced initially to a rural home – but none remained there ultimately
6% went immediately into the diaspora
It is worth noting that while over the next few years, 100% of the respondent group were to
diasporise, it was not the immediate impact of OM that drove them to do so – only 6% did so
in the first few months. However, by the end of 2005, this proportion rose by another 24%,
meaning that 30% of respondents reported that they have been working seasonally in De
Doorns since the end of 2005.
Of those who moved from their original site (51%):
38% moved to live with relatives, either in an alternative family home or where
relatives were lodging
13% moved to where they thought they would be safe as a priority
9% moved to where they could continue to find work as a priority
5% moved with the need to keep children in school as a priority
39% of families reported that OM resulted in their families having to split up
Of these, 56% reported being separated from their spouse, and 65% reported being
separated from their children
59
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