Cape Town Accused of Cleaning Poor From Streets Ahead of Cup

Cape Town residents are accusing the city of forcibly moving poor people outside of the city center ahead of the World Cup. Local officials deny that this is a clean-up operation.

Homeless people claim they have been forced off the streets and taken there in an attempt to "clean up" before kick-off next month.

The city denies this, saying it is part of general policy.

"There has not and will not be a concerted clean-up campaign," said city spokesperson Kylie Hatton.

Cape Town's clean-up
Mail & Guardian
May 21, 2010

Homeless and Poor Relocated Ahead of World Cup

Thousands of poor and homeless residents in South Africa's World Cup host cities are allegedly being relocated from the streets and out of sight of cameras and tourists during the tournament.

The country's three major cities - Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban - have already started relocation programs, while six remaining host cities are set to follow suit.

Reports allege that more than 800 people have been taken from the derelict area surrounding Ellis Park in Johannesburg, the venue of seven matches including a quarter-final, and moved to shelters away from the inner city. There are also reported plans in place to see another 1,500 people, mostly street children, moved to alternate housing.

South Africa street clean-up begins
ESPN
May 4, 2010

Thousands Protest Over Poor Housing Conditions

Township residents in Soweto are protesting over their living conditions, barricading roads and demanding better housing options. More than 1,000 Sowetans participated in the recent protests, which many say are exacerbated by the country's large World Cup-related expenditures.

The protests have spread. This week, they reached Pretoria where demonstrators demanding better housing, schools, roads and sewage systems threatened to disrupt the World Cup.

Nthamaga Kgafela, a researcher at the independent South African Institute for Race Relations, said the protests had escalated since the election last year of President Jacob Zuma, whose pro-poor image had raised hopes of change.

Protests spread ahead of World Cup
Independent Online
March 10, 2010