Anti-privatisation activists meet to demand free access to water and energy

August 28 2002

As the Johannesburg Summit discusses key issues like water and energy, anti-privatisation protestors are gathering in nearby Alexandra to rally support for protests on Saturday, with a call for an end to the commodification of basic services.

Anti-poverty charity War on Want whose partners the Anti-privatisation Forum are involved in the protests, have written to the UN to confirm that pressure is not being put on the South African authorities to stop the peaceful protests.

Steve Tibbett, head of Policy at War on Want said: “The issue of access to water and electricity is central to sustainable development. One billion people have no access to water and it is madness to rely on the private sector to deliver it to them. This summit will be judged on its ability to make things better at the bottom end of the social spectrum. The available evidence shows that privatisation of public services results in less not more access to services.

”The real worry for us is that those on the outside, social movements like the Anti-Privatisation Forum, have given up on the summit. They plan instead to march and without an agreed route there is a real danger that the protests will end badly. We do not want this summit to be remembered for violence.”

Two of War on Want’s local partners, the Anti-privatisation Forum and the Landless People’s Movement, are both involved in the protests this weekend.

Notes
1. Steve Tibbett is available for interview on 083 547 9313 or via the War on Want press office on + 44 207 620 1111
2. More detailed briefings are available on request

Who are the Anti Privatisation Forum? (APF)
The APF is a broad-based coalition of community organisations, NGOs and unions that have come together to strengthen the ability of poor communities to organise and demand their rights for basic services. Our particular programme assists capacity-building and backs activities that enable community groups to effectively organise to address privatisation processes where they impact negatively on the poor.

· Water Cut-offs, Cholera kills 220
Delegates from the Anti Privatisation Forum will be raising issues such as the privatisation of water in Nelspruit by British-based multinational Biwater. Interviews will be available and visits to townships that have been worst affected by water privatisation can be arranged. It is critical of utilities privatisation, including the privatisation of water, which has been blamed for cholera outbreaks that killed 220 and infected 100,000 people.

Who are the Landless People’s Movement ?
The Landless People's Movement (LPM) emerged from a dialogue between various landless people’s organisations and communities. The LPM is building up strong grass-roots movements and providing them with training and the opportunity to co-ordinate activities at a national level.

· Week of the Landless
A week of events is being staged to highlight the issue of landlessness among rural workers across the world and force land reform onto WSSD’s agenda. Victims of the apartheid policy of forced removal have been waiting for 8 years for the government’s implementation of promised land reform formed the LPM (Landless People’s Movement), which is supported by War on Want. They will be joined by members of the MST (Movimento Sem Terra) from Brazil and other landless people’s movements.

Notes
1. Steve Tibbett is available for interview on 083 547 9313 or via the War on Want press office on + 44 207 620 1111

2. Current national organizer of the LPM Mangaliso Kubheka, chairperson Patrick Mojapelo and victims of forced removals Thandi Makinana and Sipho Makhombothi are available for interview.

3. Trevor Ngwane of the APF is available for interview and we can provide contact details of people whose water has been cut off due to privatisation.

4. A list of the organisations that make up the APF is available on request