| "The Streets of the Johannesburg CDB - through the eyes of a Protest Marcher" |
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 The social services sector is not known for taking drastic action or for embarking on militant protests and making unreasonable ‘demands’. However, at times, when things reach unacceptable levels the sector will take action in an effort to make their point and such an occasion occurred on Friday when the social services NPO sector went on a protest march. The marchers called for a new deal for social service financing. This means government subsidies that are sufficient for organisations to provide services of a decent standard for all who need them, and to offer equal pay for equal work. At present, workers employed by government have far better pay and benefits than Non Profit Organisation workers, and NPOs therefore keep losing their staff yet they are often expected to carry a significant portion of the workload. These Non Profit Organisations work hard to raise funds to run their services, but they also need reliable and realistic government funding to enable them to do their work properly.Although the reasons for the march, as I have just outlined, are quite important in setting the scene, what I would rather focus on here are the experiences of being part of a protest march. One of the first things that became apparent was that, being amongst 2,000 protesters moving from Ghandi Square, up Rissik Street, along Jeppe Street and into Simmonds Street, where the Provincial Government Buildings are, is quite a heady experience. It leaves one feeling quite powerful. Suddenly, the irritations that I sometimes feel when watching a protest march subside. Walking up a busy street like Rissik Street and stopping all the cars behind you begins to feel good. But, apart from the feeling of power one experiences, there is a golden opportunity to once again get up close and personal with the streets of Johannesburg – and from the middle of the street rather than on the pavement. As I walk down the centre of Rissik Street outside the City Hall I see a shoe in the gutter and I wonder who the shoe belonged to and why there is only one shoe – what happened to the other shoe? Because I am not running to a meeting, when it is normal for me to walk/run along the streets of Johannesburg, I now also have the time to look at the various buildings. Johannesburg has beautiful buildings and it is wonderful that so many of these buildings are being restored to their original beauty. There is also the opportunity to notice some amazing advertisements such as the one that appeals to its audience to “find inspiration in Jozi”. Eventually we all arrive at the Provincial Government and wait. After various speeches and the handing over of a memorandum, all of which take some time, the attention of protesters begins to turn towards other things – like lunch. People start unpacking their lunches or wonder off to get food from the many take away shops in the area. An appetizing smell of “slap chips” fills the air. However, the more amazing thing is that one of the hawkers saw this as an opportunity. She brought along her ice cream container and walked amongst the marchers. She eventually sold out, but what a wonderful entrepreneur who seized the occasion, making it pay off. I could only feel admiration for her – she saw an opportunity and made it work for her – well done! As the march starts to draw to an end and the protestors begin to disperse an anti-climatic feeling begins to descend on one. Whether anything ever comes of this march is still to be seen but, right now, my feelings about protest marches have changed somewhat and maybe I will be a little more tolerant in the future. What this experience has left me with is a deeper understanding of the dynamics that change your psyche when you take part in these events. I walk back to my office with a hope that our concerns have been heard and recognised and that there is change for the better – for the sake of our beneficiaries who so desperately need a better deal. Bookmark this article:          |
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