There’s little sign that the Western Cape Human Settlement MEC intends to deliver on its promises to prioritise housing for the Mandela Park Backyarders in the 2011/12 financial year, the group has said in an open letter to mayor Patrica de Lille.

Mandela Park Backyarders would like to congratulate Abahlali Basemjondolo for striking back against the government to free their comrades. Struggling for justice has proved to be packed with obstacles put before us by those we put in power through ballot paper.

With South Africa's municipal elections taking place this week, the Mandela Park Backyarders hosted an 'Anti-Vote Election Summit' on 14 May.

At the forefront of most people’s dreams when South Africa’s new ANC government came into power was the famous quote: ‘There shall be houses, security and comfort’. But it is now ‘years since we first voted and there is little change to show for that’, writes the Mandela Park Backyarders Movement.

Residents of Mandela Park near Cape Town, South Africa, are still waiting for decent housing. In this letter to the minister of human settlements, they explain how housing development in the area is corrupt and that the situation will only get worse.