Charnelle Commando

30th January 2018

Lesson from Charnelle –

“You need to fight for what is rightfully yours,  people are not aware of what they are entitled to, these resources need redistributed to those, us, people who need them”

Charnelle Commando is a resident of Bromwell Street in the Woodstock area of Cape Town.  We first met her in Capetown in 2016. 

Charnelle is the spokesperson for the Bromwell Street Residents Group who are facing eviction from their homes due to the gentrification of inner city Cape Town.  As families they face the uncertainty of relocation many miles away from their jobs, schools and basic services.  Charnelle, Auntie Brenda and others are apart of the Reclaim The City campaign for land justice in Cape Town.

We interviewed Charnelle at her home where she explained how the families were organising to challenge the ambitions of large developers and the government to fight eviction and secure long term accommodation.

"1st meeting Woodstock Residents part 1 - Discussing SpatialApartheid.Scale of housing crisis. Gentrification.Evicitions".
"1st meeting Woodstock Residents part 2 - Discussing SpatialApartheid.Scale of housing crisis. Gentrification.Evicitions".
"1st meeting with Woodstock Residents - Discussing what the Government have not done to address the housing situation"

Video – Auntie Brenda and Bromwell Street residents explain their campaign