South Africa's National Intelligence Agency has many agents mingling with the activists and is particularly concerned about the somewhat anarchic Landless People's Movement, over 50 of whose activists have already been arrested. The chairman of the South African group, Mangaliso Khubeka, was questioned by the NIA. "They asked me what I want. I want to plough," he said. "How can they say they're having a summit on sustainable development—what development are they talking about? We don't see any. People are hungry. We have no land or jobs."
Commercial Opportunities
For many locals the summit is a commercial opportunity. Astonishingly, many delegates are arriving without accommodation booked. They are being charged exorbitant rates by landlords. Eager sex workers from all over the country have descended on Jo'burg. ("We're hoping for a real bonanza," said Harry Gibbs, who runs a massage parlor called Tigerbelles. "The girls are all pumped up and raring to go.")
Even senior police officers, addressing the vast force brought in to cover the summit, have warned their men to be wary of prostitutes with the injunction, "This is Joburg. Things happen here."
Meanwhile, out at the Global People's Forum—the NGO, or non-governmental organization, conference in the south of the city—you can visit the Karaites Institute of Afrikology and buy herbal remedies alleged to cure HIV, womb cancer, tuberculosis, and much else. African curio sellers are everywhere, as are African National Congress stands selling hammer and sickle t-shirts and caps with Castro and Che Guevara on them.
For the moment, the carnival goes on. Behind the scenes we hear that there is still no agreement on a draft declaration, and the summit may still see a bitter standoff between rich and poor nations. There is almost as much resentment against U.S. President George W. Bush for not coming as there is against Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe because he is coming. The green activists wanted Bush to come so they could protest against him, and they feel cheated of their prey. They would also like to demonstrate against Mugabe but from a distance.
And of course, the summit has no end of extremely serious issues to deal with. The last big United Nations conference South Africa hosted—the World Conference Against Racism a year ago—began in similar carnival style and ended in bitterness, reproach, and shambles. For the moment, it's fun to be at the WSSD and most people seem determined to enjoy it. Whether this mood survives the week ahead is a moot point.
Copyright 2002 by United Press International
