Chapter 27 - The Forced Removal to Diepkloof

During 1961, the government of the day was busy forcing people to go to Meadowlands.
The policemen were busy, and if they came across the breadwinner, they demanded his dompas.
Then without any explanation, the dompas was stamped that by a certain date, one will cease to be a resident of Alexandra Township again.
And if found there after, you will be arrested for being in Alexandra without a permit.
Many Alexandra residents were against the removal. Most of us enjoyed the life in Alexandra. In Alexandra, we stayed as brothers and sisters irrespective of ethnicity.
The government encouraged people to come forward voluntarily. Some went to enrol for the removal. The first load was transported to Meadowlands. The big municipal trucks were used to transport residents to Meadowlands. A song was even written about the way people were resisting to go. The song went like this:

Otla utloa Makgoa are, areyeng ko Meadowlands (x2)

Meadowlands, Meadowlands, Meadowlands, sithandwa sam!

This song became a hit. Spokes Mashiane and friends used their flutes to sing it. 

The community of Alexandra were powerless because policemen used guns to force people to go. My uncle, aunt, their children, and my cousin Christina left voluntarily for Meadowlands Zone 7.

We were left behind, but we were happy in Alexandra. My father was lucky in many occasions because he managed to evade the policemen.

One day in November 1960, whilst my father was from work, he met the evil policemen. He tried to resist, but...

To find out how the clash between Rose's father and the police ended; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).

Rose and her sister, Louisa, and two brothers, Job and Johannes
in Diepkloof, Zone 4. Johannes is standing at the back.