Issue and opponent: The Yes Men co-organized with housing activists in South Africa called Reclaim the City to target Mayor Dan Plato and the Mayoral Committee. The co-organizers of the protests explain that both the Mayor and the Mayoral Committee refused to grant security of tenure to thousands of poor black South Africans that found homes in informal settlements and no new affordable public housing has been built as an alternative option. These policies can be traced back to the Apartheid era. An unjust housing policy was being put forth by the Mayor of Cape Town similar to policies observed under apartheid. These policies have economic rather than racial justification backing them.
Dilemma Action: Around 200 people participated in this Dilemma Action. Participants dressed up as zombies with National Party regalia and carried a coffin labeled PW Botha to mockingly support the policies of Mayor Dan Plato and the Mayoral Committee. The zombie costume was inspired by the idea of the rebirth of segregationist housing and urban planning policies during Apartheid. This rally created a dilemma for the Mayor and his mayoral committee. If Mayor Dan Plato had spoken out against the policies, it would seem as if he did not approve of the action. Then on the other hand, if he did not engage with the action at all it would demonstrate to the citizens of Cape Town that spatial segregation is being upheld by local politicians.
Outcome: The Mayor decided to address the protesters on Facebook saying, “I am calling on activist groups, civil society groups, and lobby groups to please not misrepresent information to the media and to the people they claim to serve. You will only erode the trust in your organization if you do this.” The Mayor went on to claim that the organizers were promoting propaganda and misinformation.