Jack in a shack
JOBURG - DA member for the Gauteng provincial legislature, Jack Bloom, spent 30 nights in shacks and recently wrote a book about it.
The book titled 30 Nights in a Shack, reflects Bloom’s nights in more than 100 informal settlements. Over the past 30 months, Bloom has visited shacks and spent nights sleeping in these local dwellings.
On 8 July, Bloom gave a slideshow presentation of his book at the Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris Centre in Houghton.
The book has 80 photographs of his time throughout the 30 months. Bloom said, “I stayed the night once every month, a journey that became known as Jack in the shack.”
The purpose of his journey was to focus attention on ‘forgotten people’ who live in shacks. Bloom said, “They have a lot of energy and initiative and should be helped to improve their living conditions.”
Each chapter looks at the challenges faced by people living in shacks. Bloom not only spent time in different informal settlements, but also continues to run campaigns for solar lights, adequate toilets and a replacement for dangerous paraffin stoves that cause shack fires.
Throughout his presentation, the audience engaged with Bloom and asked questions about his experience.
The book is available in bookstores for R185 and R160 for the e-book version.
