Statement on Week 1 of the Trial of the Kennedy 12

3 December 2010

The build up to this case has been long and deeply compromised. Already in November 2009 I publicly said that “[J]ustice has been delayed far beyond the point at which it was clear that it had been denied. … It is patently clear that there was a political dimension to the attack and that the response of the police has been to pursue that political agenda rather than justice”.

More than a year later, that politically motivated case against the Kennedy 12 is finally being played out in a Durban courtroom. We do not presume to anticipate the outcome of the case – that process must run its course; the judge will render a verdict; and we'll re-look carefully at what's happened at that point (1). So far, no witness has credibly linked any accused individual to any crime that they are charged with.

Friday, 03 December 2010
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Kennedy 12 Trial: Five Nil to Abahlali baseMjondolo

Today the first five days of the trial of the Kennedy 12 came to an end. The trial will resume in May next year and then, if more time is needed, it will continue again in July.

We wish to begin this statement by thanking all of those people and organisations that have stood by our movement in the difficult times that followed the attack and then this ongoing trial. Your solidarity is much appreciated. There is a saying that when days are dark friends are few. But in these dark times we still have many friends and the solidarity from all of you is deeply appreciated.

http://ccrjustice.org/newsroom/press-releases/ccr-appeals-un-behalf-of-south-african-shack-dwellers-movement

Click here to read the original annotated version of this document in pdf.

December 1, 2010

BY E-MAIL AND FASCIMILE
Ms. Margaret Sekaggya
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders
urgent-action@ohchr.org
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

Re: Urgent Appeal Regarding Abahlali baseMjondolo, Durban, South Africa

http://antieviction.org.za/2010/11/28/solidarity-with-abahlali-basemjondolo-kennedy-12-finally-begin-their-case-tomorrow/

Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign Solidarity Statement
29 November 2010

Today, 12 members of Abahlali baseMjondolo from Kennedy Road will be in court following more than a year of delays in this clearly political murder trial.

We would like to declare our full solidarity with our Poor People’s Alliance partner during these trying times.

Picture the Homeless

"The language that is understood in our modern democracies is putting thousands of people on the street."

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/rizkhan/2010/11/2010112362142630788.html

South Africa's new apartheid?
The widening gap between South Africa's rich and poor is one of the greatest disparities in the world.

Interview with S'bu Zikode on Against the Grain KPFA 94.1 FM

http://www.againstthegrain.org/program/370/id/471515/tues-11-23-10-shack-dwellers-movement

Click here to listen to this interview in MP3.

Foreclosures and tent cities have become commonplace in the U.S. and those without domicile are often left to find individual solutions to their plight. In South Africa, the poor and the homeless have mobilized themselves and are fighting back.

The opening remarks of S'bu Zikode, President of the Abahlali baseMjondolo movement of South Africa, at a November 2010 event organized at the Center for Place, Culture and Politics at the CUNY Graduate Center (NYC). Thanks to David Harvey and Chris Caruso for hosting and organizing the event.

Jackson Gumede Arrested

We have been informed that Jackson Gumede was arrested on Friday night and charged with theft while trying to transport stolen building materials, provided for relief after fires, from the Lacey Road settlement (also known as the Sparks Road settlement) to his farm.

Gumede is the unelected strongman that has ruled the Lacey Road settlement in Sydenham for many years. He is also the chairperson of the Branch Executive Committee of the ANC in Ward 25 in Durban. We have been told that he was voted out of this position but has refused to accept the election as legitimate and that there is currently contestation around his position within the ANC.

Click here to listen to the audio file of this interview.

http://www.wbez.org/episode-segments/south-african-%E2%80%9Cshack-dwellers%E2%80%9D-group-fights-people-informal-settlements

South African “shack dwellers” group fights for people in informal settlements

South African housing advocate S’bu Zikode used to live in an informal settlement community in Durban, South Africa called Kennedy Road. It was just one of numerous settlements in and around the city. For years, the inhabitants of this community have been pressured by the government to relocate to the less developed areas outside Durban. Last year, Kennedy Road was attacked, leaving two people dead, and driving people like S’bu, out of their homes.