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Abahlali are under armed attack from the eThekwini Mayor

Thursday, 6 July 2017
Abahlali urgent press statement

Abahlali are under armed attack from the eThekwini Mayor

On 26 June we marched, in our thousands, on the the Mayor of the eThekwini Municipality and the KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance. The Mayor and the MEC refused to present themselves to the thousands of people who had marched on the City Hall.

The memoranda that we handed over gave them seven days to respond to our demands. We made it clear that if there was no response we would engage in further protest action.   Continue reading →

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Abahlali to March in Durban and Bizana on Monday

Saturday, 24 June 2017
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Abahlali to March in Durban and Bizana on Monday

Abahlali baseMjondolo will march to the Durban Mayor Cllr Zandile Gumede on Monday, 26 June 2017. The march will start from Curries Fountain Sports Grounds at 9:00am and finish at 12:00pm at the Durban City Hall. The Memoranda will be handed over to both the Mayor of eThekwini and to the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Each branch has carried out its own process to produce its own set of demands. We will be demanding the restoration of our dignity, an end to violent and brutal evictions and land, housing and dignity for all.   Continue reading →

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The Memorial Service for Samuel Hloele Will be Held in eMansenseni on 22 June

Wednesday, 21 June 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

The Memorial Service for Samuel Hloele Will be Held in eMansenseni on 22 June

On 13 June 2017 the Land Invasions Unit murdered Samuel Hloele during an armed eviction in eMasenseni, near Marianhill.

On 29 May 2017 Baby Jayden Khoza died during a police attack in the Foreman Road settlement in Clare Estate. Continue reading →

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Abahlali baseMjondolo Youth League to Commemorate Fallen Comrades on Youth Day

Thursday 15 June 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Youth League Press statement

Abahlali baseMjondolo Youth League to Commemorate Fallen Comrades on Youth Day

The movement of Abahlali baseMjondolo will hold Youth Day Rallies in Cato Crest on the 16th of June 2017 and in Siyanda the 18th of June 2017.

The struggle for land, the right to the city, and the insistence on the recognition of the dignity of impoverished people, has resulted in serious hardship in Cato Crest in the past five years. The Marikana Land Occupation has faced numerous illegal and violent evictions. In 2013 our chairperson of the branch, Nkululeko Gwala, was assassinated. Later in the same year Nqobile Nzuza was murdered by the police. She was 17 years old. We are still struggling for justice in the Nqobile Nzuza case.  Continue reading →

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We March on the Durban City Hall on 26 June 2017

14 June 2017
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

We March on the Durban City Hall on 26 June 2017

When the new mayor, Zandile Gumede, took office last year we were promised a new era in the City’s relationship with its impoverished residents. We asked for and were promised an end to evictions and repression. We asked for and were promised participatory democracy and participatory development. We asked for and were promised honesty and respect. We asked for and were promised justice for the repression that we had faced in the past, including the armed attacks by ANC supporters in 2009, and the assassinations in 2013 and 2014.  Continue reading →

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One death and several injuries in Marianhill, three arrests in Kranskop

Tuesday, 13 June 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

One death and several injuries in Marianhill, three arrests in Kranskop

Today we came under serious attack from the Land Invasions Unit in eMansenseni in Marianhill. One person is confirmed dead, two are in a critical condition in hospital and a number of others are injured – all shot in the back. It was a war zone. The Land Invasions Unit didn’t talk to anyone. They just fired live ammunition. The intention was clearly to kill, to teach a lesson.

There was also an eviction in Kranskop resulting in three arrests. Continue reading →

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The Restoration of our Human Dignity is not Negotiable

The Restoration of our Human Dignity is not Negotiable

Talk given by S’bu Zikode at the Mzala Nxumalo Centre conference on ‘The Future of the Left, South Africa in a Global Context’, 10 June 2017

I would like to thank the Mzala Nxumalo Centre for inviting us to speak at this conference. I only received this invitation because of the movement that I am part of so I would also like to thank Abahlali baseMjondolo for entrusting me with this responsibility to represent our views.

Abahlali baseMjondolo has about thirty five thousands members in 38 branches in KZN, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng. In July this year we will be launching our first branch in Mpumalanga province, in Vukuzakhe Township. Our members are fundamentally committed to the struggle for land, housing and dignity. We have occupied and held land across this city. Some of our members have been arrested, assaulted, slandered, tortured and murdered in the this struggle.  Continue reading →

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Comrade Nompilo has Just Been Arrested

3 June 2017
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Comrade Nompilo has Just Been Arrested

This morning Baby Jayden Khoza, killed during a police attack on the Foreman Road settlement, was buried in Inanda.

Now Comrade Nompilo has been arrested at a new land occupation in Mayville. The movement is currently mobilising to secure her safety and release.

The struggle goes on.

Land. Housing. Dignity.

For more information contact Comrade Zondi on 078 340 9972

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Baby Jayden will be laid to rest tomorrow

Friday 02 June 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

 Baby Jayden will be laid to rest tomorrow

Baby Jayden, killed by police on Monday this week, will be laid to rest at eMolweni cemetery in Inanda. The service will be held at Foreman Road settlement. The service will start at 10am in the morning and proceed to the cemetery at 12:30 pm.

Abahlali baseMjondolo members will be having a night vigil (Umlindelo) today from 20h00 till the morning to give baby Jaden the respect and dignity he deserved, but which was denied to him in an oppressive society. It is the movement, our strength and togetherness, that has ensured that Baby Jayden will be laid to rest with the dignity denied to him in life. It is the movement that will seek justice for Baby Jayden. Continue reading →

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Justice for Baby Jayden

31 May 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA Press Statement

Justice for Baby Jayden

On Monday the Foreman Road community in Clare Estate, Durban, came under serious police assault after a road blockade that had been organised earlier that morning. That protest was disruptive but it was also peaceful. Baby Jayden Khoza, two weeks old, lost his life during the brutal police assault on the community. The next day the headline on the front page of The Mercury said that baby Jayden had died during a protest. We wish to be clear: baby Jayden did not die during a protest. He was killed during a police assault on the Foreman Road community following a protest. Continue reading →

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A Baby has Been Killed During a Brutal Police Attack in the Foreman Road Settlement

Monday, 29 May 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

A Baby has Been Killed During a Brutal Police Attack on the Foreman Road Settlement

A two week old baby, Jayden Khoza, is dead after a brutal police attack on the Foreman Road settlement in Clare Estate, Durban, this morning. Abahali baseMjondolo are now marching on the Sydenham police station with the body of the baby. Others have been injured and there was one arrest.

The comrades in the Foreman Road settlement organised a road blockade on Tuesday 23 May. They organised another blockade this morning, at 5:00 a.m. The police responded by attacking the settlement as a whole with fists, batons, rubber bullets and tear gas. Many shacks filled up with teargas. Children started crying, coughing and vomiting. Residents told the police that they were putting the children in grave danger. However the police continued the attack. Continue reading →

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ANC Intimidation in Newcastle

21 May 2017
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

ANC Intimidation in Newcastle

Abahlali baseMjondolo continues to grow and to expand throughout Kwazulu-Natal, and the country as a whole. People in this country have had enough of impoverishment and oppression. People in this country have had enough of the lies told by the politicians when they seek votes. Abahlali baseMjondolo has become an alternative home for such people. Thousands of people are joining our movement in search for land, dignity and freedom.

The leadership of the movement is currently in Newcastle where today, the 21st May, we will be launching our first branch in Osizweni Township in the Majuba District Municipality, Newcastle. Yesterday we had held a political education meeting in Volksrust in the township of Vulindlela in Mpumalanga. Continue reading →

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UnFreedom Day 2017: The poorest of the poor will gather once again

21 April 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

UnFreedom Day 2017: The poorest of the poor will gather once again

On the 23rd April 2017 the movement of Abahlali baseMjondolo will once again convene its annual Unfreedom Day event. It will take place at the Springfield Sports Grounds at eThekwini FET College. It will commence at 09:00 and run until 15:00.

While the rest of the country celebrates 23 years of “Freedom” we the impoverished, the marginalised and the oppressed will be mourning the absence of this freedom that our mothers and fathers fought for so hard. We say that as long as we are still landless, homeless and impoverished we cannot say we are free. As long as we are subjected to floods and shack fires we cannot say that we are free. As long we are not recognised as human beings and for as long as our lives do not matter to the politicians and the government we cannot say that we are free. As long as we are divided by politicians who say that those who are born in the Eastern Cape and those who are born in other countries must ‘go back where they came from’ we cannot say that we are free. As long as we face assault and eviction when we occupy land and arrest, assault, torture, imprisonment and assassination when we organise independently we cannot say that we are free. Continue reading →

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The eThekwini Municipality continues to demolish people’s houses illegally

19 April 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

The eThekwini Municipality continues to demolish people’s houses illegally

The illegal demolishing of people’s houses still continues in the eThekwini Municipality. As we speak people in Marianridge are destitute and have nowhere to live after the eThekwini Municipality illegally demolished the homes in which they had lived for more than three years.

When the community members asked the security guards for an order from the court they were met with rubber bullets. Some were physically attacked by the officers. A seven months pregnant woman whose home was demolished was severely beaten by security guards. She is currently in hospital. When the leadership of the movement arrived at the place the security guards were still there and continued to demolish the houses. It was clear that people were still living in these houses. The houses that were demolished had beds and fridges and so on. Continue reading →

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Two ANC Ward Councillors Have Launched a Local Militia in Durban

13 April 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Two ANC Ward Councillors Have Launched a Local Militia in Durban

In our previous statement we reported that our members are facing serious intimidation and harassment from ANC councillors, and their committees, in a number of wards in Durban. This included the shooting of the husband of one of our members in Bhambayi, in Ward 52, on the 26th of March 2017.

On Saturday the 08th April 2017 two ANC Ward Councillors from Wards 52 and 57 officially launched an armed vigilante group known as ‘Qina Mhlali’, a well known slogan from our movement. Witnesses say that the group was mainly made up of men armed with all sorts of weapons. These weapons included spears, bush knives, pangas and guns.

Continue reading →

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Bhambayi Protests – The Rule of Lies Continues to Tear Apart Our Hopes for a Better Future

Tuesday, 28 March 2017
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Bhambayi Protests – The Rule of Lies Continues to Tear Apart Our Hopes for a Better Future

The anger of the poor can go in many directions.

In the local government elections those who led the war against our movement, a war that claimed the lives of a number of our members, were defeated. The Nigel Gumede administration, an administration that we described as an alliance of gangsters, was removed from power. After the election the new administration approached us to acknowledge the repression that we have suffered, to offer their apologies for that repression and to promise to work with us in a respectful and dignified manner. Many promises were made. Continue reading →

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Political Education Camp

11 March 2017
 
Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA press statement
 
Political Education Camp
 
The movement of Abahlali baseMjondolo SA will hold a Political Education Camp on the 11th March 2017 at the Hindu Surat Hall in Prince Edward Street. The camp will start at 18h00 and continue until sunrise.
 
The camp is platform where our members can be together and reflect about our movement, our struggle our society and our world. This is where we educate one another about Ubuhlalism, which is our political ideology. This is where we reflect on our lives and our histories.

Continue reading →

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Abahlali to Launch its First Village in Bizana, Eastern Cape

Friday, 17 February 2017

Abahlali press statement

 

Abahlali to Launch its First Village in Bizana, Eastern Cape

For more than ten years we have waged a struggle for land, housing and dignity in the cities. Our struggle in the cities has often been influenced by ideas and practices from rural areas and struggles. From time to time our comrades have taken some of the ideas and practices of the movement back to rural villages and rural struggles.

On Sunday we will launch our first village in Bizana in the Eastern Cape. For some time we have been part of the solidarity work undertaken to reject corruption, nepotism, and the theft of the land by black capital monopoly in Bizana. In early 2016 Abahlali supported the march by Bizana Abahlali baseZilalini against unfair business practices by Ramdel, a construction company contracted to build a road. The local community was not consulted on the project and job opportunities were denied to local communities. Among those employed there were strong allegations of bribery, sexism and nepotism. Continue reading →

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Assembly With Branch Leaders to Strategise in Advance of Negotiations

17 February 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

 

Abahlali to Hold Assembly to Strategise on Democratic and Participatory Development in Advance of Negotiations with the Municipality

This year we will be persuing Operation Siyakhisana. We have successfully resisted evictions and we have successfully occupied land. We have recently won the provision of important infrastructure in some settlements like electricity and ablution blocks. Now is the time to build, to plan and develop from below. We are beginning negotiations with the eThekwini Municipality on this programme as well as other matters like free access to sanitary pads and uniforms for our kids, as well as justice and respect for settlements that have experienced repression and brutality from the Municipality in places like Clare Estate, KwaNdengezi, Cato Crest, eKuphumeleleni and Lamontville. Continue reading →

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Abahlali baseMjondolo Choir to Record

3 February 2017

Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA Press Statement

Abahlali baseMjondolo Choir to Record

People who are living in shack settlements are often considered as people who are aimless, people who do not have a purpose in life. We are often regarded as a burden to the state. It is often believed that the shack settlement is a place of criminality.

When we resist our oppression we are slandered and repressed, even to the point of being murdered. We are supposed to remain in silence. We are suppose to know and keep to our place in an oppressive society. We are supposed to accept that our lives and our dignity will be undermined in the name of progress. Continue reading →

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2016: A year of progress for our movement

20 December 2016
Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA Press statement

2016: A year of progress for our movement

The year 2016 has come and gone. As we move from one year to another we need to reflect on the year that has been.

2016 has been a good year in the movement. Since our movement was formed in 2005 we have been subject to serious repression – including slander, various kinds of dirty tricks, assault, arrest, torture, the destruction of our homes and murder. There has been impunity for this repression which has mostly come from the police and the ruling party. But during this year, as a result of long struggle and building various kinds of alliances, we made a major break through against impunity for repression. Two ANC ward councillors and a hired hit man were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Thuli Ndlovu, who was our chairperson in the KwaNdengezi branch. The High Court also denied the two councillors (Mduduzi Ngcobo and Velile Lutyeku) and the hit man (Mlungisi Siphesihle Ndlovu) leave to appeal. This was a turning point in the movement since for the first time those who are usually considered to be above the law were given prosecuted, convicted and given a hefty sentence. This sent a clear message to those who continue to repress and murder activists that the arm of the law is long. This case took more than two years to be concluded. Continue reading →

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Two Lives Lost in a Shack Fire in Bhambayi, Inanda

14 December 2016
Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA Press Statement

Two Lives Lost in a Shack Fire in Bhambayi, Inanda

The festive season is the time for most people to gather with families and friends, but for those of us who are poor and living in shacks this is only a dream. We have to watch our shacks so that they do not get burnt while others are celebrating. We have to protect this because it’s all we have.

We also have to safeguard our homes against the illegal evictions that are carried out by the municipality’s land invasion unit. We are still living in shame 22 years post apartheid. It is unfortunate that the very government that our parents entrusted with their vote is still abusing their dignity and their basic human rights. The Freedom Charter committed the liberation struggle to provide land and housing to the people. The right to housing is a right that is enshrined in the Constitution but this right has not been properly addressed by this current government. We are often told that we must be patriotic about our country but how can you be patriotic when your stomach is empty? How can you be patriotic when you do not have a roof over your head? Recently on the 10th of December 2016 the country celebrated 20 years since the Constitution was adopted. This beautiful Constitution has not been properly implemented. This is because the people in power are only interested in serving themselves and their families.

Continue reading →

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Picket Against Kabila at the DRC Embassy in Pretoria

Press Statement from The Congolese Solidarity Campaign & Abahlali baseMjondolo, Monday 12 December 2016

Picket Against Kabila at the DRC Embassy in Pretoria

The Congolese Solidarity Campaign, based in Durban, South Africa, would like to inform the media and the public that it will organise a picket outside the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The details are as follows:

Date: 15th December 2016

Time: 09h00-12h00

Address: 791 Schoeman St, Eastcliff, Pretoria Continue reading →

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World Aids Day

02 December 2016
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

World Aids Day

Yesterday was World Aids Day. The movement of Abahlali baseMjondolo held a youth workshop to discuss this disease. There are a lot of beliefs that people have about this disease some of which are myths. We spoke about these beliefs being careful to seperate the myths from the reality. 56 young representatives from all our branches in and around Durban attended this workshop which was held at the Prince Edward Hall. The aim was for us to educate ourselves so that this knowledge can then be spread in the branches. The youth in this country are the ones that are infected the most in our society, so the movement took an initiative to empower young people with knowledge. Continue reading →

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Popular Democratic Power is the Way to Challenge Inequality

Thapelo Mohapi23 November 2016, Oslo, Norway
Fighting Inequality – Talks on How to Change the World

Thapelo Mohapi

Greeting to all. I am Thapelo Mohapi the current elected General Secretary of the movement Abahlali baseMjondolo. I would like to begin by thanking our friends at Norwegian People’s Aid for the invitation to participate in this discussion.

Abahlali baseMjondolo is a democratic movement of shack dwellers and other impoverished and marginalized people in South Africa. Last year we celebrated our tenth anniversary. We are the biggest popular movement to have emerged in post-apartheid South Africa. Our movement was formed in Durban 2005 to fight for, promote and advance the interests and dignity of shack dwellers and other impoverished people. Although we do have branches in other cities, and are expanding into other provinces, our movement is concentrated in the city of the Durban and the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Continue reading →

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Solidarity with the MST in Brazil

MST4 November 2016
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Solidarity with the MST in Brazil

The National School Florestan Fernandes in Guararema, São Paulo, is the political school for the MST – the Landless Workers’ Movement in Brazil. Our comrades have had the honour of studying and teaching there. We have just received the statement below from the MST. We currently have two comrades at the school.

We are in full solidarity with the MST and all the comrades at the school. Continue reading →

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Upcoming Engagements with Solidarity Networks

Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA Press statement

26th October 2016

 

Upcoming Engagements with Solidarity Networks

Our movement is committed to internationalism. We have always understood that while some struggles, like the struggles against gangster councillors, are local other struggles, like the struggle against capitalism, are global. International solidarity has been extremely helpful to us when we have faced repression and we have always offered our solidarity to our comrades elsewhere in the world when they have requested our support. We have learnt a lot from comrades in other struggles in other parts of the world and we have always been happy to host comrades from elsewhere in the world who want to learn from our. Continue reading →

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Abahlali to launch a new branch in Ekurhuleni

Press Statement: 13 October 2016

Abahlali to launch a new branch in Ekurhuleni

Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA is expanding to a new province: Gauteng. This Saturday Abahalali baseMjondolo will be launching a new branch in Good Hope, Ekurhuleni in the Gauteng Province. The launch will be held on 15th October 2016 at 10:00 in the Good Hope Community Hall.

Abahlali baseMjondolo has been successfully expanding a living politics into other provinces. The movement has recently launched two branches in the Western Cape. The movement is also set to launch branches in the Bizane municipality, Eastern Cape. New branches have also recently been launched in Kwazulu Natal: Gonowakhe, Umshwati Municipality and Bhambayi, Durban. Continue reading →

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S’bu Zikode to Speak at Schools in Estcourt on Friday

14691091_1272611039435812_1098971015572243898_nWednesday, 12 October 2016

Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

S’bu Zikode to Speak at Schools in Estcourt on Friday

S’bu Zikode, the current president of Abahlali baseMjondolo has been invited to speak to the learners at the two schools that he attended: Inkosi Mjwayeli Primary School and Bonokuhle High School where he was matriculated. Both Bonokuhle and Inkosi Mjwayeli are situated in Estcourt in eMangweni, eMoyeni. Continue reading →

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Abahlali baseMjondolo will hold the Unveiling Ceremony of the late Cde Thuli Ndlovu on 1 October

Thursday, 29 September 2016

Abahlali baseMjondolo will hold the Unveiling Ceremony of the late Cde Thuli Ndlovu on 1 October

14449012_1260069120690004_1902728699204971840_nToday marks exactly two years since the assassination of our comrade Thuli Ndlovu. Thuli was a member of the Abahlali National Council and the Chairperson of the KwaNdengezi Branch. She was assassinated on the 29 September 2014 at about 19:30pm. She was carrying her daughter Freedom. She was also with Siphesihle Madlala. Siphesihle, who is Thuli ‘s neighbour, was in the house to assist Thuli’s older daughter, Slindile, with home work. At that time she was doing her matric. The gunman fired eight shorts at Thuli and she died on the scene. Madlala was also shot in his stomach but he was rushed to hospital and survived the painful experience. Thuli left two kids Slindile and Freedom. She also left her Mom. As a result of a long struggle her killers, two ANC councillors, were brought to book. But the reality remains that her kids will never have a Mom again.

Continue reading →

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Women’s Power Meeting – 7 August 2016

05 August 2016

Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA Press Statement

Women’s Power Meeting – 7 August 2016DSCF1438

As part of the commemoration of the 60 year anniversary since the heroines marched to the Union Building against the Pass Laws and for gender and racial equality on the 9th August 1956 Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA will hold a Women’s Power Meeting at the Surat Hindu and Association Hall in Prince Edward Street in Durban on the 7th of August.

We will be honouring the Heroines who marched in 1956. We will also be honouring Thuli Ndlovu, Nqobile Nzuza, Thembi Zungu, Bongi and Fikile Nkosi who lost their lives still fighting for dignity and equality for women living in the shacks. Continue reading →

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Abahlali Gender equality workshop

Abahlali Gender Equality Workshop                                                                         DSCF1422

Sunday, 31 July 2016

The workshop was attended by at least 120 women, men and youth. The workshop was held as a significant mark of closing ‘’men’s month of July’’ and the beginning of August focusing on women’s power and rights.

Purpose of the workshop: For a very long time Abahlali have been very sensitive to gender equality issues. The movement has always had high respect for women and has made an enormous effort to promote and support women’s power and women’s activities within the movement. We have always been clear that the strength of the movement is founded on women’s power. However although all leadership positions in the movement are elected positions there has been a challenge in women occupying leadership position in the movement. At the branch level there have been many women leaders. But at the level of the movement’s overall structures there have always been more men than women in leadership. So the workshop aimed at breaking and exposing the fear of the unknown as well as some of the hidden bearers that we may not be aware of as Abahlali. The discussion was much broader and went beyond the question of men and women and included a discussion on LGBTI rights. Continue reading →

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Our lives count for nothing as we are left to die in the shacks

27 July 2016

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Our lives count for nothing as we are left to die in the shacks

Rain is usually considered as a blessing. It is often considered as a gift from the Almighty and amaDlozi. During the drought we were all waiting for the rain to come. But the storms in Durban hit impoverished people, and especially shack dwellers, very hard. Peoples’ possessions and homes were damaged and destroyed. Lives were lost.

Our lives do not count as human lives to this society. It is sad and shameful that we are living the life that we are living. Continue reading →

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Evictions at gun point continue at the Kennedy Road settlement

14 July 2016
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

Evictions at gun point continue at the Kennedy Road settlement

We have faced many evictions in the city of Durban since our movement was formed in 2005. Almost all these evictions have been violent, unlawful and criminal.

We have stopped almost all these evictions through organised resistance, mass protest and action in the courts. When the state has attempted to change the law to make it easier for them to evict us we have defeated them in court. In 2009 we won against the “Slums Act” at the Constitutional Court. Last year we also won against the “blanket order” sought by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlements. The “blanket order” was intended to authorise mass evictions and to prevent the occupation of at least 1 568 properties in KwaZulu-Natal. Continue reading →

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The Political and Economic Challenges Facing the Provision of Municipal Infrastructure in Durban

12 July 2016
Wits and University of Michigan Workshop on the Politics of Municipal Infrastructure held at the Durban University of Technology

The Political and Economic Challenges Facing the Provision of Municipal Infrastructure in Durban

S’bu Zikode

I wish to take this opportunity to thank the organisers of this workshop for recognising the struggle of Abahlali baseMjondolo. Today I wish to extend my gratitude to Wits and to Michigan for inviting me to share Abahlali‘s experience in our dignified struggle which includes struggle for land, housing, water, sewerage, electricity and transport. Continue reading →

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The Burning Season is Here

05 July 2016
Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA

The Burning Season is Here

Shack fires are a constant danger. But that danger becomes more serious in winter. This is because during winter people who are living in shacks are trying to keep warm. As a result people resort to making fires which increases the risk of their homes being burnt. There was a serious fire in the Foreman Road settlement in Durban in the past month leaving hundreds of people destitute. On Sunday five people lost their lives in the fire that burnt down the Plastic View settlement in Pretoria. On the same day another fire broke out in the Kenville settlement in Durban which left 76 families without homes and their documents, work clothes and school uniforms burnt. Continue reading →

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Youth Day Drug Awareness & Talents Competition Event

Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement of South Africa Youth League Press Statement

Youth Day Drug Awareness & Talents Competition Event

We as the youth of the South African nation want to live in peace and dignity regardless of colour or race. We want to live in a society where there is free quality education and everyone can develop themselves to their full potential. We want to live in a society where there is work or an income for everyone. We want to live in a society where the social value of urban land is placed before its commercial value and cities are governed and planned democratically. Continue reading →

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Mama ubuyiqhawe noMholi ukulwile ukulwa okuhle

Ngithi hhay uyinqokonqoko wena ongabonwayo..
Wena uyinqongqo mihla yonke..
Ungusomaqhuzu ozimele..
Iqhawe ngisho selulele..
Walinika amandla.
Amangalisayo

Ubile yinqhawe lamama kwaze kwafika ekugcineni
Bambulala abazitshel ukuth bangongqondongqondo
Becabanga ukuthi kuzoba njengejwayelo banethezeke
Kanti sebefik komunye ungqondongqondo
UNdlovukayphikiswa…Iqhawe lethu. Continue reading →

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Justice for Thuli Ndlovu!

Friday, 20 May 2016
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

Justice for Thuli Ndlovu!

Breaking news: ANC Councillors Velile Lutyeku and Mduduzi Ngcobo, along with their hitman Mlungisi Ndlovu have been found guilty of murdering Thuli Ndlovu in the Durban High Court.

Today, the Durban High Court has found that all three accused are guilty on count one of murdering Thuli Ndlovu. They were also all found guilty of conspiring to murder Thuli Ndlovu and accused number one Mlungisi Ndlovu, the gunman was further sentenced to 12 years for attempted murder. This was because when Thuli Ndlovu was assassinated Sphesihle Madlala was shot at his stomach but survived. When Ploos van Amstel J handed down the judgement he said that the community is not safe if the three were to be allowed back in the community.

Continue reading →

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Judgment to be Handed Down in the Trial of the ANC Councillors Accused of the Assassination of Thuli Ndlovu

Thursday, 19 May 2016
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Judgment to be Handed Down in the Trial of the ANC Councillors Accused of the Assassination of Thuli Ndlovu

Thuli Ndlovu, our chairperson in KwaNdengezi and a brave and respected comrade, was assassinated in her home on the 29th of September 2014. She was very active in the fight against corruption and the abuse of the rights of impoverished people. She was in the forefront in the protests against the selling of RDP houses. Thuli was also a mother of two children who must now remain without a mother for the rest of their lives.

Our movement faced serious repression since it was formed in 2005 including arrest, assault, torture, murder and the destruction of our homes. We are not the only people who have had to face the politic of blood in KwaZulu-Natal. NUMSA comrades have also been assassinated. Murder has been carried out with impunity at the Gleblands Hostel and elsewhere. There is now regular violence, including assassination, within the ANC. Continue reading →

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Death threats in Bizana after an Abahlali protest march against Rumdel mining and road construction

Thursday, 19 May 2016
URGENT Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

Death threats in Bizana after an Abahlali protest march against Rumdel mining and road construction

On Monday Abahlali baseZilalini ,who are part of Abahlali baseMjondolo, organised a protest in Bizana. It has invited all sort of trouble.

The peaceful march was a success with more then 800 people in the protest. Rumdel representative Mr Johan Human received the Memorandum of demands despite all threats that were made by Mbizana municipality claiming that the march was illegal. The police were friendly to us and work closely with us knowing that we had followed all the legal procedures in term of the Regulation of Gathering Act. We had the support of workers and some local taxi owners’ associations. Continue reading →

A Call to the eThekwini Municipality: Do not buy Casspirs

PRESS STATEMENT: A Call to the eThekwini Municipality: Do not buy Casspirs

We are outraged at the plan for the City of Durban to purchase militarised vehicles to deal with protests by the people of the Durban. This marks an alarming and unacceptable escalation of the local state’s increasingly repressive and intolerant response.

The protest actions themselves highlight the deep crises and challenges that we need to be facing together as a community with compassion and inclusion. What is needed is respect for the concerns, freedoms and dignity of the people. What is needed is the effective and immediate deployment of skills focused on listening, on peaceful negotiations and inclusive dialogue. What is needed is to seriously address the root causes of inequality, exclusion, patronage, elite indifference and arrogance that lie behind people’s protest actions.  Continue reading →

Daily News: City defends move to purchase casspirs amid outcry

Bheki Mbanjwa, The Daily News
Shackdwellers movement Abahlali BaseMjondolo has slammed the purchase of casspirs by the eThekwini municipality saying this amounted to the militarisation of the metro police department.
 
The organisation was reacting today after The Mercury carried a story revealing that the city is in the process of purchasing four casspirs at a total cost of R19.9 million.
 
The casspirs, being purchased from state-owned arms manufacturer Denel, will be used for crowd control and to deal with riot situations. Last night the city provided more details, saying the casspirs will also be used in land invasions.
 
“These vehicles will assist the Metro Police to carry out their duties while ensuring effective policing for crowd management deployment to ensure the safety of police members in riotous situations when rocks or petrol bombs are thrown,” said eThekwini spokesperson Tozi Mthethwa in a statement. 

Continue reading →