Thursday, 3 February 2022
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

The Msunduzi Municipality engages the ANC, not the people

On the 28th of January residents of the Jika Joe settlement in Pietermartizburg took to the streets after a long history of state abandonment going back to 1994. For more than a quarter of a century the Msunduzi Municipality had failed to address the inhumane conditions in the settlement, and had failed completely to address the issue of housing despite numerous promises. At the same time the taxi mafia and local politicians were supporting the landlords who were extracting rent from the residents.

As a result of the road blockades organised on 28 January, which shut down the city, the municipal Speaker, Eunice Majola, was forced to come and address the community. She promised to come back to the community with a response after meeting with the officials in the Human Settlements department. She spoke like a leader that was not biased and as leader that was prepared to solve the issue with the community. Her good faith was noted and appreciated.  Continue reading →

30 January, 2022
Abahlali baseMjondolo

Jika Joe Residents Grab the Bull by the Horns

On Thursday morning residents of the Jika Joe settlement in the Msunduzi Municipality blockaded the roads leading into Pietermaritzburg, the capital city of KwaZulu-Natal. They shut down the city.

The army was brought in but it was the taxi mafia that actually attacked the protestors. Sandiso Mazendala was shot after drivers from the Masukwana taxi rank opened fire at protestors after they refused to dismantle a blockade. They also assaulted Bongekile Madlala. Mazendala is in a critical condition in Northdale hospital. Continue reading →

19 January 2022
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

The elections are over and the politicians have already forgotten about the poor

Our movement was formed on the basis of living politics. A politic that speaks about the fact that the poor still live under very inhuman conditions, the fact that we still do not have land, that we do not have even basic services such as water, sanitation and refuse collection in the shacks, the fact that the fires come year after year. Ipolitiki ephilayo has been our way of living. It is the politic of Land, Housing and Dignity, the politic of solidarity the politic of building the democratic power of the oppressed from below.  Continue reading →

Wednesday, 8 December 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo Women’s League Press Statement

An Important Victory in the Struggle Against GBV

Truth never damages a cause that is just. Law is not law, if it violates the principles of eternal and universal justice.

The Abahlali Women’s League celebrated a tremendous victory on the 6th of December 2021 at the Pietermaritzburg High Court. The serial rapist, Msomi, who is 31 years of age, received a sentence of 123 years and 5 life sentences in prison for the rape of more than 60 women. One of these women is a very senior leader of AbM. Continue reading →

2 December 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

The justice system continues to fail us in eKhenana

On the 23rd of November the Cato Manor police finally arrested three of the six people who are widely understood to be responsible for burning down of the houses of two women leaders of Abahlali in eKhenana.

Nkosingiphile Nsele, Sibusiso Mdluli and Mthandeni Mfeka were arrested on the 23rd November and appeared at the Durban Magistrate Court on the 25th November. They were granted bail of R2 000 each.  Continue reading →

Saturday, 27 November 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

Abahlali to hold Elective Congress to deepen our internal democracy

It is that time of the year where the mandate given to our current leadership by our members is ending. The Abahlali National Council term of office runs for three years, while the provincial term runs for two years. The Local Council office term runs for a year. Tomorrow Sunday, 28 November ,Abahlali from around the country will meet at 135 Musgrave Road in Durban to elect our new leaders. The movement is determined to deepen our internal democracy. This is an opportunity to affirm that our Movement belongs to its members. Delegates comes from our branches in good standing and candidates have been nominated by branches in good standing. New branches are also invited to observe the election. Continue reading →

Saturday, 06 November 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

The majority have rejected the ANC

Only around a quarter of people eligible to vote chose to cast their votes for the ANC in the recent election. The mass stay away from the polls is a mass rejection of the ANC, along with the DA and the EFF which could not attract the support of significant numbers of former ANC voters. When you do not respect the dignity of the people and you undermine their power you always pay the price.

We have always said that the day is coming where South Africans will no longer have the loyalty to the ANC and will vote them out of power. This election shows that that day is coming. Continue reading →

Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement
Wednesday, 27 October 2021

Repression continues in eKhenana as the homes of Maphiwe Gasela and Phumelele Mkhize are burnt to ashes

The alliance of the Cato Manor police, the local ANC and the eThekwini Municipality against the eKhenana Commune has taken another ugly turn. Last night the homes of Maphiwe Gasela and Phumelele Mkhize were burnt. Like all the other comrades from eKhenana who have been granted bail after arrest on bogus charges their bail conditions prohibit them from returning to Cato Manor, where eKhenana is located, so their homes were not occupied at the time of the attack. Continue reading →

Monday, 25 October 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

The attack on the eKhenana land occupation continues with the assault of women and more arrests

On Saturday at about 10am ANC thugs molested and assaulted Phumelele Mkhize, Snothando Mkhize, Nomlindelo Madlala and Nomfundo Mhlongo at the eKhenena occupation. The police came and instead of arresting the ANC thugs they arrested two of the women that they had attacked: Phumelele Mkhize and Maphiwe Gasela. Maphiwe has previously been arrested and imprisoned on false charges that were finally dropped on 4 October. The two were charged with assault in the same matter that Nokuthula Mabaso, Sindiswa Ngcobo and Thozama Mazwi were arrested and charged for earlier this month.  Continue reading →

Friday, 22 October 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

The ongoing attack on the eKhenana Commune is being planned at a high level

A total of nine comrades have now been arrested on trumped up charges in the latest wave of repression against the eKhenana Commune. Six have already had all charges withdrawn. Two of the six spent two weeks in prison and the other four spent six months in prison. Yesterday Nokuthula Mabaso, Thozama Mazwi and Sindiswa Ngcobo were released on bail after spending two weeks in Westville prison.

The police are currently in eKhenana. They say that they are there to make more arrests. Continue reading →