5 000 join in ‘death of freedom’ protests

http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=282&fArticleId=3222256

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5 000 join in ‘death of freedom’ protests
April 27, 2006

By Zukile Majova

While the rest of South Africa marked Freedom Day yesterday, more than 5 000 people from communities in the greater Durban area converged at St John’s Church Hall in Sydenham to mourn “the death of freedom”.

S’bu Zikode, leader of the eThekwini shack dwellers’ movement, Abahlali base Mjondolo, said the residents of 35 informal settlements had gathered to speak against their oppression in the democratic South Africa.

“How can we celebrate freedom when we only hear tales of freedom or see people’s lives changed for the better in other parts of the country, but never in our communities?” said Zikode. “We cannot celebrate, we have nothing to be cheerful about.

“We are the forgotten people who are expected to be content with sharing five toilets among 5 000 people. How can a community of 5 000 people celebrate when it is expected to make do with six taps?”

The shack dwellers’ movement was joined by civil rights organisations which work to reconnect water and lights when the municipality disconnects these services in areas like Chatsworth and Phoenix .

Virginia Magwaza-Setshedi, of the Freedom of Expression Institute in Johannesburg, who also attended the gathering, said the institute sought to protect the right of shack dwellers to protest.

“We agree they cannot really join the rest of the country in celebrating freedom while they are being denied their basic rights,” she said. “We want to ensure they no longer suffer police brutality when expressing themselves through protest.”