March to Demand the Resignation of Nigel Gumede

Memorandum from Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement South Africa

DATE: 5 November 2011
RE: Call for the immediate removal of Nigel Gumede as Chairperson of the Housing Portfolio Committee and Infrastructure for eThekwini Municipality

March to Demand the Resignation of Nigel Gumede & the Right to Know – 5 November 2011

Today, Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) is marching to urgently call for the immediate removal of Nigel Gumede as Chairperson of the Housing Portfolio Committee and Infrastructure for the eThekwini Municipality.

This urgent call for Gumede's dismissal comes after he has spent his tenure continuously neglecting the poor and and failing to meet the needs of the poor in this city, many of whom continue to live in life threatening conditions year after year.

We are also demanding Gumede's firing due to a series of menacing threats he has made over the last two years toward S'bu Zikode, Chairperson of Abahlali baseMjondolo, as well as other members of Abahlali. His statements after the 2009 attack on our movement at the Kennedy Road settlement included open statements of disgraceful ethnic prejudice. Abahlali baseMjondolo is and will remain a non-ethnic and non-racial movement for all poor people that is not affiliated to any political party and struggles to protect, promote and advance the dignity of the poor in South Africa. Gumede has become a major block to our efforts to realize genuine democracy for all people and he must resign now.

Over the last six years of Abahlali's existence we have held many marches targeting the people holding power, often turning out in thousands to protest against the ongoing housing crisis and the crisis of economic and political inequality facing the poor. However, not until 13 October 2011 were we granted our first meeting with eThekwini Mayor, the Honourable James Nxumalo. It was at this meeting, with fourteen of Abahlali's elected representatives present, that Gumede once again displayed his brute thuggery, opening the meeting by introducing himself as a murderer, stating outright that the ANC is at war with Abahlali baseMjondolo and threatening to ambush S'bu Zikode in the forest. Abahlali baseMjondolo is not at war with the ANC and has always unequivocally affirmed that one of our roles is to bring the government to the people and the people to the government. We have never been affiliated to any political party but we do insist on our right to organize and to struggle for a bottom up and people centered system of development in this country. Any threat to S'bu Zikode is a threat to us all. We have clearly stated that "We are all S'bu Zikode".

While we will continue to meet with Mayor Nxumalo in good faith to address our issues, it is clear that there can be no negotiation with Gumede when such threats are in the air. They undermine trust between negotiating parties and damage any real chance of dialogue and action in partnership. Further, Gumede must leave his position because he has spent his tenure disrespecting the poor and leaving us with a long list of broken and unfulfilled promises. His legacy is a one of state violence and contempt towards the poor – illegal evictions, armed disconnections, forced removals to rural dumping grounds, the horror of transit camps, massive corruption, violation of court orders, houses that are built without foundations and are unfit for human beings and people left living like pigs in the mud amidst constant shack fires.

We also march today in solidarity with the Right2Know Campaign (R2K). The Right2Know Campaign is a nation-wide coalition of people and organizations opposed to the Protection of Information Bill – also known as the Secrecy Bill – currently before the South African parliament. The Bill will threaten hard-won constitutional rights including access to information and freedom of expression. Abahlali has fought for many years to realize its constitutional right to protest and hold its mayor, councillors and other political leaders accountable. The Secrecy Bill, if passed, will provide cover to politicians like Gumede who openly threaten citizens asserting their rights. This bill will also be a direct barrier to our ability to get accurate and timely information on the progress of home constructions and delivery of services to shacks. We need more democracy, not less, in South Africa and, with our comrades in other movements around the country, we are determined to struggle to defend and to deepen democracy,

Th Secrecy Bill and politicians like Gumede are a clear and present danger to the political climate in South Africa – this is the climate change that we fear the most.

Abahlali stands unified and firm that Gumede must resign and the Secrecy Bill must not pass.

The march will start at Botha Park at 10:00 this morning and then proceed to the City Hall.

For more information and comment please contact:

Bandile Mdlalose: 031 304 6436 or 071 424 2815
Mazwi Nzimande: 031 304 6436 or 074 222 8601