Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement
Brutal and Illegal Evictions Continue to Undermine our Human Rights in New City, Marianridge
Abahlali in New City in Marianridge are under attack following the City’s continuous violation of a Durban High Court interdict. On Monday, 19 March, at about 17pm, the Isambulo security guards illegally and brutally evicted four families who are protected by the court order. This act angered residents who were then forced to resist. Three activists were seriously injured when the protest intensified during the whole day yesterday.
Sisi Nonhlanhla Zungu broke her leg while fleeing the police. Sibusiso Mngonyolo was shot with rubber bullets and sustained serious injuries. A one month old baby Dimpo Mohale inhaled tear gas as the police attacked activists in their homes (and not in the road where protest took place). The baby was admitted to hospital too. We remember last year that we lost baby Jayden Khoza as a result of police attack on activists in their homes in the Foreman Road settlement in Clare Estate. Comrade Noloyiso Ziyunguma was arrested and still in custody.
The protest continues today. Now as we speak as comrades are demanding the release of comrade Noloyiso. Her only crime has been to demand umhlaba wokuhlala “land for living”.
Today, is supposed to be Human Right day on which we celebrate the achievement of Human Rights for all. The Human Rights written into the laws only exist on paper for people who are black and impoverished. In reality we are impoverished, our homes are destroyed, we are beaten, shot at, tortured, jailed and killed
Today we are supposed to be celebrating the sacrifices made by many fallen heroes of our country. But the reality is that the ANC government has decided to continue where the apartheid state finished. We continue to be oppressed.
The ANC have decided that this Human Right day should be dedicated to its members, its volunteers and to the elites. It is most unfortunate that after twenty four years of democracy we are still hunted as wild animals. After twenty four year of democracy we have no land and we have no decent housing. After twenty four year of democracy we remain locked in shacks and in ‘transit camps’. Clearly there are no human rights for the impoverished in this country. This day is now characterised by protests in many part of this country.
We note with great sadness that workers remain in deep poverty and are still struggling for a living wage while working hard for this country. Now new labour laws aim to undermine workers and strengthen the position of the bosses. We stand in solidarity with struggling workers today as they march in Johannesburg in search for decent and fair labour practice. We join their call and we say “scrap the new labour bills”. We also stand in solidarity with our comrades from the Social Justice Coalition, Reclaim the City and many more who are currently marching in Cape Town for “land for living”. They march for “umhlaba wokuhlala”. We are saying your struggle is our struggle. We are aware that the system that confront us will require us to unite across different sections of our society. It will require the impoverished and working class to build revolutionary democracy and popular democratic power from below.
The Human Rights written on paper will not become a living reality without communities, movements and unions uniting to build a powerful and democratic mass movement from below for a just, equal and peaceful South Africa. Human dignity must be placed before profit.
Contact:
Mqapheli Bonono: 073 067 3274
Dudu (New City Chairperson): 082 726 6352
S’bu Zikode: 083 547 0474