The Repression Machine Continues to Grind

Thursday, 13 May 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

The Repression Machine Continues to Grind

Today our movement was at the Magistrates Court in Durban to demand the immediate release of Mqapheli Bonono and Siniko Miya, the dropping of all charges against Bonono, Miya and Maphiwe Gasa and an end to political repression. There were solidarity protests at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg, the Magistrates Court in Tembisa, the Magistrates Court in Cape Town and the South African Embassy in London. 

There were six hundred comrades outside the court in Durban. Abahlali members, many taking a day off work, came from as far away as Mpumalanga province. We saw old comrades that we hadn’t seen in years. We were joined by people from The Coalition of the Poor – including organised street traders, flat dwellers, hostel dwellers, residents of south Durban, etc – as well as a sex workers’ organisation, representatives from feminist and environmental organisations, Numsa, Saftu, the Amadiba Crisis Committee and more.

Our comrades had to protest on the grass alongside the road outside the court and were not allowed into the grounds of the court complex. No one wearing a red shirt was allowed into the court room.

Our lawyer had advised us that the appearance today would be a simple technicality in terms of bail as all the requirements had been met and that Bonono and Miya would be able to return to their families and Gasa would be able to remain with her child.

However, there was a sudden change of prosecutor and things did not go as we had expected. It is with great disappointment that we report that the Durban Magistrates Court has yet again refused comrade Bonono and Miya bail. Gasa, who had not previously been in custody, was also denied bail. After the magistrate’s ruling she was separated from her unwell 16-month-old baby and taken into custody.

There are no clear grounds for the refusal of bail other than to say that the matter will be moved to another court – that is court “D” – for bail application on Monday, 17 May.

Despite the fact that police did not oppose bail the prosecutor refused to grant it.

There seems to have been an instruction from above that said that she should keep Bonono, Miya and Gasa in custody for as long as it is possible to do so.

These kinds of delaying tactics keep people in prison for no reason, consume our resources, time and energy and force us to redirect the focus of our organising to solidarity work. The personal cost for the people in detention and their families is very high. The forces of repression know very well that the costs of transport to and from court, days away from work or jobs lost, lawyers and support for incarcerated people place huge stress on poor people, their families and organisations. People who cannot afford these things are quickly ground into destruction by the system.

Bonono, Miya and Gasa were all taken to the notoriously violent and corrupt Westville Prison. Our lawyer was, though, able to secure an agreement that all three would be held in isolation cells due to the severe risk that our members face in the prison.

We wish to extend our sincere and heart-felt gratitude for all the warmth, love, solidarity and support that so many people have shown at this time.

Together, we stand for dignity, respect and democracy. We are all people that count.

We will return to court on Monday.

Thapelo Mohapi: 074 774 4219
S’bu Zikode: 083 547 0474