iPolitiki ePhilayo: Digital Traces of the Political Thinking at the University of Abahlali baseMjondolo

Please note that this library of work by Abahlali baseMjondolo members is under construction, is not comprehensive and will be extended significantly over the next week or two. An extensive isiZulu & isiXhosa library is also being compiled but this will take some time as many of the documents need to be digitized. Finally, please also note that there is a archive of hard copy documents in the Abahlali baseMjondolo library in the Kennedy Road settlement.

Abahlali's call for Land and Housing in the cities has become a threat to the authorities, some NGOs and some academics who still believe that social change can not come from the bottom, who still believe that democracy is about being loyal to an authority. Such top down system has terrorized our society. In fact it is an insult to assume that the poor people cannot think for themselves, that someone else must talk for them without their concern. In view of this understanding a new living politic of the poor has been born…[But] it is clear that the organising of the poor by the poor to talk about their future is a crime in this country.
-Extract from a letter by S'bu Zikode written to seek solidarity after the police attack on the March on Mlaba, 10 October, 2007

Key Political Writings & Statements by Abahlali baseMjondolo Members (in English)

Press Statements

• Thousands to March on Yacoob Baig Press Release announcing the second march on Yakoob Baig organised by the Kennedy Road Development Committee, 1 September, 2005
• Thousands to March in Defiance of Durban March Ban, Press Statement announcing the Abahlali baseMjondolo would march in defiance of Sutcliffe's illegal ban of the Foreman Road 'March on Mlaba', November, 2005
• Launch of the Campaign for the Human Dignity of Shack Dwellers, Press Statement announcing the launch of a campaign following the banning and the police violence against the first March on Mlaba, December, 2005
• KZN Premier tries to use shack settlements as election-time window dressing, Press Statement in response to an attempt by S'bu Ndebele to fake support in Kennedy Road (This statement includes a petition to Ndebele from an international group of constitutional law experts), January, 2006
• Halala Abahlali! Statement on the Victory over Sutcliffe, February 2006
• Shack Dwellers to Demand Full Disclosure of the eThekwini Municipality’s Plans for Them from Sutcliffe, Press Statement announcing Abahlali's application for information from the City, August 2006
• Corruption & Armed Intimidation as Motala Heights Eviction Crisis Deepens, Press Statement following armed threats by Cllr. Derek Dimba, August 2006
• Shack Fires Are No Accident, Press Statement following the death of Zithulele Dhlomo in a fire in the Kennedy Road settlement, August 2006
• MEC's Office Instructs Shack Dwellers to Stop All Communication with the Media, Press Statement in response to intimidation from Mxoli Nkosi (following which S'bu Zikode and Philani Zungu were arrested and tortured by Supt. Glen Nayager in the Sydenham Police Station), September 2006
• eMaus Cracks, Press Statement announcing the eMaus decision to break with their councillor and join Abahlali, October 2006
• Abahlali Members Targeted at Work, Press Statement on the work place harassment of Abahlali members, October 2006
• March on the Sydenham Police Station, Press Statement, April 2007
• Prayer Meetings & Discussion on a Living Theology to be hosted by Abahlali baseMjondolo, Press Statement, May 2007
• Operation Murambatsvina comes to KZN: The Notorious Elimination & Prevention of Re-emergence of Slums Bill, Press Statement on the Slums Bill, June 2007
• Gangster Landlord Assaults Woman Activist and Threatens Twenty Families with Eviction, Press Statement on Violent Intimidation in Motala Heights, August 2007
• Women's Day Arrests, Press Statement on the second arrest of Philani Zungu (and then two others protesting against the arrest), this time following the expansion of the Pemary Ridge settlement to accommodate growing families and people made homeless in the December 2006 Juba Place eviction, August 2007
• Abahlali baseMjondolo to March on Obed Mlaba for Land & Housing in the City on 28 September 2007, Press Statement announcing the second March on Mlaba, September 2007
• Four Shacks Burn Down in Motala Heights, Press Statement on the fire and the PR Councillor's attempt to divide residents by race and subordinate them all to the local gangster landlord, September 2007
• Illegal evictions threatened in the Arnett Drive settlement, Press statements on threatened evictions in Arnett Drive, October 2007
• Philani Zungu arrested by the notorious Sydenham police once again, Press Statement on the third arrest of Philani Zungu, November 2007
• Neither the March Nor the Money are Ours, Press Statement on Gates Foundation donation to Shack Dwellers' International, November 2007
• The Plague of Fires Takes Another Life in Kennedy Road, Press Statement on another fatal fire in the Kennedy Road settlement, November 2007
• eThekwini Municipality Launches Criminal Attack on the Shannon Drive Settlement, Press Statement on the successful resistance to an attempt to demolish 102 shacks, December 2007
• Arnett Drive Successfully Resists Evictions, Press Statement on the successful resistance to an attempt to demolish 18 shacks, January 2008
• The Innocent in the Dock, the Guilty in their Offices, Press Statement on three pending cases against Abahlali (involving a total of 21 members), January 2008
• Abahlali baseMjondolo Take the Provincial Government to Court Over the Notorious Slums Act, February 2008
• Mass Disconnections from Electricity at Gun Point in the Kennedy Road Settlement, February 2008
• All Charges Against the Kennedy 6 Dropped, March 2008
• Jadhu Place Fire Disaster: 1 500 homeless, City tries to turn the settlement into a 'transit camp' , April 2008
• Abahlali baseMjondolo to Mourn UnFreedom Day Once Again , April 2008
• Motala Heights Crisis Deepens as Violent Intimidation Against the Strong Poor Continues, May 2008
• Abahlali baseMjondolo Statement on the Xenophobic Attacks in Johannesburg, May 2008
• The Kennedy Road Settlement is Burning (Again), June 2008
• Sekwanele! We are fed up and cold here in the tents , June 2008
• Abahlali baseMjondolo: 'a home for all', Press statement annoncing the launch of the first AbM branch in Cape Town, June 2008
• Abahlali baseMjondolo: 'a home for all', Press statement announcing the launch of the first AbM branch in Cape Town, June 2008
• AbM Cape Town to hold first ever grassroots workshop on the City's Master Plan, August 2008
• Abahlali baseMjondolo eThekwini Calls for City Wide Shack Fires Summit, August 2008
• AbM Statement on the Cornubia Development, August 2008
• Flood Rock the City, Joint AbM and AEC statement after flooding in Cape Town, September 2008
• Forced Relocations in Siyanda to Make Way for New Freeway, September 2008
• Power to the Poor, Statement by AbM Western Cape in solidarity after the Foreman Road fire, September 2008
• A Big Devil in the Jondolos: A report on shack fires, September 2008
• A State of Emergency – Statement After the Fire Summit, October 2008
• Abahlali baseMjondolo Case Against the KwaZulu-Natal Eradication and Prevention of Re-Emergence of Slums Act to be Heard in the Durban High Court on 6 and 7 November 2008, November 2008
• Arnett Drive Resident Shot With Live Ammunition, by Securicor Guard, 2 December 2008
• Bheki Cele Threatens 61 Siyanda Families with Forced Removal, 7 December 2008
• Latest from Siyanda: 50 Families Remain in their Homes & Refuse Eviction to “Transit Camp” Under Heavy Police Presence, 18 December 2008
• Siyanda: Agreement on Negotiations, Court Date Set Down for 27 January, 12 January 2009
• The Dlamini King Brothers Release their Début Album Hlis’uMoya, 20 January 2009
• Amandla is Still Awethu – Statement on the Slums Act Judgment, 27 January 2009
• Durban High Court Delays Bheki Cele's Attempt at Forced Removal from Siyanda to the Richmond Farm Transit Camp, 30 January 2009
• Once Again Our Children Are Being Evicted from Schools, 6 February 2009
• Electricity Disconnected and Three Women Arrested in Arnett Drive, 19 February 2009
• Siyanda Win in Court: The Struggle Against Corruption and Transit Camps Continues, 06 March 2009
• Siyanda Eviction to Richmond Farm: 26 Families Left Homeless, Housing Misallocation and Reports of Corruption Continue, 17 March 2009
• John Minto to Visit Abahlali baseMjondolo on Saturday, 17 April 2009
• Six Families Under Threat of Eviction in Motala Heights, 20 April 2009
• Abahlali baseMjondolo to Mourn UnFreedom Day on 27 April 2009, 24 April 2009
• Police Support for Landlord Intimidation Continues in Motala Heights, 30 April 2009
• Abahlali baseMjondolo Will Challenge the KZN Slums Act in the Constitutional Court on 14 May 2009, 6 May 2009
• Four ANC Members Arrested for Corruption in the Foreman Road Settlement, 16 May 2009
• Macassar residents occupying empty land as we speak, 18 May 2009
• Siyanda – Mpola – Macassar Village: The War on the Poor Continues, Siyanda – Mpola – Macassar Village: The War on the Poor Continues, 19 May 2009
• Macassar people won their victory on land occupation, 21 May 2009
• Macassar Village Secured an Urgent Interdict Against the City of Cape Town Last Night, 30 May 2009
• June 16th Commemoration to be Held at the Macassar Village Occupation, Abahlali baseMjondolo of the Western Cape, 15 June 2009
• Fire Devastates the Kennedy Road Settlement – At Least One Hundred Homes Destroyed, 16 June 2009
• Kennedy Road is Burning Again – The Fires Must Stop, the Settlements Must be Electrified Immediately, 8 July 2009
• 15 Settlements to March in Support of the Macassar Village Land Occupation, 14 July 2009
• 15 Protestors Shot With Rubber Bullets in Cape Town, 14 July 2009
• eShowe: Death Threats, Ban on Political Meetings, Mass Evictions, Corruption, Water Disconnected, 15 July 2009
• Nandi Mandela Celebrates Grandfather’s Birthday with the Eviction of 9 Families in Siyanda, 23 July 2009
• eThekwini Electricity Policy Takes Another Life – 16 Year Old Boy Dies in Siyanda, 29 July 2009
• Municipality and Inkosi Threaten 61 Families with Illegal Eviction in Howick, 29 July 2009
• Eviction of 23 Families in Motala Heights; Intimidation by Pinetown Legal Aid Board and So-Called Landlord, 6 August 2009
• Abahlali baseMjondolo Women's Day Celebration, 8 August 2009
• Abahlali baseMjondolo Attacked in eShowe by Councillor Warlords, 18 August 2009
• Councillor and eThekwini Municipality Illegally Demolish Homes in Mpola, 15 September 2009

   

   

  Newsletters & Pamphlets

• Hear our Cries! Yizwa ukukhala kwethu!, November 2005
• Izwe Labampofu, December 2007
• UnFreedom Day Pamphlet, April 2008

Speeches

• Harold Wolpe Memorial Lecture by S'bu Zikode, July, 2006
• Land & Housing Speech by S'bu Zikode at the Diakonia Council of Churches Economic Justice Forum, 28 August 2008
• Post Annual General Meeting Speech by S'bu Zikode, December 2008
• Meaningful Engagement, by S'bu Zikode, July 2009

   

   

  Other Statements & Reports

• Abahlali baseMjondolo & the Police, A record of 22 instances of illegal police abuse compiled by Stephanie Lynch & Zodwa Nsibande, January 2008
• A Big Devil in the Jondolos: The Politics of Shack Fires, by Matt Birkinshaw, September 2008
• Notes on Gentrification for the Manchester Conference, U of AbM ad hoc seminar on gentrification group, August 2009

   

   

  Memoranda

• Memorandam of Demands Handed to Yakoob Baig, May 2005
  (March of 3 000, severe police and intelligence intimidation prior to march but it proceeded without police violence)
• Memorandam of Demands Handed to Yakoob Baig, September 2005
  (March of 5 000, severe police and intelligence intimidation prior to march including the over night occupation of the Kennedy Road settlement by the military but it proceeded without police violence)
• Memorandam of Demands Handed to Jayraj Bachu, October 2005
  (March of 1 000, no intimidation and proceeded without police violence)
• Memorandam of Demands to Obed Mlaba, November 2005
  (March of 3 000 illegally banned, continued despite the ban and then broken up by severe police violence including the use of live ammunition. 45 arrests, some injuries with permanent consequences. Police intimidation of journalists.)
• Memorandam of Demands to Mike Mabuyakulu, February 2006
  (March of 20 000 illegally banned but ban overturned with court interdict. Police violence at 4 settlements prior to the court judgement. 4 arrests, no injuries with permanent consequences)
• Memorandam of Demands Handed to Superintendent Glen Nayager of the Sydenham Police Station, April 2007
  (March of 1 000 illegally banned and prior police intimidation. 14 people were finally allowed to proceed after intense negotiation & mobilization on the basis that gatherings of this size do not require permission)
• Memorandam of Demands to Mayor Obed Mlaba, September 2007
  (March of 5 000 broken up by unprovoked police violence. Injuries requiring hospitalisation but none with permanent consequences. 14 arrests.)

   

   

   

• Memorandum of Demands to Mike Mabuyakulu from the Siyanda Abahlali baseMjondolo branch, 10 November 2008
• AbM Western Cape – Demands Presented to Dan Plato on 21 July 2009

   

   

  Interviews with Bahlali

• Interviews with Nonhlanhla Mzobe, Jerome Bhengu, Mnikelo Ndabankulu & William Bogege by Jacob Bryant, November 2005
• American Radio Interview with Mnikelo Ndabankulu, (audio) Exact date uncertain but early 2006
• Interviews with Abahlali Youth by Ally Brundige, November 2006
• Taking Poverty Seriously: What the poor are saying and why it matters, Interview based article by Win Wei Ngiam on the political thinking in Abahlali baseMjondolo, November 2006
• [re]connecting the World Social Forum Discussion recorded by Mark Butler, 2007
• Comments by People Illegally Evicted from the Motala Heights and Juba Place settlements in December 2006. Discussion recorded by Mark Butler and Richard Pithouse March 2007
• System Cele interviewed by Sokari Ekine, (audio) April 2007
• Sindy Mkhize interviewed by Sokari Ekine (audio), July 2007
• S'bu Zikode interviewed together with Jockin Arputhamon on Radio Without Borders (audio), July 2007
• Interviews with System Cele, Mashumi Figland, Louisa Motha & David Ntseng by Kate Gunby, December 2007
• To Resist All Degradations & Divisions:An interview with S’bu Zikode, January – April 2009
• David Ntseng, Mnikelo Ndabankulu & Zodwa Nsibande interview by Sokari Ekine, (text & audio), September 2009
• Relocation, relocation, demonstration, Interview with Mnikelo Ndabankulu & Zodwa Nsibande in The Morning Star, September 2009
• "Getting Electricity Was So Exciting", Interview with Zodwa Nsibande in The Guardian, September 2009

   

   

  Meeting Minutes

• Notes from the first meeting of the churches sub-committee of Abahlali baseMjondolo written up by Mark Butler, November 2006
• Minutes of the Abahlali baseMjondolo Meeting to Discuss Legal & Political Strategies to Oppose the Slums Bill written by Mark Butler & David Ntseng, July 2007
• Minutes of AbM meeting with Church Leaders, Kennedy Road, 9 October 2007 written up by Mark Butler, October 2007

Published Articles

• Faith No More: Why a community revolted by Richard Pithouse, March 2005
• The Third Nelson Mandela by Raj Patel & Richard Pithouse, May 2005
• Coffin for the Councillor (or the Left in the Slum) by Richard Pithouse, September 2005
• We Are the Third Force by S'bu Zikode, November, 2005
• Democracy Took a Beating in Foreman Road by Richard Pithouse, November, 2005
• "No Vote” Campaigns are not a Rejection of Democracy by Richard Pithouse, November, 2005
• Nobody cares about us shack dwellers by Zama Ndlovu and Hlengiwe Jara, December, 2005
• South African Democracy Appears Deaf to the Voice of the Poor by Raj Patel, February, 2006
• Transcribed Talk at the Rosa Luxemburg Colloquium by S'bu Zikode, March, 2006
• A Second Democracy for the Second Economy? by Richard Pithouse, March 2006
• Mabuyakhulu Plans for War on the Poor by Richard Pithouse, May, 2006
• Shack Fires are No Accident by Raj Patel & Richard Pithouse, May, 2006
• There has been no outcry against the recent assassinations of Umlazi activists by Richard Pithouse, June, 2006
• We are the Restless Majority by S'bu Zikode, July, 2006
• From Party Politics to Service Delivery to the Politics of the Poor by Philani Zungu, November, 2006
  (Article written in response to charges laid against Fazel Khan by UKZN)
• Democracy Takes Another Beating by Richard Pithouse, September, 2006
• The Strong Poor and the Police by Philani Zungu, December, 2006
  (Article written after severe police violence, which later resulted in one death and one miscarriage, in response to a road blockade organised by the Siyanda settlement)
• Make Crime History by S'bu Zikode, January, 2007
  (Article written after arrest and severe assault of S'bu Zikode)
• Police Brutality by System Cele, January, 2007
  (Article written after severe assault and arrest of System Cele)
• The No Land, No House, No Vote Campaign Still on for 2009 by M'du Hlongwa, January, 2007
• When Choices Can No Longer Be Choices by S'bu Zikode, February, 2007
  (Article written after S'bu Zikode was forced out of his job)
• Conversion, Struggle, New Creation by Filippo Mondini, February, 2007
  (Reflections on life and the struggle to struggle in the Ash Road settlement, Pietermartizburg)
• Brief Reflections on the World Social Forum by David Ntseng, March, 2007
  (Article written in response to the solidarity at the forum and NGO authoritarianism before and at the forum)
• Letter to All Comsa Members by Fazel Khan, April, 2007
  (Article written after Fazel Khan was fired from his job)
• The March on Nayager by Fillipo Mondini, April, 2007
  (Article written the day after the March on Nayager)
• Stop the Lies and the Bullying by former residents of Akoo's Flats, June, 2007
  (Article written after an eviction)
• Democracy in My Experience by Philani Zungu, August, 2007
  (Article written after the second arrest and assault of Philani Zungu)
• Silencing the Right to Speak is Taking Away Citizenship by S'bu Zikode, September, 2007
  (Article written after police attack on the March on Mlaba)
• The University of Abahlali baseMjondolo by Richard Pithouse, October, 2007
• Let the People Tell You About Themselves by Mashumi Figlan, November, 2007
  (Article written after police attack on the March on Mlaba)
• Beyond State Politics, by Brother Filippo Mondini, May 2008
• A Crisis of Citizenship, by Richard Pithouse, June 2008
• The Country That Never Was, by Fanuel Ntsingo, June 2008
• Politics at stake: a note on stakeholder analysis, by Mark Butler & David Ntseng, July 2008
• Upgrading of Informal Settlements, by Mzonke Poni, October 2008
• The Award of Hope!, by Fanuel Nsingo, October 2008
• 'Be a visitor, not a spy' – QQ Section, Site B, Khayelitsha, by Matt Birkinshaw, October 2008
• The Big Threat to Informal Settlements, by Mzonke Poni November 2008
• Another World is Possible: Reflections and Criticisms on the World Social Forum, 2009, in Belem, Brazil, by Mzonke Poni, April 2009
• Burning message to the state in the fire of poor’s rebellion, by Richard Pithouse, 23 July 2009

   

   

  Letters

• What Happened at or to the SMI National Meeting This anonymous open letter addresses the appalling campaign of wild slander directed at Abahlali baseMjondolo and the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign from within the left NGOs after the movements declared their autonomy from NGO domination, December 2006
• Letters from Kennedy Road Letters to newspaper editors on the Kennedy Road arrests, March 2007
• Letter from Philani Zungu & Nokwanda Mjanyana, Pemary Ridge Development Committee, to the Departments of Housing & Land Invasions This letter declares that Pemary Ridge will expand to accommodate growing families and people illegally evicted from Juba Place by the City. The City responded by having Zungu arrested, July 2007
• Kennedy Road shack fire, a double attack by S'bu Zikode, February, 2008
  (This letter to the friends of Abahlali was written in the aftermath of the Kennedy Road fire that broke out two days after mass disconnections from electricity at gun point)
• Abahlali baseMjondolo report on the AbM Event for the 3rd International Day of Solidarity for Haiti by S'bu Zikode, February, 2008
• Open Letter to the Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Helen Zille, December 2008

   

   

  Prayers & Songs

• A Prayer for Justice, by Fanuel Nsingo, July 2008

   

   

  Collected Writings

• Revolutionary Ubuntu, E-Black Studies 2009
• Reclaiming the Poor People's Campaign: Resources from Abahlali baseMjondolo & the Rural Network, 2009

   

   

  Films & Video Footage

• Kennedy Road & the Councillor The first film made about the struggle that would later lead to the formation of Abahlali baseMjondolo. Aoibheann O'Sullivan, April 2005
• SABC 3 News report on the police attack on the Foreman Road 'March on Mlaba' The march went ahead in defiance of a ban by Mike Sutclife under the banner of 'No Land! No House! No Vote!' and was viciously attacked by the police under the command of Glen Nayager. November 2005
• E-TV News report on the police attack on the Foreman Road 'March on Mlaba' November 2005
• Breyani & the Councillor The first film made after the formation of Abahlali baseMjondolo. Sally Giles & Fazel Khan, 2006
• Abahlali baseMjondolo and the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign Protest Against the Social Movement's Indaba Unedited video footage of a key moment in the emergence of an autonomous politics of the poor. Antonios Vradis, December, 2006
• Nayager Falls, Abahlali Rises A short film made after the mobilisation against Senior Superintendent Glen Nayager of the Sydenham Police Station. Sally Giles & Fazel Khan, April, 2007
• The Right to Know A film by the Open Democracy Advice Centre about Abahlali's attempts to get information from the eThekwini municipality about the city's plans for them. ODAC, October, 2007
• Dear Mandela, A six minute film by Sleeping Giant Films, February 2008
• Dear Mandela – Zero Evictions Campaign, A new 8 minute version of this film for the Zero Evictions Campaign Video Competition, November 2008
• A Place in the City, November 2008
• From the Shacks to the Constitutional Court, Sleeping Giant Films, May 2009
• Amandla Awethu, by Elkartasun Bideak, June 2009
• Txaboletan bizi direnak, by Elkartasun Bideak, August 2009

   

   

  Short Biographies

• Mnikelo Ndabankulu, July 2009
• Zodwa Nsibande, July 2009
• Mazwi Nzimande, July 2009
• S'bu Zikode, February 2009

   

   

  Letters and Statements from Comrades in Allied Struggles

• Background to the assassination of Mazwi Douglas Zulu (Komi) A statement from various organisation in Umlazi. This entry also includes the 5 press releases put out on the Umlazi crisis by Women of Umlazi et al and Abahlali, May 2006
• On the Social Movement's Indaba from the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign A letter in response to the appalling campaign of overt and covert slander with which a faction of the NGO left responded to the declaration of political autonomy from their control by the AEC and AbM, December 2006
• Comments by Anilliah Mosaraure and Beatrice Ngwenya of the Combined Harare Residents' Association Comments made after some time spent living with Abahlali in the Kennedy Road and Motala Heights settlements, June 2007
• Western Cape Housing Crisis Bulletin, October 2007
• Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign Exposes SMI's 2007 Lies An Open Letter from the AEC taking the vanguardist NGO left to task for falsely claiming that the AEC would participate in their 'social movements' meeting, December 2007
• The Western Cape Housing Crisis: Writings on Joe Slovo and Delft by Martin Legassick, 2008
• APF & AVCC: Stop the Xenephobic Attacks in Alexandra & Elsewhere!, May 2008
• From Cité Soleil (Haiti) to Durban (South Africa) where Freedom Day is now being seen as Unfreedom Day, by Jacques Depelchin May 2008
• Western Cape AEC in Durban for shack-fire summit, alliance meeting, and to support comrades at Foreman Rd who are being subject to illegal demolitions, September 2008
• Stop the "Eradication and Prevention" of our homes, Makause, October 2008
• Ten Thousand to March on S’bu Ndebele in Protest at eMacambini Evictions, Amacambini Anti-Removal Committee, November 2008
• An Open Letter from the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign in South Africa to US Activists, Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, April 2009