04 July 2011
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Police & Municipal Security Break the Ward Councillor's Promise & Return to Kennedy

Yesterday the new ward councillor Bhekisani Ngcobo arrived at a road blockade erected to defend the community against armed de-electrification by the eThekweni Municipality and promised residents of the Kennedy Road shack settlement that the municipality would stop trying to disconnect them from electricity. Today the Municipal Security Guards arrived, with police back up, and tried to continue to disconnect the people. The people resisted and organised another road blockade. Right now the police have stepped back but it may be that they are waiting for reinforcements.

For a long time communities around the country have been struggling against councillors imposed on them from the party bosses and arguing that they should be able to elect their own councillors. Some of these struggles have been successful and Abahlali baseMjondolo was genuinely elected by the ANC members in the ward. However the events of today and yesterday show that the Municipality does not obey elected councillors even when they carry a genuine mandate. They are not democrats. The power is in the hands of managers and technocrats and not elected representatives. This is why the councillor system will never meet the needs of the people. The only way forward is for people to organise themselves on the ground and to remain well organised irrespective of who is elected.

For further comment and information please contact:

Mnikelo Ndabankulu, Abahlali baseMjondolo Spokesperson: 081 309 5485
Mr. Sibiya, Kennedy Road Development Committee: 082 255 1213