http://hir.harvard.edu/blog/visitor/the-dignity-of-the-poor-is-vandalized-from-many-quarters

The Dignity of the Poor is Vandalized from Many Quarters

by Abahlali baseMjondolo (KwaZulu-Natal), Rural Network (KwaZulu-Natal) & the Unemployed People's Movement (Eastern Cape, Free State & KwaZulu-Natal)

When black people rose up against apartheid, the government usually said that they couldn’t have organized themselves and that there must have been a white person making them resist. Some thought that only whites were capable of thinking, speaking, and acting for themselves. But it was not only the government that looked for conspiracies every time black people organized themselves. This also happened within the movement.

22 October 2012
Rural Network Press Statement

Rural Network Protest in Pietermaritzburg on 23 October 2012

We, the Rural Network, together with our comrades in Abahlali baseMjondolo and other poor people’s organisations, will be having a public protest march on the 23rd of October, 2012, in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal. In light of the government’s failure to address the unlawful arrest of school children, illegal cattle impoundment, forced evictions and land distribution issues, we have been emboldened to march in order to keep the Department of Land Affairs (Department of Rural Development and Land Reform), and the Department of Justice accountable for their responsibilities. Moreover, violent actions by private farm security companies directed at farm tenants, dishonest officials changing their identities and equality violations continue as the government fails to arrest, question, and prosecute the initiators of illicit behaviour.

15 July 2011
Rural Network Press Statement

From Shooting to Brutally Beating by the Farmers

On 05 March 2011, Mr. Nayetsheni Lymon Ndlozi was brutally beaten by the farm owner of Vaalbarn Farm in Utrecht. At the time of the attack Mr Ndlozi was going to fetch his cows that had been impounded by the farmer Mr Johan Landman and his son. Mr Ndlozi a 62 year - old man is a farm labour tenant who claimed Uitkom farm and was vindicated by the Newcastle Court. The farm used to belong to Mr Landman’s father and he was very much angry about the judgment. He was trying to use the attack on the Ndlozi family as a way of constructive eviction.

Two Families Evicted in eNkwalini - Forty More Under Threat

The Mbambo and Shobete families have had their homes destroyed by a farmer, Louis John Nel, in eNkwalini which is between eShowe, Melmoth and eMpangeni. Around fifteen people have been left homeless as a result of the eviction. These people were born on this land. They are now sleeping in their friends and neighbour’s homes. They have been given a document which indicates that around 40 homes will be demolished in total.

The farmer claims to have bought the land in 2008 and he has a title deed. He has no court order for the eviction but a notice was put up on the 17th of June instructing the two families that they must be in court in Pietermaritzburg on the 21st of June. The notice of motion was also sent to the Municipality, the Department of Land Affairs and Rural Development and the local Inkosi, Mr. S.T. Zulu. The Inkosi invited the farmer and the Department to a meeting to discuss the matter but the farmer refused.

11 April 2011
Rural Network Press Statement

From Shooting to Brutally Beating by the Farmers

On 05 March 2011, Mr. Matshana Mdlozi was brutally beaten by the farm owner of Valban Plaza in Utrecht when he was going to fetch his cows that have gone through his plaza.

For several occasions the farm owners have taken law into their hands and walked scot free. For so many years the farm residents have been under pressure, living like they don’t belong to this country while the farm owners treat them like they are in prison. For too long it has been reported that the farm residents are being brutally killed with out intervention from the government yet they are the voters of South Africa. As this has been continuous by the farm owners Mr. Johan Landmann has taken the law into his hands by beating Mr. Matshana Mdlozi while he was going to fetch his cows in his plaza. As he was beating Mr. Mdlozi, the son of Mr. Landmann was watching Mr. Mdlozi crying for help but Mr. Mdolozi did not get any help from him. This is not the first time that Mr. Landmann has done this as he has once before beaten up Mr. Themba who is now disabled.

08 February 2011
Rural Network Press Statement

The Rural Network Returns to Court in eMpangeni Tomorrow

On the 23 July 2010 Mr. Patrick Mpanza was shot dead by the farm watch that is responsible for the farm of Mr. Channel. This incident happened while he was walking with his four kids, all of whom are girls. According to the child that is the eye witness to the murder the farm watch told them to lie down on the ground, two of the four kids ran away while the other one was left with her father on the ground. However the father refused to lie down. The farm watch then shot him in the forehead.

Wednesday, 08 December 2010
Abahlali baseMjondolo & Rural Network Press Statement

Victory Against Farm Murders in the eShowe Regional Court

Justice was delayed for Thembinkosi Mpanza and Vukani Shange but it was not, in the end, denied. Moments ago Jabulani Sithole and Phumlani Thusi were convicted of murder and attempted murder in the eShowe Regional Court.

This case dates back to 17 June 2006 when Thembinkosi Mpanza was 17 and Vukani Shange was 16 years. They were shot to death by the Farm Watch on Horse Shoe Farm near eShowe. They had taken some sugar cane to chew on while walking home from school. For this, the crime of enjoying the fruits of their own land, they were killed. There is more information on the case here.

Rural Network Press Statement
Tuesday, 14 September 2010

The Mpanza and Shange Trial Continues in eShowe

The Mpanza and the Shange trial will return to court for the 20th time on Friday 17 September 2010. The Rural Network and the Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement will be there to show a living solidarity.

On 17 June 2006 Thembinkosi Mpanza was 17 and Vukani Shange was 16 years old when they were shot to death by the farm watchers in Horse Shoe Farm near eShowe. The accused are Jabulani Sithole and Phumlani Thusi. Mpanza and Shange were allegedly killed for stealing two sticks of sugar cane for human consumption.

Click here to read this article in Italian.

Another life has been claimed by the farm watch in eMasangweni at the farm owned by Mr. Channel of eNkwalini(Eshowe)

On the 23 July 2010 Mr. Patrick Mpanza was shot dead by the farm watch that is responsible for the farm of Mr. Channel. This incident happened while he was walking with his four kids, whom are all girls. According to the child that is the eye witness the farm watch told them to lie down on the ground, two of the four kids ran away while the other one was left with the father on the ground; however the father refused to lie down. By so doing the farm watch then shot him on the forehead.

Dear Friends of Justice,

Please find a a request for signing up a petition on behalf of the Masangweni village. Two of their school kids were ambushed by farm watch guards in 2006. One died instantly and the other died a few months. To date the two suspects are yet to stand trial. The case has been to court but only to be postponed all these years. This rural community has tried to lobby numerous relevant government departments but with no success. They are now trying to petition President Jacob Zuma.

In order to sign the petition please visit the following website:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/justice-4-Masangweni-school-kids