conference presentation

Meaningful Engagement

Meaningful Engagement

The Centre for Applied Legal Studies at Wits, are hosting a colloquium on the topic of 'Meaningful Engagement' today. The speakers were asked to prepare and circulate their papers in advance. This is S'bu Zikode's contribution to the discussion.

I thank Lauren Royston and Kate Tissington for the opportunity to comment on the topic of meaningful engagement.

Our movement is always very happy to visit CALS. CALS is an important ally in the struggles of the poor and all our movements hold your organization in high respect. You have worked with us and not for us. You have not been scared to confront power whether it is the provincial government or a gangster landlord. We remember how Stuart Wilson sat taking instruction from Uncle James in Motala Heights while Ricky Govender’s thugs threw rocks at Uncle James’ house. We know how hard and how well Stuart and your team worked on the Slums Act case.

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We need to defend living politics, because of what living politics defend

Submitted by Abahlali_3 on Tue, 2009-11-10 08:15. Church Land Programme | conference presentation | Marie Huchzermeyer

We need to defend living politics, because of what living politics defend
Marie Huchzermeyer

Defend Freedom – Democracy under Attack
Briefing and discussion hosted by Church Land Programme. Pietermaritzburg, 6 November

Mine is a perspective from a distance. Nevertheless, I must acknowledge that I feel quite deeply influenced by the ‘University of Abahlali’. And because of what Abahlali has gone through, the learning has intensified for many of us who had the privilege of not being affected in any personal and material way.

I haven’t done much of the actual feeling and tasting (to use Sbu’s words) that Abahlali invites us to do, but I’ve learnt a tremendous amount, and that in itself is worth reflecting on and I’ll get back to that.

Does recent litigation bring us any closer to a right to the city?

Submitted by Abahlali_3 on Tue, 2009-11-10 07:56. Centre for Sociological Research | conference presentation | Marie Huchzermeyer | University of Johannesburg

Click here to read this document in word.

Does recent litigation bring us any closer to a right to the city?
Marie Huchzermeyer
30 October, UJ, workshop on: Intellectuals, ideology, protests and civil society

The Bill of Rights and Constitutional Court are important institutions that were fought for in the negotiated transition.

Part of their role was to ensure that the kind of atrocities committed under apartheid rule would never be repeated.

One atrocity was to deny black individuals and households urban freedoms and rights, or ‘a right to the city’.