The Kennedy Five

Diakonia: When liberators become oppressors

When liberators become oppressors

Revd Roger Scholtz of the Methodist Church has castigated the authorities for
turning themselves into oppressors of the people they once liberated.

He was speaking at a prayer service organised by Diakonia Council of Churches outside the gates of the Durban Magistrates’ Court on 19 February. The service was attended by church leaders who included Bishop Barry Wood OMI, Chairperson of Diakonia Council of Churches, staff and friends and family members of the
Kennedy 12.

In a powerful message Revd Scholtz said it is ironic that the service is being held just a week after the 20th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela from prison.

Amnesty International Statement on the Kennedy Road Attacks

Submitted by Abahlali_3 on Thu, 2009-12-17 17:01. Amnesty International | The Attack on AbM in Kennedy Road | The Kennedy Five | The Kennedy Thirteen

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR53/011/2009/en/53fce922-d49e-4537-b3bb-84060cf84c85/afr530112009en.html

South Africa: Failure to conduct impartial investigation into Kennedy Road violence is leading to further human rights abuses

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PUBLIC DOCUMENT AI Index: AFR 53/011/2009

16 December 2009

Amnesty International deplores the continuing failure of the South African authorities to investigate impartially and fully human rights abuses which occurred during and after armed violence at the Kennedy Road Informal Settlement (Kennedy Road) in Durban last September. This despite repeated calls since October for an independent and impartial commission of inquiry into the surrounding circumstances and extent of the violence and its aftermath.

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Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

Submitted by Abahlali_3 on Fri, 2009-12-11 15:18. Abahlali baseMjondolo | press_update | The Kennedy Five

11 December 2009
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

Today the five members of the Kennedy Thirteen who are still in detention returned to court for their 7th attempt at requesting bail. On each of the 6 previous occasions the state failed to provide any evidence against the accused and the Magistrate postponed the bail application to give the state more time to produce some evidence of their guilt. On each case the state has failed to produce this evidence at the next hearing. This has led Bishop Rubin Phillip to call this case a 'travesty of justice'.

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Witness: Amnesty blasts SA government

http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global[_id]=33005

Amnesty blasts SA government
19 Dec 2009
Sharlene Packree

ANGLICAN Bishop Rubin Phillip has backed Amnesty International’s claims that South Africa has failed to investigate the human rights abuses at the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban.

Phillip has worked closely with the Abahlali baseMjondolo movement, who fight for the rights of shack dwellers.

In a statement, Amnesty International criticised the government’s failure to investigate murders, violence and other atrocities the community has faced in the past year.

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Amnesty International condemns Human Rights abuse of Abahlali members

Submitted by Abahlali_3 on Sat, 2009-12-19 14:44. Amnesty International | Paul Trewhela | Politicsweb | The Attack on AbM in Kennedy Road | The Kennedy Five

http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=154870&sn=Detail

Amnesty International condemns Human Rights abuse of Abahlali members
Paul Trewhela
18 December 2009

Zuma's government given criticism devoted in the past decades to the apartheid state

On the Day of Reconciliation in South Africa, 16 December, Amnesty International - the world's foremost human rights organisation - has issued a damning condemnation of the conduct of the government of the African National Congress, led by President Jacob Zuma. (See here).

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Diakonia: ‘Current powers threatened by the power of the poor’- Bishop Michael Vorster

Submitted by Abahlali_3 on Fri, 2009-12-18 12:46. Bishop Michael Vorster | court | Diakonia Council of Churches | The Kennedy Five

Click here to read this document in pdf.

‘Current powers threatened by the power of the poor’
- Bishop Michael Vorster

On 11 December, church leaders, family members and friends of the Kennedy 12 held a prayer
service outside the Durban Magistrates? Court organised by Diakonia Council of Churches.
In his message of solidarity Bishop Michael Vorster of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa said the week had seen three significant events, namely, the launch of the climate change document, the peace procession against violence on women and children and the Kennedy 12 prayer service. “Common to the three events is the question: Will justice be done?”, he said.