Update, 5/06/2008: Philani plead guilty and received a fine.

Update, 4/04/2008: The case has been set down for trial on 5 June 2008.

Update, 28/02/2008: The case has been remanded till 4 April 2008.

Update, 11/12/2007: Philani appeared in the Pinetown magistrate's court today, represented pro bono by Catherine Moodley of Shanta Reddy attorneys. The case was remanded until 28 February 2008.

Update, 30/11/2007: There was a reading from Philani Zungu's writing, an account of his work and various arrests and a discussion about his writing led by Nigel Gibson at the launch of the new issue of Socialism and Democracy at Harvard University, Boston, USA, today, 30 November 2007. Click here and here to see a few minutes of video footage of the Harvard event

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Release
Thursday, 09 August 2007, 2:38 p.m.

Women’s Day Arrests

This morning, on women’s day, Philani Zungu, deputy president of the Abahlali baseMjondolo shackdwellers' movement, was arrested for 'obstructing the police in the course of their duties'. Almost immediately, a contingent of around 50 women from Pemary Ridge boarded taxis to protest outside the Sydenham police station. Protesters waited for Zungu to arrive at the police station.

Recalling the series of events, Zungu said “after Bhekani Ntuli from the Housing Department, who we have wanted to talk to for days, drove by in the morning, the police came. They stopped, and asked me to raise my arms, and then to raise them higher, while they searched me. Then they said something I couldn’t understand. They finished searching me. We both took a step back. I thought it was over.”