Speech

Democracy is on the Brink of Catastrophe

Rhodes University, 30 October 2009

http://www.ru.ac.za/modules/blog_include/blog_content.php?blog_id=756

Democracy is on the Brink of Catastrophe

The road to real democracy has not been easy to those who are still searching for the truth in it. It is like the long road of Abahlali baseMjondolo to the Constitutional Court. Democracy means different things to different people. To some leaders democracy means that they are the only ones who must exercise authority upon others. For some government officials democracy means accepting anything that is said about ordinary men and women. With the attack on Abahlali baseMjondolo in Kennedy Road we have now seen that this technocratic thinking will be supported with violence when ordinary men and women insist on their right to speak and to be heard on the matters that concern their daily lives. On the one side there is a consultant with a laptop. On the other side there is a drunk young man with a bush knife or a gun. As much as they might look very different they serve the same system – a system in which ordinary men and women must be good boys and girls and know that their place is not to think and speak for themselves.

» read more | add new comment

Inkulumo Emuva koMhlangano Wonyaka Ka-2008

Submitted by Abahlali_3 on Tue, 2008-12-16 07:52. S'bu Zikode | Speech | Zulu

Click here to read this speech in English.

Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA.
14 December 2008

Inkulumo Emuva koMhlangano Wonyaka Ka-2008, ngu-Baba u-S’bu. Zikode

Ethulwe kubahlali baseMjondolo eThekwini e-Blue Lagoon

Isingeniso

Bahlali njengoba sonke sazi ukuthi sisuka esikhathini esinzima kanganani, nesehlukile kakhulu kwesejwayelekile eMbuthweni wethu esiwuthanda kakhulu. Umbutho okuthe amandla awo aphoqelela bonke abantu abahlala eMjondolo ukuthi bame ndawonye futhi basho ngezwi elilodwa ukuvikela ilungelo lethu lokuhlala emadolobheni.

» read more | add new comment

Land & Housing

Submitted by Abahlali_3 on Fri, 2008-08-29 10:42. Diakonia | S'bu Zikode | Speech

Text of a speech by S'bu Zikode at the Diakonia Council of Churches Economic Justice Forum - an audio recording of the speech, including the discussion afterwards, is available from Diakonia. Click here to read the report on the speech in the Sowetan.

Land and Housing

Thursday 28, 2008

I have been asked to speak on the burning issues of land and housing. I only get these invitations because of the strength of the movement of which I am part and so, on behalf of Abahlali baseMjondolo, I thank Diakonia for this platform.

» read more | add new comment

Post Annual General Meeting Speech by S'bu Zikode

Submitted by Abahlali_3 on Tue, 2008-12-16 09:05. evictions | fire | negotiations | S'bu Zikode | Speech

Cindezela lapha ukubona isiZulu.

14 December 2008

Post Annual General Meeting Speech by S'bu Zikode

Delivered to Abahlali baseMjondolo at the Blue Lagoon, Durban

Introduction

Comrades, as you all know we have come from a very unique AGM of our beloved Movement, a Movement whose unique strength has enabled so many shack dwellers to stand together and to be very strong in defending and protecting ourselves, our communities and our right to the cities.

Our 2008 AGM held in the Kennedy Road Hall on 23 November was as successful as all the others that we have held since the launch of our movement in October 2005. Our movement is still growing and all of our branches and affiliated settlements elected their representatives and the hall at Kennedy Road was overflowing. Everyone was free to say what ever they wanted to say. The voting went well and it was wonderful to have our comrades from the Poor People's Alliance with us. But, as you all know, I took a decision not to stand for another term. As I explained my intention was always to remain strongly committed to the movement but it seemed clear to me that all positions at all levels of leadership in our movement need to be shared, that the burden of leadership in a movement of volunteers needs to be shared, that I need time for my family and to be able to read and to think about what we have achieved with our living politic – a politic that was always based on us thinking carefully about our lives and our struggles. We have to change ourselves before we can change the world and, without time to think, that change becomes difficult.

» read more | add new comment