Note: The Prince Edward Hall is not a hotel.
On the 11th of August at least 500 women members of Abahlali baseMjondolo filled the Prince Edward Hotel in Durban to celebrate Women’s Day. Dressed in red and black, their bold printed T-shirts read: “Izindlu. Umhlaba. Is’thunzi” (Houses. Land. Dignity). Many of the women, are unlikely activists and are mainly from an older generation. Middle-aged women danced freely and sang along to struggle songs with passion and purpose cementing their commitment to their cause. By NOMATTER NDEBELE.
The women of Abahlali baseMjondolo strongly believe that they play an integral role in changing their communities and South African society more generally. “One day this country will be run by a woman, with or without the permission of men,” said former chairperson of Abahlali Women’s League, Alice Caleni.
Abahlali a grassroots social movement, calls for the protection of land and housing rights for poor black people across South Africa. The name Abahlali baseMjondolo literally means “occupiers of informal homes”. A large majority of the organisations advocacy therefore focuses on people living in shacks in informal settlements. To date, the movement has 58,000 members of which 60% are women. Continue reading