Thursday, 27 September 2018
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement
The Struggle Continues
The struggle against all the forces that vandalise human dignity has no borders. A human life is a human life where ever it may find itself. Just as we welcome comrades from other countries into our movement, and host comrades visiting from other countries in South Africa in meetings in our hall built in the eNkanini Land Occupation, we are also offered solidarity and hosted by comrades around the world, such as the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST) in Brazil.
Last week three of our comrades, Mqapheli Bonono, Zanele Mtshali and S’bu Zikode were warmly welcomed in Ghana. They visited Elmina Castle, a slave fort, with other comrades where Senzeni Na? was sung. Zikode also addressed more than 400 militants from more than 60 countries at the opening session of a Pan-African meeting of radical forces from across the continent. Referring to Frantz Fanon Zikode encouraged the delegates to take up the challenges confronting our generation. At the meeting there was strong criticism of those NGOs that try to substitute themselves for popular democratic organisations and a strong commitment to build real solidarity, living solidarity, between trade union and community struggles.
On Friday night Zikode will give a talk at the People’s Forum in New York on the power of living politics, the sources of the courage to resist, the necessity for democratic organisation and the repression that continues to rain down on us from the political gangsters in the ruling party and the Municipality in Durban.
This weekend will also be busy in Durban. There will be a political education session, in the form of a discussion and a sharing of experiences and ideas, and a launch of a new branch in Hillcrest. This branch is named after S’fiso Ngcobo, the former chairperson of our Ekukhanyeni branch in Marianhill, who was assassinated on the 22nd of May. Comrade Sifiso was instrumental in building this branch which is why they decided to name the branch in honour of him.
This weekend we will also be holding political education workshops in Inanda and Cato Crest. Both of these communities have been facing brutal and unlawful evictions at gunpoint perpetrated by the notorious Anti-Land invasions Unit.
We have recently been approached by representatives from a number of other communities from around Durban that are also facing evictions. As people confront the armed violence of the state, and have their homes burnt and destroyed, they realise that they made a terrible mistake in voting for the ANC. We will also begin the process of talking about possibilities for new forms of organisation and resistance with people in these communities. Joining our movement is a slow process that requires careful discussion, collective consensus and democratic organisation.
The struggle continues. Repression continues too.
One of our leaders in Ekukhanyeni, who has already lost one family member in the struggle, has been threatened by a man who says that he is ex-MK. He demanded that she give him land to build a house claiming that the land belongs to the Zulu King. He said to her, in Zulu, that “This woman does not know me. I am a veteran. I can send people to take her away.” Since the threats were made a suspicious car has been stopped at her house in the evenings. Strange men have been waiting outside her house from around 23:00 to 1:00. This is typical of the events that usually precede an assassination. She has moved from her house and is staying with comrades elsewhere.
Our movement has survived constant intimidation, and repression, including repeated assassinations, as well as attempts at co-option and infiltration. We will not turn back.
Our dignity & freedom are not negotiable.
Contact:
Thapelo Mohapi 062 892 5323
Mqapheli Bonono 073 067 3274
Zanele Mtshali 062 437 9077