The Abahlali Office Hours Before it was Dismantled and Ransacked (27 September 2009)

[fsg_gallery id=”212″]In the course of the attacks at Kennedy Road, the Abahlali office was dismantled and ransacked.

These photographs were taken hours before office files, documents, the library and equipment were hastily packed and rushed to a secure location, before all was taken or destroyed. Had digital and paper archives been destroyed, so too would Abahlali history been destroyed. At the time the photographs were taken, Ward 25 ANC Councillor Yakoob Baig, Safety and Security MEC Willies Mcunu, and other state officials were holding a meeting in Kennedy Hall. There was a heavy police presence. There were crowds of young men, many of whom were drunk. Some of those crowding the hall for the meeting were unknown to those who live at Kennedy. Some of the young men were shouting, threateningly, at Abahlali members in the office. These are the last photographs of the Abahlali office still intact.

The politicians and the police made no attempt to protect the office – or the homes of AbM leaders that were systematically destroyed at the same time. The destruction clearly happened with their consent.