‘We are not a threat to national peace and security’ – Abahlali

http://anisa.org.za/news/20100506/we_are_not_threat_national_peace_and_security_%E2%80%93_abahlali

‘We are not a threat to national peace and security’ – Abahlali

Abahlali baseMjondolo are not a threat to national peace and security but are a social movement seeking the basics for survival.

This emerged at ‘A Conversation with Abahlali’ organised jointly by Diakonia Council of Churches and the Democracy Development Programme on 29 April. The purpose of the conversation was to listen to Abahlali and accord the public a chance to ask questions regarding this movement.

Thembani Ngongoma, Abahlali secretary for the Siyanda branch said they are not a group of terrorists but a social movement seeking social justice. He said, “We are not a threat, we have never been and will never be. All we want is for our government to function the way we want it, as enshrined in the Freedom Charter that the people shall govern.”

He said Abahlali have never acted against the law and rejected that they are a [party] political movement. Ngongoma added that Abahlali come into conflict with government because they question its policies and the disregard of the constitution.

Ngongoma lamented the fact that the police and other state security agents are being used for political purposes, the very same scenario that prevailed during apartheid. “Before 1994 the police were used for political ends. Let us not fool ourselves that the system has changed. The police have become the buffer zone between those promised and those who promised them, yet they were not involved when the promises were made.”

He ended by reiterating Abahlali’s fundamental principles and mantra, “Talk to us and not about us” and “Nothing for us without us.” He said, “The fact that we live in shacks does not mean that anybody has to talk for us. Nobody should decide for us”.

Addressing the same gathering Mnikelo Ndabankulu, Abahlali’s Public Liaison Officer said they are simply demanding what government has promised. The government promised, he said, the basics for survival as enshrined in the Freedom Charter, the constitution and in the manifesto of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

He said they speak the truth spoken by the current leaders during the struggle for liberation. “We preach the gospel that is unpopular, the gospel of truth – the gospel of the poor. What is even worrying is that the very same people who are supposed to be the custodians of the constitution are the very first ones to act against it.”

Zodwa Nsibande, Abahlali Secretary speaking on what exactly happened on the night of 26 September shared that the disturbances had all the blessings of the police. She added that the two people who were killed were not members of Abahlali. The accused were arrested as they were trying to escape from the violence. “Instead of arresting the perpetrators of the violence”, she said, “the police arrested the victims.”

Meanwhile, the Kennedy 5 who have been languishing in jail since their arrest in September have again been denied bail and remanded in custody. During the hearing before a new magistrate, the state informed the court that investigations were now complete and the state was ready for the disclosure which will be held on 14 May at the District Court. The state which has all along been claiming that it has strong evidence against the accused is expected to bring forward its evidence to support its claims of a strong case.

(Press Release by the Diakonia Council of Churches and used by permission.Visit them at www.diakonia.org.za.)