Grocott’s Mail: ‘Stand with us’ – shackdwellers

http://www.grocotts.co.za/content/stand-us-shackdwellers-17-10-2013

'Stand with us' – shackdwellers

Thembani Onceya

Durban-based political-social movement Abahlali baseMjondolo has urged Grahamstown residents to stand in solidarity with them.

The group's founding president S'bu Zikode addressed an audience of Unemployed People's Movement members, students, Grahamstown residents and academics about events in Durban's Cato Crest and new informal settlement, Marikana, on Thursday 10 October.

Rhodes University's Arts Major lecture theatre was the venue.

He said Abahlali's mission was to defend the rights of shack dwellers and poor South Africans.

Zikode spoke about violence against shack dwellers in KwaZulu-Natal.

He said Abahlali had come to the attention of the national media recently due to their roadblock protests and the death of 17-year-old sympathiser, Nqobile Nzuza.

The organisation claims Nzuza was twice shot from behind by a police officer during a protest in September.

Another protester, Luleka Makhwenkwana, was shot in the arm with live ammunition, he said. She was in King Edward Hospital.

Thulisile Zide had lost consciousness and was also in hospital.

Zikode claimed those in hospital were in danger: if the government officials could kill them in their homes, he said, they could easily go and finish them off in hospital.

"The police are no longer protecting the public. [Now they are] the enemies of the people," he said.

Zikode urged the community of Grahamstown to pledge solidarity with the movement. He said Grahamstown should tell President Jacob Zuma, "Enough is enough."