Press Statement: 13 October 2016
Abahlali to launch a new branch in Ekurhuleni
Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA is expanding to a new province: Gauteng. This Saturday Abahalali baseMjondolo will be launching a new branch in Good Hope, Ekurhuleni in the Gauteng Province. The launch will be held on 15th October 2016 at 10:00 in the Good Hope Community Hall.
Abahlali baseMjondolo has been successfully expanding a living politics into other provinces. The movement has recently launched two branches in the Western Cape. The movement is also set to launch branches in the Bizane municipality, Eastern Cape. New branches have also recently been launched in Kwazulu Natal: Gonowakhe, Umshwati Municipality and Bhambayi, Durban.
Last year we celebrated ten years of struggle at the Curries Fountain Stadium in Durban. The movement has grown immensely since its formation in 2005 in Kennedy Road. The movement has managed to fight against the injustices experienced by the impoverished and marginalized in South Africa. Through political education, the movement has equipped communities that are currently living in shack settlements to become strong in the struggle. This has attracted many communities in other provinces to mobilize themselves and reach out to the movement for assistance.
In most cases, people who are impoverished and marginalized – especially the shack dwellers – are often taken as people who cannot think for themselves. Abahlali has created a home for these people are welcomed and respected. In most cases, government imposes development plans without meaningful engagement with the people. Abahlali are advocating for communities to be given the platform and opportunity to voice their say with regards to the development of the land and other issues. We always say ‘nothing for us without us’.
The new Good Hope branch will be launching a local council which will seek to address all issues of development in the community. Abahlali will also be meeting with the community of Harry Gwala settlement to discuss building a solidarity network with other grassroots organisations that are fighting the same struggles.
We will continue to fight for the rights of the impoverished and marginalized, especially the shack dwellers. The growing interest in the movement encourages us to continue to fight for justice. We stand for a society and a world of equality. We stand for a society and a world in which land, wealth and political power are shared fairly.
Thapelo Mohapi 062 8925323
TJ Ngongoma 078 528 0810
Zandile Nsibande 074 767 5706