In August this year, in the Women’s month, two women from Vusimuzi-Section, Tembisa, Mam Hlatshwayo and Neli, were arrested and charged with fabricated cases for organising and loudhailing in the community. This follows the top down and imposed re-blocking project that has been imposed on the community. Reblocking has become a new eviction terminology to justify eviction by the City of Ekurhuleni. The community resisted reblocking in streets and in courts.

Of course, organising and using a loudhailer are not crimes according to the law. But the police usually ignore the law and take instructions from local politicians. The two comrades were arrested by Thembisa police on the instructions of local ANC councillor. The community has named Thembisa police station as “Luthuli House” because it the police are now acting on the instructions of the politicians and are controlled by ANC councillors.

Today they are going to appear in court for the second time. The march outside the court has been supported by Abahlali branches in Tswalopelo and Gabon in Daveyton because we are one family. An injury to one is an injury to all. We all stand in solidarity with these two strong women, and the community of Vusimuzi.

The protest outside court will also be used to denounce violence against migrant communities, women and children that has caused so much pain and disgrace to our country.

Despite continuous state repression using the police and other organs of the state we continue to organise against the attacks on women, we continue to speak against the abuse of children, and we continue to speak against xenophobia that has been incited an legitimated by some government officials. We are not frightened. We organise in the entire country. Our movement is growing everyday despite the challenges of repression.

We will continue to work to unite the oppressed and to build democratic forms of popular power to oppose oppression from below.

Contact:

Melita Ngcobo: 079 630 8005
Mqapheli Bonono: 073 067 3274