Good day to everyone. I’m sure you are all wondering who is this handsome young gentleman in front of you.

My name is Simthembile Zikode. I was born in Kennedy Road and I am the son of the President of Abahlali baseMjondolo. Most importantly I’m 15 years old, which is the main agenda of the day because tomorrow Abahlali will be turning 15 years old .

I’m grateful for this opportunity to share my experience within the struggle. I was born in 2005 in Kennedy Road, that was the year that AbM was formed.

Growing up in a shack settlement is definitely something I experienced. But, as many of you know, me and family had a harsh departure from Kennedy in 2009 while I was still at a young age. It involved a lot of violence.

As a young boy I was a Daddy’s boy. I went everywhere with him. I followed him everywhere where he went and people joked that I was his bodyguard. As his bodyguard I attended meetings with him. I got to socialize with hundreds and hundreds of people. I still remember some of the leaders of AbM used to change my napkin while my dad was addressing a meeting or saying his speeches. With all of this as I travelled between all these meetings I started having hundreds of fathers, hundreds of mothers, and brothers and sister. Being with Abahlali opened my mind. It taught me discussions.

In 2010 Abahlali’s popularity was over the limit which forced the leaders to travel around the world and share their ideas behind their struggle. My Dad was also one of those who was forced to leave us multiple times for these such international visits. With my father being gone I would ask where he had gone, for how long will he be there, and when he is coming back because as his bodyguard I needed to know.

When I received the name of the country I would try figure out in which part of the world he was, and what I could learn about that country. This led to me drawing flags. I drew flags like crazy. I had no internet and I had no phone at all so drawing flags was the first thing on my list. So Abahlali taught me about different parts of the world as well as the hardships we as the oppressed share with other people and activists around the world.

Growing up me and family moved to different places multiple times. I recall once a news reporter came by our house and asked me where the Zikode house was. As a very smart kind I knew my Dad’s number and everything else. With confidence I pointed our house. Then the journalist asked if I know S’bu Zikode. Again with confidence I said yes that’s my father. Then the journalist asked where is he and with confidence I said his always busy with the struggle. Then the journalists took his phone and asked me for my Dad’s number. And with confidence he asked for the number. I sang out the number and the journalist said thanks. As a kid who was taught respect I told me that I’ll let my Dad know he was there and then the guy drives away.

Not even a week and a photo of the house where we have moved after the attack in 2009 appeared in a newspaper (the Sunday Tribune) exposing where we live so we very quickly moved to a different house, in a new secret location. As a young person I was confused as to why are we moving from our own home just because a person published our home photo to the public. My main question towards my Dad that I never asked was why are journalists wanting to talk to you and most importantly who are you cause since I was young attending Abahlali meetings I didn’t understand what was the meaning of the meetings. I didn’t understand the agenda behind the meetings.

But I started growing up which answered a million thoughts and questions. When I was around 12 years old a year I started listening to what they were saying at meetings, and hearing them saying Amandla (Power) and they Awethu ngenkani (is ours by force), I would hear them say that they demand land, houses and dignity.

At about age 13 I started learning more about the reasons why Abahlali kept saying that they wanted to build their power to get land, houses and dignity. I started doing my own research as to why our government is not providing quality services, proper water and sanitation to the people.

In my home we housed many activists from around the world, including Abahlali members and leaders. Staying with them they’ve all taught me how they live, how they tend to socialize with society it itself, how they eat, their religion and their culture. I have learnt a million things from all these activists and from the Abahlali members and leaders.

At home we’ve also housed eye witnesses to repression who are in danger. We’ve taken cared of injured people. All these people have taught me different things about life and Abahlali has taught me Ubuntu (humanity) one step at a time. I’m grateful.

I’ve got to see the way that people co-operate. I’ve learned to treat all people the same way regardless of their colour or their background, I’ve got to see truth behind politics. There are people who I used to call my Fathers within the movement and I don’t see them anymore. Abahlali has taught me the importance of loyalty. Abahlali has taught me the true meaning of the word comrade, and when and how to use the word.

They are many bad experiences that have made me wanna know more. I’ve digged into my father’s stuff. I’ve seen him write letters to people who lead this country begging them to assist Abahlali with many things like to acknowledge their rights, to help with protection and most importantly just to recognise Abahlali’s struggle. I have seen my father work and work to stop the assassinations that Abahlali members face.

The assassinations came from the very same people who are supposed to be leading and protecting society. As a child it hurt me to see this happen. It hurt to see that we have a government of liars and criminals. But Abahlali has never lied to me or misguided me. Abahlali has shown me the truth and only the truth about the circumstances we live in.
Abahlali has inspired me to shoot for the stars. Abahlali is a movement of constant learning and they have inspired me to learn more than I’m given.

My advice to Abahlali is to focus more on changing minds, because there are many people who still don’t understand how the system undermines them and how the system ignores, and opposes their interests.

Thanks

Simthembile Zikode