Solidarity Protest in Grahamstown – Monday 5th October 2009

*Fellow friends and activists, please spread the word…*

*‘STAGED EVICTION’ ON MONDAY THE 5TH OF OCTOBER IN PROTEST OF THE KENNEDY
ROAD ATTACKS*

*When*: 13.30

*Where*: Library Quad, Rhodes Campus

Bring personal household belongings (kettles, blankets etc.)

*Contact:* Beth Vale 082 309 3945 or Danielle Bowler 0741670017

For more information: www.abahlali.org

A protest will be held on Monday 5 October to condemn the viscous brutality
that has been waged at Kennedy Road shack settlement over the past few days.
The ‘staged eviction’ will be a show of solidarity with, and support of,
Abahlali baseMjondolo, a social movement that has sought the advance of
people’s politics in a country where the voices of the poor are
all-too-often disregarded.

On Saturday night, a group of armed men attacked a meeting of the Kennedy
Road Development Committee, killing at least 2 activists and injuring many
others. Houses and belongings were destroyed and the continuing attacks have
caused over 1000 people to flee the area. Members of Abahlali are currently
in prison, in hospital, stranded on the streets or in hiding.

It is of deep concern that these attacks are conceded to be an attempt by
local ANC, land-owners and ethnic fundamentalists to undermine and shut down
the democratically elected shack dwellers movement. S’bu Zikode, leader of
the movement, says the attack is “an attempt to suppress the voice that has
emerged from the dark corners of our country. That voice is the voice of
ordinary poor people”. As a consequence of recent events, Zikode is now a
political refugee and accused of running a ‘criminal organization.’

The attacks of the past few days are a direct assault to our democracy and
have sought to brutally repress a non-violent, non-racial and inclusive
social movement. It is clear from the lack of action taken on the part of
the police, the lack of mainstream press coverage of the attacks, as well as
the conspiracy to portray Abahlali as a criminal organization, that the
political and socio-economic rights of the poor in South Africa continue to
be shamefully trampled upon with little consequence.

We hereby call on all Grahamstown community members, students, Rhodes staff
and fellow activists to join us on Monday to show our outrage at the Kennedy
Road attacks and voice our support for Abahlali baseMjondolo and a
meaningful democracy.

*Outraged students of Politics 3, Rhodes University*

“There is no democracy for the poor in South Africa. Abahlali have been
saying this for years. Now it must be obvious to everyone. It is time that
we all stopped pretending that everything is ok in our country” Abahlali
baseMjondolo.