29 October 2009
Witness: Kennedy Road – The Facts
http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global[_id]=30091
Kennedy Road: sharing the facts
29 Oct 2009
WITH reference to last week’s article by Willies Mchunu, (The Witness,
October 20).
MEC Mchunu makes several statements, to which we feel it is necessary to
respond. The first relates to the claim that his invitation to
stakeholders, dated October 8, received no response from churches. On
October 14, a letter was addressed to the MEC, and copied to the
provincial premier, Zweli Mkhize, and President Jacob Zuma, and was
signed by Bishop Rubin Phillip on behalf of the Diakonia Council of
Churches, representing 14 local church denominations. In our letter, the
MEC was encouraged to meet with the leadership of Abahlali baseMjondolo
directly, and the churches offered their full support to a suggested
process which focused on mediation and resolution of the conflict.
Furthermore, our letter called for immediate humanitarian assistance to
those affected by the violence, as well as for the establishment of an
independent judicial inquiry into the events surrounding the violence at
Kennedy Road and the ongoing victimisation of members of Abahlali
baseMjondolo. Notably, the churches have indicated that they will
proceed with the establishment of such an inquiry, should the provincial
government not fulfil this request.
The leadership of Abahlali baseMjondolo have always indicated their
willingness to engage local and national government, and continue to do
so. The movement maintains its apolitical position, which is endorsed by
the broader faith community. Having attended the recent bail hearings at
the Durban Magistrates’ Court, it is disturbing for us to witness the
very obvious presence and mobilisation of “community members” by
self-confessed African National Congress councillors, despite denials of
the same at a provincial level. We feel it is important that these facts
are known by your readers, in the interests of transparency and the
truth.
Bishop Barry Wood, OMI
Chairman: Diakonia Council of Churches