Dear All
Some bad news is that the serious and blatantly political harassment of high profile Bahlali at work continues. There will be a statement about this soon. But there is also some good news:
1. Haiti Solidarity: The film screening and discussion held last night in the Kennedy Road settlement as part of the global day of action in solidarity with Haiti (that included events in 55 cities) was a tremendous success. It has been proposed that this format of a film screening followed by a discussion be made a monthly event. This would certainly enrich public life in Durban. Sihle Sidisi (0827693134) can comment on last night’s event.
2. Siyanda Accused Court Appearance: Mark Serfontein has agreed to act pro bono for the 5 Siyanda accused and has met with them to plan a legal strategy for their next court appearance in the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court on 13 February. Mnikelo Ndabankulu (0735656241) can answer any media questions about this matter.
3. [re] Connecting the WSF. An important report presenting and reflecting on a series of dicussions held before the WSF and woven together by Mark Butler is now online at http://abahlali.org/node/619
4. Civil Case Against the Sydenham Police: X-Y, in Amsterdam, have stepped up to offer some of the support needed to take effective legal action against the Sydenham police after their arrest and highly politicised and racialised assault of S’bu Zikode and Philani Zungu and, also, later that night, shooting of Nondumiso in both legs. Shanta Reddy will be taking this forward. If anyone doesn’t know about this the chronology of events (in September last year) can be followed via the following links:
* Abahlali announce a press conference to discuss their use of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to force the eThekwini Municipality to reveal its plans for shack dwellers http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/11040.php
* The press conference announcing the PAIA application is held and the application is delivered http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/11073.php
* After a lot of media interest in this protest Abahlali are called in to the office of the MEC for Housing and instructed to cease speaking to the media. They announce their refusal in a dramatic on air radio debate. http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/11053.php
* On their way to another radio debate S’bu Zikode and Philani Zungu are arrested, told to cease speaking to the media and badly assaulted. Bahlali trying to march on the police station are fired on with live ammunition. A women who prefers to be publicly known only as Nondomuso is wounded in both legs. http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/11088.php
* S’bu and Philani are released to a heroes’ welcome the next morning
http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/11098.php
Also see an excellent article by Niren Tolsi in the Mail & Guardian at http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=284206&area=/insight/insight__national/ and an article published in the Sunday Tribune at http://www.ukzn.ac.za/ccs/default.asp?3,28,10,2752
System Cele, whose front teeth were broken by the Sydenham Police, and Philani Zungu have recently written articles on police violence for Izwe Labampofu which are available at http://abahlali.org/node/570 and http://abahlali.org/node/549 S’bu Zikode has also written an important new article on the broader question of crime which will hopefully be published in a newspaper soon.
For comment on the case against the Sydenham police contact S’bu Zikode (0835470474) or Philani Zungu (0729629312).
5. Komi Zulu Assassination: Trial Date Set for 20 – 23 February 2007
There were a number of political assassinations in E-Section, Umlazi around the local government elections last year. A basic outline of the events in Umlazi in particular and in Durban in general at the time of the local government elections is pasted in below with some links to important online resources. These events have not received anything like the media attention that they deserve.
Contact people include: Pro 086006817, Mrs Sibiya 0722184139, Miss Sabelo 0726296350, Mr Gumede 0725479882 and Mr Sithole 0829704586.
Umlazi Crisis Committee Press Releases 1-4 + Background
Umlazi Political Violence Crisis – Press Release 1-4 + Background
Umlazi Crisis Committee – Press Release 5
Women of Ward 80 March, Umlazi, Durban