DEMOCRATIC LEFT FRONT
23 June 2012
PRESS STATEMENT: DLF CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF BHEKI BUTHELEZI
The Democratic Left Front (DLF) calls on the South African Police Services
to release Bheki Buthelezi with immediate effect. Buthelezi, a leader and
activist of the Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM) and the DLF, was
arrested earlier this morning at his Umlazi home in Durban. The SAPS
falsely accused him of intimidating the local ANC councilor. This follows
Buthelezi’s role as a key leader and organiser of sustained struggles for
service delivery and housing by the residents of Ward 88 in Umlazi. These
struggles culminated in a community march held on 08 June 2012. In
addition, the community had recently put forward demands for access to land
for food gardens and other community development initiatives. During his
arrest, the SAPS expressly told Buthelezi to withdraw from his activism
against the ANC-led municipality. They also instructed him to block a mass
meeting which was scheduled for this morning by Abahlali baseMijondolo
(AbM). As a matter of principle, Buthelezi correctly refused to do so. He
pointed out to the SAPS that the only way for the struggles and meetings to
stop is through government meeting the needs and demands of the community. *
The DLF expresses its full solidarity with the people of Ward 88 in Umlazi,
the UPM and AbM as they now plan to visit the Umlazi Police Station and
meet the Station Commander. The UPM and AbM are also organising legal
representation for Buthelezi. The DLF calls on all progressive
organisations and activists to condemn Buthelezi’s arrest and call for his
release. Letters of protest may be sent to the Umlazi Police Station to the
Station Commander: Brigadier M.E. Zondi at fax number: 031 918 8185, and
via sms on 082 331 9650.
Buthelezi’s arrest is part of the state’s increasing use of repression and
excessive force against social dissent and community protests. This is
increasingly so as the neoliberal ANC state continues to fail to transform
South Africa. It was the same repression that led the Durban ANC to
collaborate with the SAPS to hound the AbM out of Kennedy Road. It was the
same ANCYL members attacked DL and UPM activists at the international day
of climate action during the COP17 conference in December 2011. This had
been done earlier in August 2011 when the Operation Khanyisa Movement’s
sole councilor in the City of Joburg and DLF activist, Simphiwe Zwane, was
arrested for leading community struggles against poor service delivery in
Thembelihle. At its most tragic, this sustained repression led to the
killing of Andries Tatane by the SAPS during a protest in Meqheleng in
April last year. All this reminiscent of the old apartheid police style
tactics to suppress dissent and maintain social control. Taken as a whole,
it is clear that there has been widespread intimidation of people wishing
to take up their constitutional right to protest, and that this threatens
our hard-won democracy. The DLF is extremely concerned about the sustained
actions of Jacob Zuma’s ruling elite to enhance the coercive capacities of
the state.
ENDS
FOR COMMENTS, CONTACT:
Mazibuko K. Jara (DLF) – 083 651 0271
Athish Kirun (DLF) – 078 257 3764
Ayanda Kota (UPM & DLF) – 078 625 6462
Mnikelo Ndabankulu (AbM) – 081 309 5485