Friday, 1 October 2021
Abahlali press statement

Justice delayed is justice denied but celebration for the eKhenana three

The case for Bonono, Gasela and Miya was scheduled for today for a senior public prosecutor’s decision. The last time we were in court the state made it clear that it had completed its investigation. However, it was now left to the senior prosecutor to make a decision.
However, when we got to court this morning the prosecutor asked for an opportunity to interview all the state witnesses. This was very strange because the investigating officer had done all of that and was satisfied. Continue reading →

Stop the political persecution of Abahlali baseMjondolo activists and leaders

The Socialist Party of Zambia stands in solidarity with the shack dwellers movement Abahlali baseMjondolo in South Africa as their activists and leaders continue to face political persecution.

As a young political Party, we have learned many lessons from our comrades in AbM. Just like we are building socialism in Zambia through our agroecology and literacy programs, Abahlali baseMjondolo is fundamentally changing the material conditions of the people in South Africa. We have seen this specifically with the example set by the eKhenana Occupation in Durban where the movement has successfully built the Frantz Fanon Political School, the Sifiso Ngcobo Poultry farm, the Thuli Ndlovu Community Hall and more. Continue reading →

Stop the political persecution of Abahlali baseMjondolo activists and leaders

The Landless Workers Movement – MST from Brazil – stands in full solidarity and support with the legitimate struggle of Abahlali baseMjondolo for land, housing, and dignity.

We celebrate with our comrades of AbM the freedom of comrades Lindokuhle Mnguni, Landu Tshazi and Ayanda Ngila after more than six months detained on false accusations and trumped up charges. Continue reading →

29 September 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

Our comrades are free! We feel like flying!

Moments ago, all charges were dropped against Lindokuhle Mnguni, Landu Tshazi and Ayanda Ngila who are now free after being detained in the notorious Westville Prison for six months.

The three comrades were arrested as part of the long-standing and often violent attempt to crush the eKhenena Occupation in Cato Manor by the eThekwini Municipality, the police and the local ANC – all working with people aiming to seize control of communally managed land for the purposes of making private profit. Continue reading →

Tuesday, 28 September 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

Drop All Charges Against the eKhenana Six! Free Mnguni, Tshazi and Ngila! 

Tomorrow, Wednesday 29 September, Lindokuhle Mnguni, Landu Tshazi and Ayanda Ngila will appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court. Mqapheli (George) Bonono, Maphiwe Gasela and Siniko Miya will appear in the same court on Friday 1 October.

Mnguni, Tshazi, Ngila, Bonono and Gasela all played a leading role in the eKhenana Occupation in Cato Manor, which was developed into a working commune. The achievements of the commune have been widely noted – even in the mainstream media – and include its impressive democratic practices, building a community hall, a co-operatively run farm with vegetables and poultry, a political school that is used by the movement as a whole, self-organised access to services such as water and electricity, a place for young people to relax and socialise, a self-built road, and more.  Continue reading →

Thursday, 23 September 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

The Struggle Continues – always moving, always organising, always building

In the past three weeks we have been continuing our work in the branches across the five provinces organising to ensure food security. The crisis of hunger rapidly worsened during the lockdowns, and some members were also hard hit by the winter riots. We organise to build food sovereignty by setting up collective gardens on occupied land and we organise to provide immediate solidarity via the direct provision of food to the most vulnerable people in each branch, as determined by the branches. More than 1 000 families have benefited from our food solidarity project. Building living solidarity is an essential part of struggle. Continue reading →

Presentation by S’bu Zikode to the United Nations Food Systems Summit: A Critical dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food on 16 September 2021

Food sovereignty from the perspective of the urban poor

May I express my appreciation to the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung and all organisers of this important discussion. I greet the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Mr Michael Fakhri, and all fellow speakers and participants.

Current statistics show that almost two million people in South Africa suffer ‘perpetual hunger’, many more suffer periods without food. Around the world vast numbers of people go hungry.  Continue reading →

6 August 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo Women’s League Press Statement

Women’s Day Political Education Workshop

On 9 August 1956 around 20 000 women marched on the Union Buildings in opposition to the attempt by the state to impose pass laws on African women. The march was proceeded by careful consultation with grassroots organisations, led by Bertha Mashaba and Helen Joseph.

The march itself was led by Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Sophia Theresa Williams-de Bruyn and Rahima Moosa. Standing in front of the Union Buildings they sang: Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo, uza kufa!  Continue reading →

6 August 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

We are Dying for Food

On Thursday last week (29 July), Zamekile Shangase, a 33-year-old woman from Asiyindawo in Lamontville, was shot and killed outside her home by the police. Zamekile was the mother of two children aged 6 and 11. She was elected to a position on the local Abahlali council in 2018 and served on the council for a year.

Zamekile was shot while the police were raiding the settlement as part of Operation Show Your Receipt.

Another life has been lost. Another family is in mourning. Two young children must now live without a mother. Continue reading →

Saturday 24 July 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

An urgent call to build solidarity in action

The situation in Durban is very serious. The politicians and the people around them are actively trying to divide people and to turn people against each other so that they can continue with their looting. As usual they are trying to divide the poor.

Social media is being used to call for violence, to call for war. False information is being circulated with the aim of generating fear and anger. Continue reading →