The Con: Political Assassinations in South Africa

http://www.theconmag.co.za/2014/11/17/political-killings-in-sa/

Political assassinations appear to be on the increase in post-apartheid South Africa – especially in more recent years – with researcher David Bruce suggesting as many as 450 people have been killed since the advent of democracy.

Intra-party violence has increased in KwaZulu-Natal since the Inkatha Freedom Party’s splintering of the National Freedom Party. Inter-party violence, especially within the ANC, has also seen a spike to mirror the increased competition for resources, tenders and government positions.

The multiple shooting of Seskhona People’s Rights Movement leader Andile Lili in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township last week appears part of a broader assault on grass-roots activists. Lili is still recovering in hospital but several other activists working in the socio-economic rights sphere in poor communities have not been as lucky to survive.

Shackdweller movement Abahlali basMjondolo has long claimed that several of their leaders and activists have been assassinated in contested occupied areas and informal settlements in KwaZulu-Natal. In this essay below, David Bruce examines this phenomenon that raises worrying questions about the nefarious, authoritarian instincts that appear to be developing within government.
Continue reading →

Diagonal: Sudáfrica, un largo camino hacia la libertad

https://www.diagonalperiodico.net/global/24730-sudafrica-largo-camino-hacia-la-libertad.html

Vanessa Anaya Villegas

“Remember Marikana”; así recuerdan, a golpe de espray, los muros y fachadas de varias ciudades sudafricanas aquel trágico 16 de agosto de 2012. La masacre de Marikana, cuando 36 mineros fueron asesinados por la policía durante una protesta por un salario digno, pone en evidencia a un país que presume de haber superado el régimen racista del apartheid. Pero Marikana no es un caso aislado. El pasado 29 de septiembre, Thuli Ndlovu, líder del movimiento comunitario Abahlali base­Mjondolo, fue asesinada a tiros en su propia casa de KwaNdengezi, una zona rural de Durban en la provincia de KwaZulu Natal. Ndlovu lideraba la lucha contra un proyecto de construcción de viviendas impuesta por las autoridades locales sin consulta previa y en detrimento de los vecinos de la comunidad rural de Kwa­Ndengezi. Por ello había sido amenazada en varias ocasiones por las autoridades locales. Amenazas que finalmente se cumplieron. Continue reading →

Three International Cities Protest for #handsoffabahlali

http://www.tmponline.org/2014/11/18/hands-off-abahlali/

“We will build houses for you, it is not something we can achieve overnight”

– Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa, 1994 [link to video]

“We have learned that by demanding decent housing we make enemies, and that by occupying land we make those enemies even more ruthless. But we cannot wait in the mud, shit and fire of shack life forever.”

– S’bu Zikode, founding President of Abahlali baseMjondolo, 2013 [link to text]

In South Africa, two black women were violently killed by probable state actors to little public reckoning. These women though killed in separate instances were both active members of Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) the shack-dwellers movement which has challenged local ANC rule for better housing and exposed local corruption. Continue reading →

Solidarity Statement from Sao Paulo

STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH ABAHLALI BASEMJONDOLO

We, the undersigned, representatives of social movements, not-for-profit organizations, national and local authorities and policy makers, professionals, academics and researchers and representatives of international organizations from 26 countries, have gathered in the city of Sao Paolo, Brazil between November 12 and 14, 2014 to advance a Right to the City.

We wish to express our grave concern regarding reoccurring acts of intimidation, threats, arbitrary detentions, assassinations and other acts of violence that are being perpetrated against Abahlali baseMjondolo, movement of shack-dwellers of South Africa who are working to advance the rights of the urban poor to decent homes, the right to the city, and to build a society based on respect, equality, justice and human dignity for all.

We unequivocally condemn all acts of violence and abuses committed against the leaders and members of Abahlali baseMjondolo. Continue reading →

Mass Prayer Tomorrow

Friday, 14 November 2014

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

 

Mass Prayer Tomorrow

On the 15 November 2014 we are going to have our last General Meeting of this year 2014. We normally have General meetings (whereby all members are invited to gather to share ideas) each and every month. We have decided to hold a mass prayer at the final General Meeting for this year given that our Movement is currently under attack and facing repression. Continue reading →

Two Comrades Arrested in KwaNdengezi

Update – Two more comrades have now been arrested. Police bail has now been secured for all four comrades.

Friday, 14 November 2014
Abahlali baseKwaNdengezi Press Statement

Two Comrades Arrested in KwaNdengezi

At around 20:00 last night to Abahlali baseMjondolo members were arrested in KwaNdengezi. They were arrested by police officers in plain clothes and driving unmarked cars. They were not told why they were arrested and up until now they are not yet charged let alone to appear before court. Theexplanation from the Station Commissioner of SAPS KwaNdengezi is that they will not be taken to court since a 48 hour period has not expired yet. It is clear that as usual their arrest was timed so that they could be held for Friday and through the whole weekend. We fear for their safety while they are in police custody. Continue reading →