user preferences

New Events

Southern Africa

no event posted in the last week
Search author name words: Various

Global Solidarity for Abahlali baseMjondolo

category southern africa | community struggles | other libertarian press author Saturday October 24, 2009 23:37author by Various - Compiled by the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign Report this post to the editors

A list of articles and statements in the wake of the attacks on Abahlali baseMjondolo by a state backed ANC militia

On 28 September 2009 the Kennedy Road commune, one of 14 shack settlements in Durban governed autonomously and democratically by Abahlali baseMjondolo was attacked by a militia chanting fascist slogans against non-Zulus. Their stated aim was to kill Abahlali baseMjondolo leader S'bu Zikode.

There was spontaneous resistance to the militia and after a 23 hour battle they were decisively routed. The police then stepped in and arrested key AbM leaders while, under police protection, the militia systematically destroyed the homes of more than 30 Abahlali leaders. Local ANC leaders from outside of the settlement then took control of it with full backing of the police and senior politicians.

Attacks, death threats and have now spread to nearby settlements and it is crystal clear that there is a major state backed attack on the largest poor people's movement in Africa.

Attacks and threats have

Key statements and articles are marked with a *

Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statements

2009-09-27 at 12h40 (Sunday) - Kennedy Road Development Committee Attacked – People Have Been Killed

2009-09-27 at 22h40 (Sunday) - The Attacks Continue in the Presence of the Police and Senior ANC Leaders

2009-09-29 at 13h53 (Tuesday) - 'The ANC Has Invaded Kennedy Road' by S'bu Zikode*

2009-10-01 at 16h53 (Thursday) - Update from Kennedy Road

2009-10-01 at 16h55 (Thursday) - Rushed (and Rough) Transcript of an Interview (anonymous of course) with Two Young Women Still Living in Kennedy Road

2009-10-06 at 22h00 (Tuesday) - Our Movement is under Attack*

2009-10-11 at 10h30 (Sunday).- The ANC Attack on AbM Continues in Kennedy Road

2009-10-15 at 23h30 (Thursday) - The Kennedy Eight are now the Kennedy Thirteen

2009-10-20 at 09h45 (Tuesday) – Intimidation Continues: ANC mob threatens clergy and the chairperson of the AbM Women's League outside court

2009-10-22 at 11h17 (Thursday) - Party Politics Vs Living Politics in Kennedy Road by S'bu Zikode

Video footage and photographs

2009-09-28 at 21h35 (Monday) – Photos: S'bu Zikode's House after the attack*

2009-10-01 17h08 (Tuesday) – Photos: Abahlali at Court to defend the 'Kennedy 8' (from 29 September 2009)

2009-09-30 at 16:10 (Wednesday) – Eyewitness Video Testimony (Footage taken on Sunday and Monday)*

2009-10-01 at 16:54 (Thursday) - Moving Video Interview with S'bu Zikode

2009-10-01 (Thursday) - DemocracyNow! Video interview with Abahlali baseMjondolo (DN! Is the largest progressive media radio station in the United States)*

2009-10-08 - Photos from AbM Protest in Support of the Kennedy 8 (from 08 October 2009)

2009-10-09 - Video from the New York Solidarity Protest (and some photos)

2009-10-10 – Photos of Jenny Morgan's Film screened at Musgrave Centre

Solidarity Petition: An Open Letter to Jacob Zuma (now with over 1,050 signatures)*

Solidarity Poster:AbM awareness raising solidarity poster

Statements of Solidarity with Abahlali baseKennedy Road

2009-09-28 - Joint Statement on the attacks on the Kennedy Road Informal Settlement in Durban (27 signatures from academia)*

2009-09-29 - Testimony from Brother Filippo Mondini and in Zulu: Ubufakazi bukaBrother Fillipo Mondini

2009-09-29 - Democracy Under Attack in Kennedy Road – A Statement by Bishop Rubin Phillip* and in Zulu: Umbhishobhi Omkhulu waseKapa uhlaba ukuhlaselwa kwaBahlali baseMjondolo

2009-09-29 - Letter to the International Media from Nigel Gibson & Raj Patel

2009-09-29 - Kennedy Road Murders Recall Terror of the 1980s (ZACF Statement)

2009-09-30 - Durban Action Against Xenophobia Statement

2009-09-30 - Statement from The Children of South Africa (CHOSA)

2009-09-30 - War on Want Writes to the South African High Commissioner (UK)

2009-10-01 - Statement from the International Forum in Denmark

2009-10-01 - Statement on Kennedy Road Informal Settlement by AFRA

2009-10-01 - War on Want (UK) calls for an end to violence against South African shack dwellers

2009-10-01 - The Poverty Initiative (USA) Supports the Shackdwellers Movement

2009-10-01 - Development Action Group’s statement on the violent attacks on Abahlali baseMjondolo in Kennedy Road

2009-10-01 - The KZN Monitor asks tough questions of the South African Police Service

2009-10-01 - Letter from the Editors of the Academic Journal "Interface"

2009-10-01 - Slum Dwellers International Statement on the Attacks on Kennedy Road Settlement, Durban, South Africa

2009-10-01 - Statement by Global Peace & Justice in Auckland, New Zealand

2009-10-01 - Statement of Support from KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council (KZNCC) in response to the Kennedy Road Killings

2009-10-01 - US Center for Constitutional Rights: Solidarity Statement

2009-10-01 – Statement of Support to the AbM from Movement for Justice in el Barrio in New York City *

2009-10-02 – Statement of Support from the Democratic Socialist Movement

2009-10-02 – Statement of Support from the Archbishop of Cape Town *

2009-10-02 – Statement of Support from the Treatment Action Campaign

2009-10-02 - Statement by the National Association of Democratic Lawyers

2009-10-02 - SACC Appalled by Violent Attacks Against Democracy* and in Zulu: iSACC Ikhala Ngodlame Lokuhlasela Kwentando Yeninigi

2009-10-02 - International Alliance of Inhabitants call for solidarity with AbM

2009-10-05 - Diakonia responds to the attacks on Abahlali baseMjondolo

2009-10-05 – APF in Solidarity with Abahlali baseMjondolo: In Defence of Democracy

2009-10-05 - Afrika Soree! Fraternal Solidarity Message to Abahlali baseMjondolo

2009-10-06 - ILRIG and 56 community organisations: A message of solidarity to Abahlali baseMjondolo

2009-10-06 - In Solidarity with Abahlali baseMjondolo by Jacques Depelchin

2009-10-07 - CiViSOL Statement of Solidarity

2009-10-07 - KwaZulu Natal Christian Council Leaders visit the 8 Leaders of AbM in Sydenham Police Station

2009-10-07 - Statement by Bishop Barry Wood, Auxiliary Bishop of Durban and Episcopal Chairperson

2009-10-09 - Statement in support of Abahlali baseMjondolo by 12 renown academics including Noam Chomsky and Naomi Klein

2009-10-09 - Solidarity rally with Abahlali baseMjondolo at South African consulate by Picture the Homeless

2009-10-10 - Contribution to a Panel Discussion on John Dugard's Legacy to Human Rights Activism and Litigation – by Suart Wilson

2009-10-15 - Students for Law and Social Justice Statement in Support of AbM

2009-10-16 - Statement by the Conference of the Democratic Left in Support of AbM

2009-10-22 - Letter to Jacob Zuma from the Methodist Bishop of Natal

Opinion pieces on the attacks

2009-09-30 - Abahlali baseMjondolo Is Not A Criminal Movement (The Mercury) *

2009-10-01 - Pogrom murders in the Durban area (Politicsweb)

2009-10-02 - Ethnic cleansing (Business Day)

2009-10-04 - A bad week for South Africa (Politicsweb)

2009-10-06 - The crude excesses of power (The Witness)

2009-10-06 - How a poor people’s movement was crushed (The Sowetan)*

2009-10-07 - Acid test for ANC’s commitment to democracy (Business Day)

2009-10-07 - Kennedy Road Truth Being Hidden (Business Day)

2009-10-08 - Worrying utterances by Crispin Hemson (Business Day)

2009-10-08 - Is the ANC the big bad wolf in Kennedy Road? (Mail & Guardian – Thought Leader)

2009-10-09 - Empirical evidence that the Kennedy 8 are being framed

2009-10-12 - Violent campaign against homeless people's group (Daily News)

2009-10-13 - The Underside of South African Democracy (SACSIS)

2009-10-14 - ANC's shameful cover-up (The Witness)

2009-10-14 - The Kennedy Road killings are akin to Stalinism and a threat to democracy (Cape Times)

2009-10-21 - Time is perfect for rethink on housing policy (The Mercury)

Mainstream South African media

2009-09-28 - SAPA: Attackers Associated with ANC (News24)

2009-09-29 - Attack on shack dwellers slammed (Sunday Times)

2009-09-29 - Academics condemn attack on settlement (Business Day)

2009-09-29 - SAPA: Fund Set Up for Victims (News24)

2009-09-29 - Xhosa attack ‘far more sinister’ (The Witness)

2009-09-30 - Kennedy Road attack: ANC and police in the spotlight (The Natal Witness)

2009-09-30 - Police ‘behind shack attack’ (The Mercury)

2009-09-30 - Fund set up after Durban attack (Business Day)

2009-10-01 - Call on Zuma to probe attacks (The Sowetan)

2009-10-01 - Call for solidarity among shack dwellers (The Mercury)

2009-10-02 - Shack people out in the cold after attack (The Mercury)

2009-10-03 – Ethnic Tension Boils Over (The Mail & Guardian)*

2009-10-06 - Church enters Kennedy Road fray (The Sowetan)

2009-10-06 - Churches appeal for aid (East Coast Radio)

2009-10-09 - Shack dwellers ask Zuma to calm tensions (SAPA)

2009-10-09 - Modern-day 'Robin Hood' is disillusioned with ANC (The Mercury)

2009-10-09 - Kennedy Road Olive Branch a Sham (The Mail & Guardian) *

2009-10-09 - I-ANC iphika imibiko yokuhlasela abahlali (Isolezwe) in isiZulu

2009-10-10 - Kennedy Road gets global response (The Weekender)

2009-10-10 - State turns against shack dwellers (The Weekender)

2009-10-12 - Bishop call for suport for Abahlali baseMjondolo (The Witness)

Alternative media articles

2009-09-30 - Shack dwellers' struggle by Sokari Ekine

2009-10-01 - DemocracyNow! Video and radio interview and transcript*

2009-10-02 - Column: Abroad view By Alex Kadis

2009-10-02 - Violent Attacks on Social Movement Abahlali baseMjondolo Misrepresented (SACSIS)

2009-10-02 – Provincial Government & Police Endorse Attack on Abahlali baseMjondolo (Pambazuka)

2009-10-08 - ANC blamed for involvement in shanty town attack (Religious Intelligence)

2009-10-08 - Devastation in Samoa and South Africa by John Minto (Scoop.co.nz)

2009-10-08 - Democracy’s everyday death: South Africa's quiet coup by Nigel Gibson and Raj Patel (Pambazuka)*

Related events

2009-09-30 - Protest at the South African Embassy in London on Wednesday (on 30 September) with photo and video footage

2009-10-03 - Solidarity Protest in Grahamstown - Monday 5th October 2009

2009-10-09 - Solidarity Protest Today at the South African Consulate in New York City (with some photos and video)

2009-10-14 - Solidarity Protest at the University of Cape Town (on Wednesday 14th of October)

2009-10-22 – Lecture: Party politic vs living politic in Kennedy Road by Sbu Zikode (Thursday 22nd October)

Other languages

2009-09-28 - Nye etniske opptøyer i Sør-Afrika (Norwegian)

2009-09-30 - Los hechos de los ataques en AbM (Espanol)

2009-09-30 - Attacco Alla Democrazia Nelle Baraccopli del Sudafrica (Italiano)

2009-09-30 - Sud Africa. La protesta del movimento dei baraccati Abahlali arriva a Londra (Italiano)

2009-09-30 - Νότιος Αφρική: Τρομακτική επίθεση παρακρατικών και μπάτσων στους Abahlali, υπάρχουν νεκροί (Greek)

2009-10-01 - Θυμίζουν τον τρόμο της δεκαετίας του 1980 (Greek)

2009-10-01 - ANC acusado de atacar y asesinar a los que viven en chabolas (Espanol)

2009-10-01 - Opération coup de poing à Durban par Philippe Rivière (Frances)

2009-10-02 – Südafrika: Unser Verbrechen ist ganz einfach: Wir sind selbstorganisierte Arme... (Danish)

2009-10-02 – Declaracion de apoyo a nuestr@s hermanas y hermanos de Sudafrica del Movimiento de los de Casas de Carton (Abahlali baseMjondolo) de parte de Movimeinto por Justicia del Barrio en Nueva York, EU (Espanol)

2009-10-09 - Piu a Sud del Sudafrica – Fillipo Mondini (Italiano)

2009-10-12 - De como não remover favelas (Português)

2009-10-14 - Sør-Afrika: Et demokratis død (Nowegian)

Other media mentioning the Kennedy Road attacks:

2009-10-14 - The Annual Desmond Tutu Peace Lecture (given by Bishop Phillip)

2009-10-14 - With Olympics Came New Laws to Sweep up Homeless

2009-10-16 - Cynthia McKinney: My visit to Cape Town, South Africa (SF Bay View)

Articles on the Slums Act Ruling

Abahlali Statements

2009-10-14 - VICTORY IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT!

Official Documents

2009-10-14 - Constitutional Court judgement on the KZN Slums Act (in .pdf)

2009-10-14 – Concourt Media Summary for judgement on the KZN Slums Act (in .pdf)

Opinion pieces on AbM and the Slums Act

2009-10-21 - Time is perfect for rethink on housing policy (The Mercury)

Mainstream media articles on declaring the Slums Act unconstitutional

2009-10-13 - Concourt to rule on Slums Act (SAPA)

2009-10-14 - KZN Slums Act ruled unconstitutional (SAPA)

2009-10-14 - Court rules KZN mass eviction law unconstitutional (SAPA)

2009-10-14 - Shack dwellers celebrate Concourt victory (The Times)

2009-10-15 - Shack dwellers’ victory (The Witness)

2009-10-15 - Slum law evictions ruled to be unlawful (Business Day)

2009-10-15 - Top court halts evictions (The Star)

2009-10-15 - Shack dwellers win evictions battle (Sowetan)

2009-10-15 - KZN Slums Act ruled unconstitutional (SAPA: The Mercury, The Post, Daily News, Independent, Sunday Tribune, Cape Times) and in Inkantolo ivune abantu abahlala emijondolo (Isolezwe)

2009-10-15 - Concourt triumph for shack dwellers (The Mercury)

2009-10-15 - Slums may not be cleared away for 2010 World Cup (Sowetan)

2009-10-15 - Informal settlers group celebrate court triumph (Daily News)

2009-10-18 - Landmark judgment in favour of poor (Mail & Guardian)

Other Statements

2009-10-14 - Abahlali baseMjondolo celebrates as Constitutional Court declares KZN Slums Act unconstitutional (Centre for Applied Legal Studies)

2009-10-15 - Black Sash on the Slums Act Ruling

Other Languages

2009-10-14 - Sudafrica. Il movimento Abahlali spera nella Corte costituzionale (Italiano)

2009-10-15 - Sudafrica. Vittoria dei baraccati contro lo «Slum act» (Italiano)

Related Link: http://abahlali.org
This page can be viewed in
English Italiano Deutsch
© 2005-2024 Anarkismo.net. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Anarkismo.net. [ Disclaimer | Privacy ]