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    Everyone in the world is facing a deep economic crisis, and beyond that a crisis of imagination. Few now think of a new wave of struggle that can raise our hopes and aspirations to fight for a society free of all forms of exploitation. This is why we publish this pamphlet. The wretched of the earth are speaking. The Zapatistas. The colonial workers in Martinique and Guadaloupe. The peasants of Nepal and Bolivia. What seems clear is that the cutting edge of revolutionary movement today is at that point of greatest exploitation. The neoliberal capitalist forces have led the information revolution of digital technology into a labor replacing free fall that places millions in absolute insecurity. This is not the unemployment of the past with people expecting to go back to work. This unemployment is systemic, permanent. And yet wealth exists, food can be produced, including housing, health care and all the things people need to survive and prosper. While many continue to be blinded by the quite historical impact of our recent heads of state ‐ namely Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama ‐ the fact of our poverty and continued crisis cannot be ignored except by people in the middle classes and those who are directly benefiting from these apparent political victories. We look for movements that can grab the imagination for a better life for those most in need ‐ the homeless, the poor without health care, the ones victimized by police brutality. Every spark deserves our attention, every possibility can clarify the road to freedom. This is why we publish this pamphlet. This is the new movement we have been waiting for, a post‐apartheid movement for social revolution. We need a post civil rights movement in the US to rebuild our fight for real democracy and social transformation. We can learn from them. Read this material. Support their struggle. Organize and fight where you are. Abdul Alkalimat MaEveryone in the world is facing a deep economic crisis, and beyond that a crisis of imagination. Few now think of a new wave of struggle that can raise our hopes and aspirations to fight for a society free of all forms of exploitation. This is why we publish this pamphlet. The wretched of the earth are speaking. The Zapatistas. The colonial workers in Martinique and Guadaloupe. The peasants of Nepal and Bolivia. What seems clear is that the cutting edge of revolutionary movement today is at that point of greatest exploitation. The neoliberal capitalist forces have led the information revolution of digital technology into a labor replacing free fall that places millions in absolute insecurity. This is not the unemployment of the past with people expecting to go back to work. This unemployment is systemic, permanent. And yet wealth exists, food can be produced, including housing, health care and all the things people need to survive and prosper. While many continue to be blinded by the quite historical impact of our recent heads of state ‐ namely Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama ‐ the fact of our poverty and continued crisis cannot be ignored except by people in the middle classes and those who are directly benefiting from these apparent political victories. We look for movements that can grab the imagination for a better life for those most in need ‐ the homeless, the poor without health care, the ones victimized by police brutality. Every spark deserves our attention, every possibility can clarify the road to freedom. This is why we publish this pamphlet. This is the new movement we have been waiting for, a post‐apartheid movement for social revolution. We need a post civil rights movement in the US to rebuild our fight for real democracy and social transformation. We can learn from them. Read this material. Support their struggle. Organize and fight where you are. Abdul Alkalimat May 3, 2009y 3, 2009

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    Everyone in the world is facing a deep economic crisis, and beyond that a crisis of imagination. Few now think of a new wave of struggle that can raise our hopes and aspirations to fight for a society free of all forms of exploitation. This is why we publish this pamphlet. The wretched of the earth are speaking. The Zapatistas. The colonial workers in Martinique and Guadaloupe. The peasants of Nepal and Bolivia. What seems clear is that the cutting edge of revolutionary movement today is at that point of greatest exploitation. The neoliberal capitalist forces have led the information revolution of digital technology into a labor replacing free fall that places millions in absolute insecurity. This is not the unemployment of the past with people expecting to go back to work. This unemployment is systemic, permanent. And yet wealth exists, food can be produced, including housing, health care and all the things people need to survive and prosper. While many continue to be blinded by the quite historical impact of our recent heads of state ‐ namely Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama ‐ the fact of our poverty and continued crisis cannot be ignored except by people in the middle classes and those who are directly benefiting from these apparent political victories. We look for movements that can grab the imagination for a better life for those most in need ‐ the homeless, the poor without health care, the ones victimized by police brutality. Every spark deserves our attention, every possibility can clarify the road to freedom. This is why we publish this pamphlet. This is the new movement we have been waiting for, a post‐apartheid movement for social revolution. We need a post civil rights movement in the US to rebuild our fight for real democracy and social transformation. We can learn from them. Read this material. Support their struggle. Organize and fight where you are. Abdul Alkalimat MaEveryone in the world is facing a deep economic crisis, and beyond that a crisis of imagination. Few now think of a new wave of struggle that can raise our hopes and aspirations to fight for a society free of all forms of exploitation. This is why we publish this pamphlet. The wretched of the earth are speaking. The Zapatistas. The colonial workers in Martinique and Guadaloupe. The peasants of Nepal and Bolivia. What seems clear is that the cutting edge of revolutionary movement today is at that point of greatest exploitation. The neoliberal capitalist forces have led the information revolution of digital technology into a labor replacing free fall that places millions in absolute insecurity. This is not the unemployment of the past with people expecting to go back to work. This unemployment is systemic, permanent. And yet wealth exists, food can be produced, including housing, health care and all the things people need to survive and prosper. While many continue to be blinded by the quite historical impact of our recent heads of state ‐ namely Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama ‐ the fact of our poverty and continued crisis cannot be ignored except by people in the middle classes and those who are directly benefiting from these apparent political victories. We look for movements that can grab the imagination for a better life for those most in need ‐ the homeless, the poor without health care, the ones victimized by police brutality. Every spark deserves our attention, every possibility can clarify the road to freedom. This is why we publish this pamphlet. This is the new movement we have been waiting for, a post‐apartheid movement for social revolution. We need a post civil rights movement in the US to rebuild our fight for real democracy and social transformation. We can learn from them. Read this material. Support their struggle. Organize and fight where you are. Abdul Alkalimat May 3, 2009y 3, 2009

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    Revolutionary Ubuntu

    Uploaded by

    TigersEye99
    Everyone in the world is facing a deep economic crisis, and beyond that a crisis of imagination. Few now think of a new wave of struggle that can raise our hopes and aspirations to fight for a society free of all forms of exploitation. This is why we publish this pamphlet. The wretched of the earth are speaking. The Zapatistas. The colonial workers in Martinique and Guadaloupe. The peasants of Nepal and Bolivia. What seems clear is that the cutting edge of revolutionary movement today is at that point of greatest exploitation. The neoliberal capitalist forces have led the information revolution of digital technology into a labor replacing free fall that places millions in absolute insecurity. This is not the unemployment of the past with people expecting to go back to work. This unemployment is systemic, permanent. And yet wealth exists, food can be produced, including housing, health care and all the things people need to survive and prosper. While many continue to be blinded by the quite historical impact of our recent heads of state ‐ namely Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama ‐ the fact of our poverty and continued crisis cannot be ignored except by people in the middle classes and those who are directly benefiting from these apparent political victories. We look for movements that can grab the imagination for a better life for those most in need ‐ the homeless, the poor without health care, the ones victimized by police brutality. Every spark deserves our attention, every possibility can clarify the road to freedom. This is why we publish this pamphlet. This is the new movement we have been waiting for, a post‐apartheid movement for social revolution. We need a post civil rights movement in the US to rebuild our fight for real democracy and social transformation. We can learn from them. Read this material. Support their struggle. Organize and fight where you are. Abdul Alkalimat MaEveryone in the world is facing a deep economic crisis, and beyond that a crisis of imagination. Few now think of a new wave of struggle that can raise our hopes and aspirations to fight for a society free of all forms of exploitation. This is why we publish this pamphlet. The wretched of the earth are speaking. The Zapatistas. The colonial workers in Martinique and Guadaloupe. The peasants of Nepal and Bolivia. What seems clear is that the cutting edge of revolutionary movement today is at that point of greatest exploitation. The neoliberal capitalist forces have led the information revolution of digital technology into a labor replacing free fall that places millions in absolute insecurity. This is not the unemployment of the past with people expecting to go back to work. This unemployment is systemic, permanent. And yet wealth exists, food can be produced, including housing, health care and all the things people need to survive and prosper. While many continue to be blinded by the quite historical impact of our recent heads of state ‐ namely Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama ‐ the fact of our poverty and continued crisis cannot be ignored except by people in the middle classes and those who are directly benefiting from these apparent political victories. We look for movements that can grab the imagination for a better life for those most in need ‐ the homeless, the poor without health care, the ones victimized by police brutality. Every spark deserves our attention, every possibility can clarify the road to freedom. This is why we publish this pamphlet. This is the new movement we have been waiting for, a post‐apartheid movement for social revolution. We need a post civil rights movement in the US to rebuild our fight for real democracy and social transformation. We can learn from them. Read this material. Support their struggle. Organize and fight where you are. Abdul Alkalimat May 3, 2009y 3, 2009

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    RevolutionaryUbuntu:

    Theshackdwellers
    andpoorpeopleof
    SouthAfrica
    
    

    April7,2009/AnOpenLetterfromtheWesternCapeAntiEviction
    CampaigninSouthAfricatoUSActivists ........................................3
    November2005/WearetheThirdForce'bySbuZikode......................6
    TheThirdForce .....................................................................................6
    June21,2007/EliminatetheSlumsActOriginalpressstatementand
    digitalarchive ................................................................................10
    January25,2009/ToResistAllDegradations&Divisions:Aninterview
    withSbuZikode............................................................................20
    February23,2009/SibusisoInnocentZikode:Ashortbiography ........43
    
    
    Formoreinformation:http://abahlali.org
    

    [AccessedMay3,2009athttp://www.abahlali.org/]

    Everyoneintheworldisfacingadeepeconomiccrisis,andbeyondthatacrisisof
    imagination.Fewnowthinkofanewwaveofstrugglethatcanraiseourhopesand
    aspirationstofightforasocietyfreeofallformsofexploitation.Thisiswhywepublish
    thispamphlet.

    Thewretchedoftheeartharespeaking.TheZapatistas.Thecolonialworkersin
    MartiniqueandGuadaloupe.ThepeasantsofNepalandBolivia.

    Whatseemsclearisthatthecuttingedgeofrevolutionarymovementtodayisatthat
    pointofgreatestexploitation.Theneoliberalcapitalistforceshaveledtheinformation
    revolutionofdigitaltechnologyintoalaborreplacingfreefallthatplacesmillionsin
    absoluteinsecurity.Thisisnottheunemploymentofthepastwithpeopleexpectingto
    gobacktowork.Thisunemploymentissystemic,permanent.Andyetwealthexists,
    foodcanbeproduced,includinghousing,healthcareandallthethingspeopleneedto
    surviveandprosper.

    Whilemanycontinuetobeblindedbythequitehistoricalimpactofourrecentheadsof
    statenamelyNelsonMandelaandBarackObamathefactofourpovertyand
    continuedcrisiscannotbeignoredexceptbypeopleinthemiddleclassesandthosewho
    aredirectlybenefitingfromtheseapparentpoliticalvictories.

    Welookformovementsthatcangrabtheimaginationforabetterlifeforthosemostin
    needthehomeless,thepoorwithouthealthcare,theonesvictimizedbypolice
    brutality.Everysparkdeservesourattention,everypossibilitycanclarifytheroadto
    freedom.Thisiswhywepublishthispamphlet.

    Thisisthenewmovementwehavebeenwaitingfor,apostapartheidmovementfor
    socialrevolution.WeneedapostcivilrightsmovementintheUStorebuildourfightfor
    realdemocracyandsocialtransformation.Wecanlearnfromthem.

    Readthismaterial.Supporttheirstruggle.Organizeandfightwhereyouare.

    AbdulAlkalimat
    May3,2009

    April7,2009/AnOpenLetterfromtheWesternCapeAnti
    EvictionCampaigninSouthAfricatoUSActivists
    [AccessedMay3,2009athttp://abahlali.org/node/4956]
    
    SubmittedbyAbahlali_3onThu,2009040912:33.evictions|openletter|solidarity|The
    Nation|WesternCapeAntiEvictionCampaign
    http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090420/western_cape
    April7,2009
    TheNation
    To:AllpoorAmericansandtheircommunitiesinresistance
    Theprivatizationoflandapublicresourceforallthathasnowbecomeafalsecommoditywas
    theoriginalsin,theoriginalcauseofthisfinancialcrisis.Withtheprivatizationoflandcomes
    thedispossessionofpeoplefromtheirlandwhichwasheldincommonbycommunities.With
    theprivatizationoflandcomestheprivatizationofeverythingelse,becauseoncelandcanbe
    boughtandsold,almostanythingelsecaneventuallybeboughtandsold.
    AsthepoorofSouthAfrica,weknowthisbecauseweliveit.Colonialismandapartheid
    dispossessedusofourlandandgaveittowhitestobeboughtandsoldforprofit.When
    apartheidasasystematicracialinstrumentendedin1994,wedidnotgetourlandback.Some
    blacksarenowabletoownlandaslongastheyhavethemoneytodoso.Butasthepoorliving
    incouncilhomes,rentingflatsorlivingintheshacks,webecameevenmorevulnerabletothe
    propertymarket.
    Itischillingtohearmanypeopletodayspeakwithnostalgiaabouthowitwasbetterduring
    apartheidasifitwasnotapartheidthatstoletheirlandinthefirstplace.But,inanobscure
    way,itmakessense.Backtheninthecitiestherewaslesscompetitionforlandandhousing.
    Becausemanyofuswerekeptinthebantustansbyacombinationofforceandeconomic
    compulsion(suchassubsidizedruralfactories),theinformalsettlementsinthecitieswere
    smallerandlandlessscarce.
    ButinthenewSouthAfrica(whatsomecallpostapartheidSouthAfricaandotherscall
    neoliberalSouthAfrica),theelitehavedecideditiseverymanorwomanormultinational
    companyforhimorherself.Andthus,thepoorendupfightingwiththerichaswellaswith
    themselves.TheeliteusetheirwealthandtheirconnectionstoallSouthAfricanpoliticalparties
    inthepursuitofprofit.Thereisverylittleregulationofthis,andwherethereisregulation,
    corruptandauthoritariangovernmentofficialsgetarounditinaheartbeat.Peoplesaythatwe
    havethebestconstitutionintheworldbutwhatkindofconstitutionenshrinesthepursuitof

    profitaboveanythingelse?Theyclaimitwaswrittenforus.Thatmaybe.Butitobviouslywas
    notwrittenbyusthepoor.
    So,therecentrealizationthatthereisafinancialcrisisintheUS(wethinkthecrisishasbeen
    therealongtime,butwashiddenbyeconomists)remindsusofwhereweourselvesstand.
    Whileourneoliberalgovernmenthastoutedgrowthandlowinflationfiguresasproofofthe
    healthofourcountry,40percentunemploymenthasremained.WhileMandelaandMbeki
    wereinpowerandtheeconomygrew,poorSouthAfricanshadtheirhomesstolenrightfrom
    underthem.Forourentirelives,wehavebeenlivinginadepression,andatthecenterofthis
    crisisislandandhousing.
    Asthepoor,wegavetheAfricanNationalCongressgovernmentfiveyearstoatleastmake
    someinroadstowardsredistribution.Butinstead,thelandandhousingcrisishasgottenworse,
    inequalitygreater,andwearemorevulnerablethanever.
    So,in1999,2000and2001,farms,townships,ghettosandshacksettlementsallacrossSouth
    Africaeruptedagainstevictions,watercutoffs,electricitycutoffsandthelike.Wehavebeen
    fightingforsmallthingsandsmallissues,butourcommunitiesarealsofightingtwolarger
    battles.
    Thefirstisembodiedinthedeclarationwemaketotheoutsideworld:Wemaybepoorbutwe
    arenotstupid!Wemaybepoor,butwecanstillthink!Nothingforuswithoutus!Talktous,
    notaboutus!Wearefightingfordemocracy.Therighttobeheardandtherighttobein
    controlofourowncommunitiesandourownsociety.Thismeansthatgovernmentofficialsand
    politicalpartiesshouldstoptellinguswhatwewant.Weknowwhatwewant.Thismeansthat
    NGOsanddevelopmentexpertsshouldstopworkshoppingusonworldrenownedsolutions
    attheexpenseofourownhomegrownknowledge.Thismeanswerefusetobeastakeholder
    andhaveourvoicesmanagedanddiminishedbythosewhocount.
    Inthe2004nationalelectionsandagaininthisyearselections,wehavedeclared,NoLand!
    NoHouse!NoVote!Thisisnotbecauseweareagainstdemocracybutbecauseweareagainst
    votingforelitesandforpoliticianswhopromiseusthewholeworldeveryfiveyearsand,when
    theygetelected,stealthelittlewehaveforthemselves.Electionsareachanceforthosein
    powertoconsolidateit.Webelievethisisnotonlyaproblemofcorruption,butalsoa
    structuralproblemthatgivesindividualsandpoliticalpartiestheauthoritytomakedecisions
    forus.Werejectthatandwerejectvotingforit.
    Second,whileouractionsmayseemlikeademandforwelfarecouchedinademandforhouses,
    socialgrantsandwater,theyareactuallyademandtoendthecommodificationofthingsthat
    cannotbecommodified:land,labourandmoney.Wetakeactiontogetlandandhousesand
    alsotopreventbanksfromstealingourlandandhouses.Whenafamilygetsevictedandhas
    nowhereelsetogo,weputthembackinside.(InGugulethulastyearweput146outof150
    familiesbackintheirhomes).

    Whengovernmentcutsoffourelectricity,weputitbackon.In2001,wewereabletogetthe
    CityofCapeTowntodeclareatwomonthmoratoriumonevictions.Webreakthe
    governmentslawinordernottobreakourown(moral)laws.Weopposetheauthorities
    becausewenevergavethemtheauthoritytosteal,buyandsellourlandinthefirstplace.
    Combinedthesearebattlesforanewemancipatorystructurewherewearenotstakeholders
    butpeople;wherelandisforeveryoneandwhereresourcesaresharedratherthanfoughtover.
    Thisantievictionmovementyouarewaginghasthepotentialtohelpbuildanewkindof
    liberativepoliticsoutsideofthepoliticalparties.Wehavefoundthatthesepoliticsmustbe
    abouttheissues(includinglandandhousing).Itmustnotbeaboutpersonalisationofthe
    struggle.Nopoliticianorpoliticalpartycanorwillfightthestruggleforyou.Asaheroofyour
    pastoncestated:powerconcedesnothingwithoutademand.Beinginthestruggleforover
    nineyears,wehavelearnedthefollowing:
    Bewareofallthoseinpowereventhosewhoseemliketheyareonyourside.
    Bewareofmoney,especiallyNGOmoney,whichseekstopacifyandpreventdirectaction.
    Bewareofmedia,evenalternativemediawrittenbythemiddleclassonbehalfofthepoor.
    Createyourownmedia.
    Bewareofleaders,evenyourown.Noonecanleadwithoutyou.Leadersarelikeforksand
    knives.Theyarethetoolsofthecommunityandexisttobeledbythecommunities.
    WhenyoubuildyourTakeBackOurLand!TakeBackOurHouses!movement,buildfrom
    below.Builddemocratically.Buildalternativeandautonomouswaysoflivingwithinyour
    communitywhilefightingforwhatisyours.Buildyourownschoolofthought.
    Makesurepoorcommunitiescontroltheirownmovementsbecause,aswesay,noonecan
    leadwithoutus.Makesureyoubreakthegovernmentslawswhennecessary,butneverbreak
    yourownlawswhichyousetforyourselves.
    Mostimportantofall,donotforgetyouhavemuchtoteachusaswell.Weallhavemuchto
    learnfromoneanother.
    AmandlaNgawethu!PowertothePoorPeople!
    TheWesternCapeAntiEvictionCampaign
    SouthAfrica

    November2005/WearetheThirdForce'bySbuZikode
    [AccessedMay3,2009athttp://www.abahlali.org/node/17]
    
    SubmittedbyabahlalionThu,2006101905:54.introduction|S'buZikode|thirdforce
    ThisjournalisticinterventionbySbuZikode,thechairpersonofAbahlalibaseMjondolo,caused
    anationalsensationwhenitwasfirstpublishedinNovember2005andthenrapidlytranslated
    intoAfrikaans,XhosaandZuluandwidelyrepublishedinnewspapersandpopularmagazines.It
    isquiteprobablythemostwidelyrepublishedpieceofjournalisminpostapartheidSouthAfrica.
    ThetermThirdForcebecamepartofthenationalimaginationinSouthAfricaafteritwasused
    todescribetheapartheidsecurityagentswhoofferedcovertmilitarysupporttoZulu
    nationalistswagingawaragainsttheANCinlastyearsofapartheid.Itishighlypejorative,
    impliescovertwhitemanipulationtowardsevilendsand,initscontemporaryavatar,assumes
    anabsoluteinabilityforpoorblackpeopletoexercisehistoricalagencyontheirown.Fromthe
    roadblockadethatbirthedthismovementuntilnownumerous,andveryoftencontradictory
    variationsoftheThirdForceargumenthavebeendeployedbythestateinanincreasingly
    neuroticandattimesoutrightlyhystericalmode.Itisanunfortunatefactthatasectionofthe
    NGOleft,asectionthatchoosesnottoattendthemeetingsof,ortoinanywayengagein
    seriousdiscussionswiththepeopleitassumesanaturalrighttolead,isincreasinglyalso
    resortingtotheracismofthewhiteagitatorthesistotryandexplainawaythefactthatalarge
    movementofthemilitantpoorisuncompromisinglyassertingtherighttospeakforandto
    representitself.Itseemsthateveryoneinthebusinessofspeakingforthepoor,inthestateor
    ontheleft,isequallydisturbedbytheassumptionbythepooroftherighttospeakandactfor
    themselves.InthisarticleZikodeoffersastartlingandnowclassicresponsetoclaimsthatthe
    ThirdForceisbehindthemassmobilisationsorganisedbyAbahlalibaseMjondolo.
    YoucanfindarecentexampleofaThirdForcetyperantfromtheofficeoftheProvincial
    MinisterofHousinghere.

    TheThirdForce
    bySbuZikode
    TheshackdwellersmovementthathasgivenhopetothousandsofpeopleinDurbanisalways
    beingaccusedofbeingpartoftheThirdForce.Innewspapersandinallkindsofmeetingsthisis
    saidoverandoveragain.TheyevenwastemoneyinvestigatingtheThirdForce.Weneedto
    addressthisquestionoftheThirdForcesothatpeopledontbecomeconfused.
    Imustwarnthosecomrades,governmentofficials,politiciansandintellectualswhospeak
    abouttheThirdForcethattheyhavenoideawhattheyaretalkingabout.Theyaretoohighto
    reallyfeelwhatwefeel.Theyalwayswanttotalkforusandaboutusbuttheymustallowusto
    talkaboutourlivesandourstruggles.

    Weneedtogetthingsclear.TheredefinitelyisaThirdForce.Thequestioniswhatisitandwho
    ispartoftheThirdForce?Well,IamThirdForcemyself.TheThirdForceisallthepainandthe
    sufferingthatthepooraresubjectedtoeverysecondinourlives.Theshackdwellershave
    manythingstosayabouttheThirdForce.Itistimeforustospeakoutandtosaythisiswhowe
    are,thisiswhereweareandthishowwelive.Thelifethatwearelivingmakesour
    communitiestheThirdForce.Mostofusarenotworkingandhavetospendalldaystruggling
    forsmallmoney.AIDSisworseintheshacksettlementsthananywhereelse.Withoutproper
    houses,water,electricity,refuseremovalandtoiletsallkindsofdiseasesbreed.Thecausesare
    clearlyvisibleandeveryDick,TomandHarrycanunderstand.Ourbodiesitcheveryday
    becauseoftheinsects.Ifitisrainingeverythingiswetblanketsandfloors.Ifitishotthe
    mosquitoesandfliesarealwaysthere.Thereisnoholidayintheshacks.Whentheevening
    comesitisalwaysachallenge.Thenightissupposedtobeforrelaxingandgettingrest.Butit
    doesnthappenlikethatinthejondolos.Peoplestayawakeworryingabouttheirlives.You
    mustseehowbigtheratsarethatwillrunacrossthesmallbabiesinthenight.Youmustsee
    howpeoplehavetosleepunderthebridgeswhenitrainsbecausetheirfloorsaresowet.The
    raincomesrightinsidepeopleshouses.Somepeoplejuststandupallnight.
    Butpovertyisnotjustsuffering.Itthreatensuswithdeatheveryday.Wehaveseenhow
    dangerousbeingpooris.IntheKennedyRoadsettlementwehaveseenhowMhlengiKhumalo,
    aoneyearoldchild,diedinashackfirelastmonth.Sevenothershavediedinfiressincethe
    eThekwiniMetrodecidedtostopprovidingelectricitytoinformalsettlements.Therearemany
    Mhlengisalloverourcountry.Povertyeventhreatenspeopleinflats.InBayview,inChatsworth,
    awomandiedofhungerearlierthisyearshewasfearingtotelltheneighboursthatshehad
    nofoodandshedied,alone.
    Thoseinpowerareblindtooursuffering.Thisisbecausetheyhavenotseenwhatwesee,they
    havenotfeltwhatwearefeelingeverysecond,everyday.Myappealisthatleaderswhoare
    concernedaboutpeopleslivesmustcomeandstayatleastoneweekinthejondolos.They
    mustfeelthemud.Theymustshare6toiletswith6000people.Theymustdisposeoftheirown
    refusewhilelivingnexttothedump.Theymustcomewithuswhilewelookforwork.They
    mustchaseawaytheratsandkeepthechildrenfromknockingthecandles.Theymustcarefor
    thesickwhentherearelongqueuesforthetap.Theymusthaveaturntoexplaintothe
    childrenwhytheycantattendtheTechnicalCollegedownthehill.Theymustbetherewhen
    weburyourchildrenwhohavepassedoninthefires,fromdiarrhoeaorAIDS.
    Forusthemostimportantstruggleistoberecognisedashumanbeings.Duringthestruggle
    priorto1994therewereonlytwolevels,twoclassestherichandthepoor.Nowafterthe
    electiontherearethreeclassesthepoor,themiddleclassandtherich.Thepoorhavebeen
    isolatedfromthemiddleclass.Wearebecomingmorepoorandtherestarebecomingmore
    rich.Weareonourown.Wearecompletelyonourown.
    OurPresidentMbekispeakspoliticsourPremierNdebele,andShilowainGautengandRasool
    intheWesternCape,ourMayorMlabaandmayorsalloverthecountryspeakpolitics.Butwho
    willspeakaboutthegenuineissuesthataffectthepeopleeverydaywater,electricity,

    education,land,housing?Wethoughtlocalgovernmentwouldminimisepoliticsandfocuson
    whatpeopleneedbutitallbecomespolitics.
    WediscoveredthatourmunicipalitydoesnotlistentouswhenwespeaktotheminZulu.We
    triedEnglish.NowwerealisethattheywontunderstoodXhosaorSothoeither.Theonly
    languagethattheyunderstandiswhenweputthousandsofpeopleonthestreet.Wehave
    seentheresultsofthisandwehavebeenencouraged.Itworksverywell.Itistheonlytoolthat
    wehavetoemancipateourpeople.Whyshouldwestopit?
    Wehavematuredinoursuffering.Wehadaprogrammetofindawayforward.Our
    programmewastocontinuewiththepeacefulnegotiationswiththeauthoritiesthatfirst
    startedtenyearsago.Butourfirstplanwasundermined.Wewereliedto.Wehadtocomeup
    withanalternativeplan.
    The16thofFebruary2005wasthedawnofourstruggle.OnthatdaytheKennedyRoad
    committeehadaverysuccessfulmeetingwiththechairofthehousingportfolioofthe
    executivecommitteeofthemunicipality,thedirectorofhousingandthewardcouncillor.They
    allpromisedusthevacantlandontheClareEstateforhousing.ThelandonElfRoadwasoneof
    theidentifiedareas.Butthenwewerebetrayedbythemosttrustedpeopleinourcity.Justone
    monthlater,withoutanywarningorexplanation,bulldozersbegandiggingtheland.People
    wereexcited.Theywenttoseewhatwashappeningandwereshockedtobetoldthatabrick
    factorywasbeingbuiltthere.Morepeoplewentdowntosee.Thereweresomanyofusthat
    wewereblockingtheroad.Themanbuildingthefactorycalledthepoliceandourlocal
    councillor,amanputintopowerbyourvotesandholdingourtrustandhopes.Thecouncillor
    toldthepoliceArrestthesepeopletheyarecriminals.Thepolicebeatus,theirdogsbitus
    andtheyarrested14ofus.Weaskedwhathappenedtothepromisedland.Weweretold
    Whothehellareyoupeopletodemandthisland?Thisbetrayalmobilisedthepeople.The
    peoplewhobetrayedusareresponsibleforthismovement.Thosepeoplearethesecondforce.
    Ourmovementstartedwith14arrestswecalledthemthe14heroes.Nowwehave14
    settlementsunitedtogetherasabahlalibasemjondolo[shackdwellers].Eachsettlementmeets
    onceaweekandtheleadersofallthesettlementsmeetonceaweek.Wearepreparedtotalk
    butifthatdoesntworkwearepreparedtouseourstrength.Wewilldowhateveritcostsusto
    getwhatweneedtolivesafely.
    Wehavelearntfromourexperiencethatwhenyouwanttoachievewhatyouwant,whenyou
    wanttoachievewhatislegitimatebypeacefulnegotiations,byhumbleness,byrespecting
    thoseinauthorityyourpleabecomescriminal.Youwillbedeceivedformorethantenyears,
    youwillbefooledandundermined.Thisiswhywehaveresortedtothestreets.Whenwestand
    thereinourthousandswearetakenseriously.
    ThestrugglethatstartedinKennedyRoadwasthebeginningofanewera.Weareawareofthe
    strategiesthatthepolicearecomingwithtodemoraliseandthreatenthepoor.Wedontmind
    thembuildingthejailsforusandhiringmoresecurityiftheyarenotpreparedtolistentowhat

    wearesaying.Itisimportantforeveryshackdwellerstoknowthatweareawareofwhatis
    happeninginAlexanderinJohannesburg,inP.E.,inCapeTown.Weknowthatourstruggleis
    notbyitself.Wehavesentoursolidarity.Wewillnotrestinpeaceuntilthereisjusticeforthe
    poornotonlyinKennedyRoadtherearemanyKennedyRoads,manyMhlengis,manypoor
    voicesthatarenotheardandnotunderstood.Butwehavediscoveredthelanguagethatworks.
    Wewillstickwithit.Thevictimshavespoken.Wehavesaidenoughisenough.
    Itmustbeclearthatthisisnotapoliticalgame.Thismovementisakindofsocialtoolbywhich
    thecommunityhopestogetquickerresults.Thishasnothingtodowithpoliticsorparties.Our
    membersarepartofeverypoliticalorganisationthatyoumaythinkof.Thisisanonpolitical
    movement.Itwillfinishitsjobwhenlandandhousing,electricityandbasicserviceshavebeen
    wonandpovertyeliminated.Itisenoughforustobeuniteduntilourpeoplehaveachieved
    whatiswantedwhichisbasic.Butuntilthatismaterialisedwewillneverstop.
    Thecommunityhasrealisedthatvotingforpartieshasnotbroughtanychangetous
    especiallyattheleveloflocalgovernmentelections.Wecanseesomeimportantchangesat
    nationallevelbutatlocallevelwhoeverwinstheelectionswillbechallengedbyus.Wehave
    beenbetrayedbyourownelectedcouncillor.Wehavedecidednottovote.Thecampaignthat
    hasbegunNoLand,NoHouse,NoVote,isacampaignthathasbeenagreeduponinall14
    settlements.
    WearedrivenbytheThirdForce,thesufferingofthepoor.OurbetrayersaretheSecondForce.
    TheFirstForcewasourstruggleagainstapartheid.TheThirdForcewillstopwhentheFourth
    Forcecomes.TheFourthForceisland,housing,water,electricity,healthcare,educationand
    work.Weareonlyaskingwhatisbasicnotwhatisluxurious.Thisisthestruggleofthepoor.
    Thetimehascomeforthepoortoshowthemselvesthatwecanbepoorinlifebutnotinmind.
    Forustimehasbeenaverygoodteacher.Peoplehaverealisedsomanythings.Wehavelearnt
    fromthepastwehavesufferedalone.Thatpainandsufferinghastaughtusalot.Wehave
    beguntorealisethatwearenotsupposedtobelivingundertheseconditions.Therehasbeena
    dawnofdemocracyforthepoor.Nooneelsewouldhavetoldusneitherourelectedleaders
    noranyofficialswouldhavetolduswhatweareentitledto.EventheFreedomCharterisonly
    goodintheory.Ithasnothingtodowiththeordinarylivesofpoor.Itdoesnthelpus.Itisthe
    thinkingofthemassesofthepeoplethatmatters.Wehavenotedthatourcountryisrich.More
    airportsarebeingbuilt,therearemoredevelopmentsatthePointwaterfront,morestadiums
    arebeingrenovated,moremoneyisfloatingaround,evenbeinglenttoMugabe.Butwhenyou
    askforwhatisbasicyouaretoldthatthereisnomoney.Itisclearthatthereisnomoneyfor
    thepoor.Themoneyisfortherich.Wehavecometothedecisionofsayingenoughisenough.
    Weallagreethatsomethingmustbedone.
    SbuZikodeistheelectedChairpersonoftheAbahlalibaseMjondolo[Shackdwellers]movement
    whichcurrentlyincludes14settlementsinDurbanandwillmarchonMayorObedMlabaon14
    November.

    June21,2007/EliminatetheSlumsActOriginalpress
    statementanddigitalarchive
    [AccessedMay3,2009fromhttp://abahlali.org/node/1629]
    
    SubmittedbyAbahlali_3onThu,2007062112:12.AbahlalibaseMjondolo|press_update
    ScrolldownforafullarchiveofallSlumsBill/ActdocumentsincludingthetextoftheBill,
    commentsandsubmissionsagainsttheBillandanarchiveofmediaarticlesontheBill.New
    documentsarebeingaddedhereregularly.Ifyouareonlylookingforthelegaldocuments
    fromtheAbahlalicaseagainsttheSlumsActclickhere.
    ClickhereforcommentsbypeoplewhosuccessfullyresistedevictioninMotalaHeightsand
    peoplewhoselivesweresmashedbyevictioninJubaPlaceinDecember2006.

    DurbanHighCourt,6November2008
    AbahlalibaseMjondoloPressStatementThursday,21June2007
    OperationMurambatsvinacomestoKZN:TheNotoriousElimination&PreventionofRe
    emergenceofSlumsBill
    

    10

    TodaytheKwaZuluNatalElimination&PreventionofReemergenceofSlumsBillwillbetabled
    intheprovincialparliament.AbahlalibaseMjondolohavediscussedthisBillverycarefullyin
    manymeetings.WehaveheardHousingMECMikeMabuyakulusaythatwemustnotworry
    becauseitisaimedatslumlordsandshackfarming.WehaveheardRanjithPurshotumfromthe
    LegalResourcesCentresaythatInsteadofsayingthatpeoplewillbeevictedfromslumsafter
    permanentaccommodationissecured,wehaveasituationwherepeoplearebeingremoved
    fromaslum,andsenttoanotherslum.Onlythistimeitisagovernmentapprovedslumandis
    calledatransitarea.Thisisthetwistedlogicofthedraftersofthelegislation.Wehaveheard
    MarieHuchzermeyerfromWitsUniversitysaythatthisBillusesthelanguageofapartheid,is
    antipoorandisindirectcontradictionwiththenationalhousingpolicyBreakingNewGround.
    LawyershavetoldusthatthisBillisunconstitutional.
    ItisverycleartousthatthisBillisanattempttomountalegalattackonthepoor.Alreadythe
    poor,shackdwellersandstreettraders,areunderillegalandviolentattackbyMunicipalities.
    ThisBillisanattempttolegalizetheattacksonthepoor.WeknowaboutOperation
    Murambatsvina.LastyearoneofourmembersvisitedHarareandlastweekwehostedtwo
    peoplefromHarare.ThisBillisanattempttolegalizeaKZNOperationMurambatsvinabefore
    theWorldCupin2010.Wewillfightitalltheway.
    1.AIMOFTHEBILL
    TheBillsaysthatitsmainaimsareto:
    Eliminate'slums'inKwaZuluNatal
    Preventnew'slums'fromdeveloping
    Upgradeandcontrolexisting'slums'
    Monitortheperformanceofdepartmentsandmunicipalitiesintheeliminationof'slums'and
    thepreventionofnew'slums'fromdeveloping.
    Ithasdetailedplanstomakesurethatallofthisreallyhappens.TheBillalsosaysthatitaimsto
    'improvethelivingconditionsofcommunities'butithasnodetailedplanstomakesurethat
    thisreallyhappens.Itisthereforeclearthatitsrealpurposeistogetridofslumsratherthan
    toimprovetheconditionsinwhichpeoplelive.Mabuyakulusaysthatweshouldntworry
    becausetherealtargetsareslumlordsandshackfarmingbutthisisnotwhattheBillsaysand,
    anyway,therearenoslumlordsinAbahlalisettlements.Abahlalimembershavebeento
    Nairobi.WehaveseenhowtheslumlordsruletheNairobisettlementsandwearestrongly
    againstslumlordism.ButwedonotliveinNairobi.AllAbahlalisettlementsaredemocratic
    communitiesandmanyothersettlementsinKZNarealsonotrunbyslumlords.
    TheBilldoesnotaimto:
    Forcelocalandprovincialgovernmenttodealwiththeconditionsthatforcepeopletoleave
    theirhomesandmovetoshacksettlements
    Forcelocalandprovincialgovernmenttoimmediatelyprovidebasicservicestoshack

    11

    settlementsliketoilets,electricity,water,drainage,pathsandspeedbumpswhiletheywaitfor
    upgradesorrelocations
    Forcelocalandprovincialgovernmenttofollowthelawsthatpreventevictionswithouta
    courtorder,thelawsthatpreventpeoplefrombeingmadehomelessinanevictionortofollow
    theBreakingNewGroundPolicythataimstoupgradesettlementsinsitu(wherepeopleare
    alreadyliving)insteadofrelocatingpeoplesofarfromworkandschoolsthattheyhavetoleave
    theirlowcosthousesandcomestraightbacktoshacks.
    Forcelocalandprovincialgovernmenttomaketheirplansforshackdwellerswithshack
    dwellerstoavoidthebadplanningthatunderminesdevelopment(suchasrelocatingpeopleso
    farawayfromworkthattheyhavetomovebacktoshacks)
    WedonotneedthisBill.Thefirstthingthatweneedisforgovernment(local,provincialand
    national)tobegintofollowtheexistinglawsandpolicesthatprotectagainstevictions,forced
    relocationsandwhichrecommendinsituupgradesinsteadofrelocations.Afterthatweneed
    lawsthatbreakthepowerthattheveryrichhaveoverlandinthecitiesandweneedlawsto
    compelmunicipalitiestoprovideservicestoshacksettlementswhilepeoplewaitforhousesto
    bebuilt.
    ThisBillisnotforshackdwellers.Itistoprotecttherich,byprotectingtheirpropertyprices.
    2.DEFINITIONOFIMIJONDOLO
    IntheBilltheword'slum'isdefinedasanovercrowdedpieceoflandorbuildingwherepoor
    peopleliveandwherethereispoorornoinfrastructureortoilets.
    TheBillusestheword'slum'inawaythatmakesitsoundliketheplaceswherepoorpeoplelive
    areaproblemthatmustbeclearedawaybecausethereissomethingwrongwithpoorpeople.
    Butitdoesnotadmitthatthepoorhavebeenmadepoorbutthesamehistoryoftheftand
    exploitationthatmadetherichtoberichanditdoesnotadmitthatplaceswherepoorpeople
    liveoftenlackinfrastructureandtoiletsbecauseofthefailureoflandlordsorthegovernment
    toprovidethesethings.Thesolutiontothefactthatweoftendonthavetoiletsinour
    communitiesistoprovidetoiletswhereweliveandnottodestroyourcommunitiesandmove
    usoutofthecity.InthisBilltheword'slum'isusedtomakeitsoundlikethepoorandthe
    placeswheretheylivearetheproblemratherthantherichandthewayinwhichtheyhave
    madethepoortobepoorandtobekeptpoorbyalackofdevelopment.
    InAmericablackcommunityorganizationshaveopposedtheuseoftheword'slum'todescribe
    theircommunitiesbecausetheysayitmakesitsoundlikethereissomethingwrongwiththem
    andtheirplacesratherthanthesystemthatmakesthempoorandfailstodeveloptheirplaces.
    Theyalsosaythatonceaplaceiscalleda'slum'itiseasytofortherichandgovernmentstosay
    thatitmustbe'cleared'or'eliminated'butifaplaceiscalledacommunitythenitiseasierto
    saythatitmustbesupportedanddeveloped.

    12

    Thereisalsoaproblemwithcallingimijondolo'informalsettlements'becauseonceaplaceis
    called'informal'itiseasyforpeopletosaythatitshouldn'tgetanyofthe'formal'servicesthat
    peopleneedforaproperlifelikeelectricity,toilets,refusecollectionandsoon.Butmanyofus
    havelivedourwholelivesininformalsettlements.Wecantwaituntilweliveinformal
    housestogetelectricitytostopthefires,water,toilets,drainage,refusecollectionandsoon.
    Wearelivingourlivesnow.Wecantwaittostartlivingonlywhenandifthegovernmentputs
    usinaformaloneroomedhousefaroutoftown.
    Andwedontliketheword'eliminate'.Thisisawordthatisviolentandthreatening,not
    respectfulandcaring.Ourcommunitiesshouldbenurtured,noteliminated.
    Thepeoplewholiveintheimijondolomustdecideforthemselveswhattheywanttheir
    communitiestobecalled.Wemustbeallowedtodefineourselvesandtospeakforourselves.
    3.SUPPORTINGTHERICHAGAINSTTHEPOOR
    TheBillmakesitcriminaltooccupyabuildingorlandwithoutpermissionfromtheownerof
    thebuildingortheland.
    Itforcesmunicipalitiestoforcelandownerstoevictpeopleontheirland(orintheirbuildings).
    Itforcesmunicipalitiestoseekevictionsiflandownersfailtodoso.
    Itforcesmunicipalitiestomakeaplantoeliminateallthe'slums'initsareawithinsixmonths
    ofthisBillbecominglaw.
    Itforcesmunicipalitiestogiveanannualreportonitsprogresstowardseliminatingall'slums'.
    ItforcestheprovincialDepartmentofHousingtocloselywatchMunicipalitiesandtosupport
    themtomakesurethattheyevictpeoplefromlandthattheyhaveoccupied.
    ItforcestheProvincialDepartmentofHousingtosupport'anyprojectadoptedbya
    municipality'to'relocate'peoplefromimijondolo.
    ItsaysthatMunicipalitiesmayevictpeoplewhenevictionsareinthepublicinterest.
    Itforceslandownerstoprotecttheirlandagainstthepoorwithfencesandsecurityguards.
    Landownerswhodonotprotecttheirlandagainstthepoorwillbeguiltyofacriminaloffence.
    Itforceslandownerstoevictpeoplefromtheirland.
    ThisBilldoesnotprovideanyprotectionforpeoplewhohavebeenmadepoorbythesame
    historyandeconomythatmadetherichtoberichandwhohavedecidedtooccupylandor
    buildingsthatareownedbytherichbutarenotbeingusedbythem.Inmanycountriesthe
    poorhavealegalrighttousevacantlandorbuildingsthatareownedbytherichbutarenot
    beingusedbythem.ItislikethisinTurkey.ThereisnoreasonwhySouthAfricacannotalso
    givethisrighttothepoor.
    Theneedoftheverypoorforhousinginthecitiesnearworkandeducationshouldcome
    beforetheneedsoftheveryrichtohavetheirpropertypricesprotected.
    4.TRANSITAREAS

    13

    TheBillallowsMunicipalitiestobuyortakelandtoaccommodatepeoplethathavebeen
    evictedwhiletheyarewaitingfornewdevelopments.Thesearecalled'transitareas'.TheBill
    doesnotgiveanyguarantiesastowherethese'transitareas'willbelocated,whatserviceswill
    beprovidedthere,ifcommunitieswillbekepttogetherorbrokenupwhenpeoplearetakento
    theseplacesorhowlongtheywillhavetoliveintheseplaces.
    Weknowthatallthroughhistoryandinmanycountriesgovernmentshaveputtheirpolitical
    opponents,theverypoor,peoplewhowereseenasethnically,culturalandraciallydifferent,
    andpeoplewithoutI.D.booksincamps.Thesecampsarealwayssupposedtobetemporarya
    'transit'betweenoneplaceandanother.Butveryoftenthesecampshavebecomeplacesof
    longandterriblesuffering.ThatiswhyintheMail&GuardianitwaswrittenthatthisBill
    remindspeopleofNaziGermany.WeknowthatinIndiashackdwellerswhoweretakento
    transitcampsinthe1960sarestilltherenow.
    5.EXPROPRIATIONOFLAND
    TheBillgivesMunicipalitiestherighttoexpropriateland.Thismeansthattheyhavetherightto
    takelandfromlandowners.Thiscouldbeaverygoodthingforthepooriflandwastakeninthe
    citiessothatthepoorcouldlivesafelyandlegallynexttowork,schoolsandclinics.ButtheBill
    saysnothingaboutwhichlandshouldbetaken.Itonlysaysthatlandcanbetakentosetupa
    'transitarea'orforpeople'removedorevictedfromaslum'.Thereforeitseemsthattheright
    toexpropriatelandwillmostbelikelybeusedtoevictthepoorfromthecitiesandtodump
    theminruralareasandnottodefendtheirrighttoliveinthecitiesagainsttheinterestsofvery
    richlandspeculatorsanddevelopers.AlreadyshackdwellersarebeingtakenoutofDurbanand
    dumpedinformallowcosthousesinplaceslikeParkGate.Thereisnoguaranteethatthiswill
    notcontinue.
    6.CRIMINALISINGTHEPOOR
    ThisBillmakesanyonewhotriestostopanevictionacriminalwhocanbefinedR20000or
    senttoprisonfor5years.Anynormalpersonwouldtrytostopaneviction.Whichmother
    wouldstandbywhileherhomeandcommunityisdestroyed?Ifthislawispasseditwillmake
    usallcriminals.Butthislawsaysnothingaboutstoppingtheillegalandunconstitutional
    evictionsthatareperpetratedagainstshackdwellersallthetimebytheeThekwiniMunicipality.
    TheMunicipalitybreaksthelaweverytimethatitevictsuswithoutacourtorderandevery
    timeitleavespeoplehomelessbutMunicipalofficialsareneverarrested.Ifthelawsthatexist
    nowarenowarenotusedfairlywehavenoguaranteethatthislawwillbeusedfairly
    7.WHOSHOULDPLANTHEFUTUREOFOURCITIES?
    DurbanandPinetownandPietermaritzburgandallthecitiesinthisprovince,thiscountryand
    intheworldwerebuiltbytheworkofthepoor.Butpoorpeopledidn'tonlybuildourcities.
    Theyhavealsodonealotoftheplanningofthedevelopmentofourcities.Itwasthepoorwho
    decidedthatblackandwhiteandrichandpoorshouldn'tliveseparatelyandwhotookunused

    14

    landsothateveryonecouldlivetogetherinourcities.Ourcitieslookthewaythattheydo
    becauseofboththeplanningoftherich,theplanningofvariousgovernmentsandtheplanning
    orordinarypoorpeople.ForexampleitwasBikoZuluwhodecidedtostartasettlementin
    JadhuPlaceneartotheschoolsinOverportandthejobsinSpringfieldParkandnotany
    government.
    Ademocraticgovernmentshouldallowthepoortocontinuetobeabletoparticipatein
    planningthefutureofourcities.Planningshouldnotonlybearightforgovernmentsandthe
    rich.
    OnFriday4thMay2007theProvincialLegislaturecametotheKennedyRoadcommunityhallto
    introducetheKZNEliminationandPreventionofReEmergenceofSlumsBill,2006.Thehall
    wasoverflowingwithpeoplefromaffiliatingsettlementsoftheAbahlaliBaseMjondolo
    Movement.WeclearlysaidNoland,NoHouseNoVote,NoBill!Weclearlytoldthe
    ProvincialLegislatureabouttheillegaldemolitionsandevictionsundertakenbytheeThekwini
    Municipality,thefailuretoprovidebasicservicestoshackdwellersandthebrutal
    criminalizationofthepoliticsofthepoorbypeoplelikeSupt.GlenNayageroftheSydenham
    PoliceStation.Theysaidthattheydonotknowaboutanyofthis.Iftheydonotknowwhatis
    happeningtoshackdwellersintheirownprovincethentheymustlistentoshackdwellers
    beforemakinglaws.Listeningandtalkingmustcomebeforedeciding.
    AWorldClasscityisnotacitywherethepoorarepushedoutofthecity.AWorldClasscityisa
    citywherethepooraretreatedwithdignityandrespectandmoneyisspentonrealneedslike
    housesandtoiletsandcleanwaterandelectricityandschoolsandlibrariesratherthanfancy
    thingsfortherichlikestadiumsandcasinosthatourcitiescanjustnotafford.
    WewillfightthisBillinthecourts.WewillfightthisBillinthestreets.WewillfightthisBillin
    thewayweliveourordinaryliveseveryday.Wewillnotbedrivenoutofourcitiesasifwe
    wererubbish.
    Forcommentpleasecontact:
    1.Ms.ZandileSithole,0762270653
    2.Ms.ZodwaNsibande,0828302707
    3.Mr.MnikeloNdabankulu,0735656241
    4.Mr.SbuZikode,0835470474
    SeeAlso
    x
    x
    x

    MabuyakuluplansforwaronthepoorMail&GuardianarticlebyRichardPithouse,19
    May2006
    TextoftheKZNSlumEliminationBill,26October2006
    KZNSlumEliminationBill:AStepBackNewspaperarticlebyMarieHuchzermeyer,13
    March2007

    15

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    AbahlalitellKZNgovernment"NoLand,NoHouse,NoVote,NoBill!"byDavidNtseng
    OutcryoverslumsbillNewspaperreportbyFredKockott,SundayTribune,13May2007
    AReviewoftheKZNSlumsBillPublicHearingProcessArticlebyZamaMkhizefromthe
    CentreforPublicParticipation
    SubmissionontheSlumEliminationBillbyMarieHuchzermeyer,13May2007
    State'scureforShackFarmsNewspaperreportbyNirenTolsi
    FreeSpeachRadioNetworkreportbyMpumiMagwaza
    'LawsWillImproveHorribleLives'NewspaperarticleontheSlumsBillbyGregArdeand
    StephanieSaville
    CommentontheSlumsBillfromactivistsinCapeTown
    Isolezwe:BafunaukuvikelaimijondoloAbahlalingoKwaneleNcalane
    Isolezwe:Imijondolo'izobaumlando'KwaZuluNatalngoMlondiRadebenoKwanele
    Ncalane
    PoorpeoplearenotathreattothesocialorderMercuryarticlebyImraanBuccas
    ShackdwellersthreatenmassactionDailyNewsarticlebyBonganiMthembu
    Picturesofthe11JulyillegaldemolitionsinForemanRoad
    OpenInvitationtoaMeetingtoDiscussLegal&PoliticalStrategiestoOpposetheSlums
    BillFriday13July,9:00a.m.,KennedyRoad
    ShackdwellersunhappywithactMercuryarticlebySibusisoMboto
    LettertotheKwaZuluNatalPremierfromtheCentreonHousingRightsandEvictions
    Isolezwe:Abadilizelweimijondolobathibazophindebakhengenkani2010PhiliMjoli
    Poor'leftoutinthecold'for2010MercuryarticlebyColleenDardagan
    WorldClassCities?WorldClassSlums?NoplaceforthepoorintheKwaZuluNatals
    EliminationandPreventionofReemergenceofSlumsBill,2006Leapsubmissionto
    AbMMeetingAgainsttheSlumsBill
    Upliftslums,don'tdestroythemMarieHuchzermeyerintheMercury
    MinutesofthemeetingcalledbyAbahlalitobuildanallianceagainsttheSlumsBill
    PleatoPremieroverSlumsBillSundayTribunearticlebyChrisMakhayeandLukeReid
    Shackdwellerstooppose'Slums'BillWitnessarticlebyThabisileGumede
    ShackdwellersinbidtochangeactMercuryarticlebySibusisoMboto
    SlumsbillnotaZimbabwestyleOperationMurambatsvinaOpinionpieceinthe
    WitnessbyLennoxMabaso
    Comeandlivehere,Mabaso!FrontpagearticleintheDailySunbyAnilSingh
    Officialtojointhepoor!ArticleintheDailySunbyAnilSingh
    Officialmusteathiswords!FrontpagearticleintheDailySunbyMxolisiMngadi
    ReportonPublicParticipationExercisesFor:TheEliminationandPreventionofRe
    emergenceofSlumsBillbyKerryChance
    TheSlumsAct:fulltextAugust,2007
    2ndMeetingtoBuildaCoalitionAgainsttheSlumsAct14September2007(Pictures)
    AbahlaliattempttomarchagainsttheSlumsActon28September
    andareviolentlyandillegallyattackedbythenotoriousSydenhamPolice
    Municipality&ProvinceJustifyClearlyIllegalOngoingEvictionsfromtheSiyathuthuka
    SettlementinthenameoftheSlumsAct5&7October,2007
    Mercury:Eradicationofslumscouldhurtpoor5October,2007
    16

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    MunicipalitythreatensSlumsActevictionsinArnettDrive9October,2007&theLegal
    ResourcesCentresendsaletterinresponsepointingoutthattheSlumsActdoesnot
    supersedethePIEActandthattheCity'sevictionsarethereforeillegal
    TheAfricanExecutive:IndefenceofSlumsAcritiqueoftheSlumsActfromtheright31
    October,2007
    BasalebenkemilebedilizelwaimijondoloIsolezwe,6November2007byPhiliMjoli
    WazewanobuntuumshayeliwetekisiIsolezwe,12November2007byMnikelo
    Ndabankulu
    EvictedSeaCowLakeresidentsmovedtowhatcouldbethefirstSlumsAct'transitcamp
    DailyNews,13November2007byHeinzdeBoer
    SomeEvictionsFollowedbySuccessfulResistanceintheShannonDriveSettlement,
    (ProbablySlumsActlinkedalthoughtheCityhasnotrepliedtoanydemands,issuedvia
    popularmobilisationandlawyers,forexplanation),December2007
    ArticleonAbahlaliandtheSlumsActinGroundWork'snewsletterDecember,2007
    AlanGilbert,TheReturnoftheSlums:DoesLanguageMatter?,InternationalJournalof
    UrbanandRegionalResearch,2007
    SomeEvictionsFollowedbySuccessfulResistanceintheArnettDriveSettlement,(The
    MercuryreportsaysthattheCitytriedtojustifytheevictionsintermsoftheSlumsAct),
    January2008
    Baphilakanzimaemijondolo,UmbonoweSolezwe,January2008
    UmlandongempilonomzabalazowabahlalibasemijondoloeThekwini,DavidNtseng&
    RichardPithouse,February2008
    AbahlalibaseMjondoloTaketheProvincialGovernmenttoCourtOvertheNotorious
    SlumsAct,AbahlalibaseMjondoloPressStatementAnnouncingtheCourtChallengeto
    theAct,February2008
    SlumeradicationBillslated,MercuryarticlebyTaniaBroughton,February2008
    ShackDwellersTakeonSlumsAct,Mail&GuardianarticlebyNirenTolsi,February2008
    Secondlookatthemeritsofshacks,SundayTribunearticlebyAdrianHadland,February
    2008
    DearMandela,AsixminutefilmbySleepingGiantFilmsthatincludesfootageofthe
    possiblySlumsActrelatedShannonDrivenevictions,February2008
    SubmissiononHumanRightsinSouthAfricatotheOfficefortheUnitedNationsHigh
    CommissionerforHumanRights,CentreonHousingRights&Evictions(COHRE),
    February2008
    NoticeofMotionfromAbahlalibaseMjondolo,CaseAgainsttheSlumsAct,February
    2008
    FoundingAffidavitfromAbahlalibaseMjondolo,CaseAgainsttheSlumsAct,February
    2008
    AbahlaliBasemjondolobayisauHulumeniWesifundaenkantolongokushaywa
    komthethowokudilizwakwemijondolo,March2008
    EveryoneNeedsaStakeinOurSociety,MercuryarticlebyImraanBuccus,March2008
    ReportoftheUnitedNationsSpecialRapporteuronadequatehousingonhismissionto
    SouthAfrica,March2008

    17

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    MoreDeeplyReactionaryLegislationLooms:PreventionofIllegalEvictionfromand
    UnlawfulOccupationofLandAmendmentBill,March2008
    ReplyingAffidavitfromtheKZNDepartmentofHousing,CourtCaseAgainsttheSlums
    Act,April2008
    OtherprovincestoimplementtheirownSlumsActs....,Mercury,May2008
    SlumslawbasedonflawedinterpretationofUNgoals,articlebyMarieHuchzermeyerin
    BusinessDay,May2008
    Evictionsloomforillegallowcosthomedwellers,articlebySibusisoNgwalainthe
    SundayTribune,May2008
    CentreonHousingRights&EvictionsMemorandumtotheAttorneysforApplicantsin
    AbahlaliBasemjondoloMovementSAandOthersv.PremieroftheProvinceofKwazulu
    NatalandOthers,5June2008
    ReplyingAffidavitfromAbahlalibaseMjondolo,13June2008
    DurbanshackdwellerstakeKZNgovttocourt,SABC,June2008
    AbasemijondolosebefakeuHulumenienkantolo,Isolezwe,June2008
    ANationalSlumsAct?,BusinessDay,June2008
    SupplementaryReplyingAffidavitsfortheStateSeptember2008
    AbahlalibaseMjondoloHeadsofArguments,15October2008
    KZNDeptofHousingHeadsofArgument,lateOctober2008
    AbahlalibaseMjondoloCaseAgainsttheKwaZuluNatalEradicationandPreventionof
    ReEmergenceofSlumsActtobeHeardintheDurbanHighCourton6and7November
    2008,3November2008
    PhotographsoftheVigilOutsidetheDurbanHighCourton6November
    SlumsActHearingsBeinginDurban,TheMercury,7November2008
    Lusezithebenizenkantoloelokuqedwakwemijondolo,Isolezwe,7November2008
    CallforconsultantstoimplementtheKZNSlumsAct,January2009
    JudgeVukaShabalala'sjudgmentontheSlumsActCase,27January2008
    AmandlaisStillAwethuStatementontheSlumsActJudgment,27January2008
    BayolwanoMnyangoenkantoloabahlalibasemjondolo,Isolezwe,28January2008
    Shackdwellersvowtofighton,Mercury,28January2008
    ForcedRemovals,Mercury,OpEdbyKerryChance,MarieHuchzermeyerandMark
    Hunter,29January2009
    KZNhighcourtupholdsslumsAct,Mail&Guardian,30January2009
    MeetingPeople'sHousingRightsMikeMabuyakhulu'sresponsetotheMercury,OpEd
    byKerryChance,MarieHuchzermeyerandMarkHunter,9February2009
    ApplicationforleavetoappealJudgeVukaShabalala'sjudgment,16February2009
    AbahlalibaseMjondoloFilesforLeavetoAppealJudgeShabalala'sJudgmentinthe
    SlumsActCase,16February2009
    Shackdwellersstepupcourtbattle,Mercury,17February2009
    TheDangerousFantasiesofourPoliticalElite,SundayTribune&TheWeekendArgus,17
    February2009
    WorkingtowardsaslumfreeSA,ArticlebytheKZNHousingDepartmentTheWitness,24
    February2009

    18

    x
    x
    x
    x
    x
    x
    x

    LetterbySDIinresponsetoWitnessarticlebytheKZNHousingDepartment,26
    February2009.
    OpposetheSlumsAct,ReplytothearticlebytheKZNHousingDepartmentfromthe
    SouthAfricanCouncilofChurchesandothers,26February2009
    ReplytotheKZNSlumsActJudgment,articlebyMarieHuchzermeyerinresponseto
    WitnessarticlebytheKZNHousingDepartment,3March2009.
    Mabuyakhulumisrepresentspolicy,legislation,LetterintheMercurybyMarie
    Huchzermeyer&MarkHunter,2March2009
    NoRoomforthePoorinourCities?,articlebyBishopRubinPhillipinresponseto
    WitnessarticlebytheKZNHousingDepartment,3March2009.
    LeavetoappealtotheConstitutionalCourtgrantedbytheConstitutionalCourt,17
    March2009
    AbahlalibaseMjondoloHeadsofArgumentfortheConstitutionalCourton14May2009,
    15April2009

    19

    January25,2009/ToResistAllDegradations&Divisions:An
    interviewwithSbuZikode
    (note 1)
    
    [AccessedMay3,2009athttp://www.abahlali.org/node/5063]
    
    
    
                       
    
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    42

    February23,2009/SibusisoInnocentZikode:Ashort
    biography
    [AccessedMay3,2009athttp://www.abahlali.org/node/4810]
    
    SubmittedbyAbahlali_3onMon,2009022314:28.biography|S'buZikode
    S'buZikodewasbornin1975inthevillageofLoskop,nearthetownofEstcourtintheKwaZulu
    NatalMidlands.Hewasraisedbyasinglemotherwhowasoftenawayfromhomeasshe
    workedasaliveindomesticworker.Asaschoolboyhewasveryinvolvedinthescouting
    movementandhegraduatedfromthePatrolLeadersTrainingUnitatLexdenin
    Pietermaritzburgin1990.HeattendedBonokuhleHighSchoolinLoskopfrom1992to1996.
    In1997S'buregisteredasalawstudentattheformerUniversityofDurbanWestvillebut,due
    toaninabilitytopayhisfees,hadtoabandonhisstudieslaterthatyear.Afterthathewas
    workedasasecurityguardandthenasapetrolpumpattendant.In1998hemetSindyMkhize,
    hislifepartner.
    In1999S'buandSindymovedtotheKennedyRoadsettlementastheycouldnotaffordthe
    rentforformalaccommodation.Laterthatyearhewaspromotedtothepositionof
    administratoratthepetrolstationwherehehadbeenworkingforsomeyears.In2001S'bu
    becamethefirstdemocraticallyelectedchairpersonoftheKennedyRoadsettlement.He
    declinedtostandforreelectionin2002butsuccessfullystoodforthepositionofdeputy
    chairpersonin2003.Hewasreelectedaschairpersonin2004andheldthepositioneveryyear
    until2007whenhedecidednottostandforreelection.
    Between2001and2005heworkedverycloselywithmanygovernmenthousingprogrammes
    andhewasareservistattheSydenhamPolicestationfrom2001until2004andbecamethe
    DirectoroftheClareEstateHIV/AIDSDropInCentrein1993.
    Attheendof2004theKennedyRoadDevelopmentCommitteedeclaredthat2005wouldbe
    the'YearofAction'andanumberofprotestswereorganisedinthatyear.InOctober2005S'bu
    wasafoundermemberofAbahlalibaseMjondoloademocraticmembershipbasedand
    directedshackdwellers'movement.HewaselectedasthefirstPresidentofAbahlali
    baseMjondolothatyearandhasbeenrelectedasPresidenteachyearsincethen.
    AbahlalibaseMjondolohasstartedandruncrchesandgardens,organisedforwomen'srights
    andtherightsofpeopleborninothercountries,stronglysupportedtherightsofallchildrento
    accessschools,campaignedforlivesavingbasicservicestobeprovidedtoshacksettlements,
    organisedagainstpolicebrutalityandhostilitytopoorcommunitiesandsuccessfullyusedthe
    courtstoopposeunlawfulevictionsbythestateandprivatelandlords.Themovementalso
    negotiateswiththegovernmentandNGOstoupgradeanddevelopsettlementswherethey
    currentlyareratherthanhaveshacksettlementsrazedandtheirresidentsforciblymovedto

    43

    outoftownrelocationsites.Themovementstronglybelievesthatthatourcitiesshouldbe
    democraticspacesinwhichallpeople,richandpoor,arewelcome.
    AnglicanBishopRubinPhiliphaswrittenthat:
    thecourage,dignityandgentledeterminationofAbahlalibaseMjodolohasbeenalightthathas
    shoneevermorebrightlyoverthelastthreeyearsYourprinciplethateveryonematters,that
    everylifeisprecious,isverysimplebutitisalsoutterlyprofound.Manyofuswhoholddear
    themostnobletraditionsofourcountrytakehopefromyourcourageandyourdignity.
    AlongwithotherhighprofilemembersofthemovementS'bu'scommitmenthascosthimhis
    job.InFebruary2007hisbossatthepetrolstation,aclosefriendofthemayor,cavedto
    politicalpressureandS'buwasforcedoutofhisjob.Hehasalsobeensubjecttoslanderby
    politiciansandunlawfularrest,detentionandassaultbythepolice.
    AbahlalibaseMjondolonowhasmorethan10000paidupmembersspreadacross53
    settlementsinKwaZuluNatalandtheWesternCape.In2009themovementjoinedwiththe
    LandlessPeople'sMovement,theRuralNetworkandtheWesternCapeAntiEvictionCampaign
    toformanationalallianceofpoorpeople'smovements,thePoorPeople'sAlliance.On9
    February2009AbahlalibaseMjondolosignedabreakthroughdealwiththeeThekwini
    Municipalitythatwillsee3settlementsbeingupgradedwheretheyareand14receiving
    services.
    S'buisaregularcommentatorinthemediaandhaspublishedanumberofarticlesin
    newspapers,magazinesandacademicjournals.Hisworkisprescribedreadingatmany
    universitiesaroundtheworld.Hehasalsobeeninvitedtospeakatuniversitiesandmanysocial
    movement,NGOandchurchevents.In2007hewasinvitedtoaddressaconferenceof
    architectsinIstanbul,Turkey.
    In2009hewonascholarshipawardedforacademicallypromisingstudentswithexceptional
    recordsofsocialcommitmentand,again,registeredtostudylaw.HeandSindynowhavefour
    children.

    44

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