The Shack Dweller's Movement Under Attack In Durban, South Africa, New Yorkers Protest In Solidarity

Several New York Non-Profits and Supporters came together in front of the South African Consulate located at 333 E. 38th St. at 1 pm today calling attention to the Consulate Personnel to bring an end to the attacks against the Abahlali Basemjondolo (The Shack Dweller's Movement) they have been subjected too, the latest attacks happening at Kennedy Road.

The rally organized by Picture The Homeless, The Poverty Initiative and The Domestic Workers United brought the message of the Shack Dweller's demand bringing comparison with the housing crisis and displacement both here in New York City and throughout the Nation.

Abahlali Basemjondolo's (ABM) Demands,

1)- There needs to be an immediate restoration of democracy in Kennedy Road. This includes:

a)- The right of everyone who was chased out of the settlement or displaced by violence to return to the settlement and to be safe in the settlement.

b)- The right of Abahlali baseMjondolo to work in the settlement without fear of attack or intimidation or slander.

c)- The restoration of their office and a guarantee that the office will be safe.

d)- The disbanding of the unelected structures that the ANC has institued in the settlement and the return to authority of the democratically elected organisation that was running the settlement. If the democratically elected organisation (the KRDC) that was displaced in the coup is returned to its rightful plac the next election will be in November.


2)- There needs to be a genuinely independent and credible investigation into the attacks at Kennedy Road (including the demolition of people's houses, the looting, the banning of AbM from the settlement and the ongoing threats to AbM members in and out of the settlement) that includes an examination of the role played by everyone including the police, the local ANC and the comments and actions of senior ANC people in the Municipality and Province after ther attacks.


3)- There must be compensation and support for those who have been injured and traumatised, those who have had to flee the settlement, those whose homes and businesses have been destroyed and those who have lost everything they own.

4)-There must be a crystal clear commitment from the ANC, from the top to the bottom, to the right of all people to organise independently of the ANC government to court.

5)-The ANC must make a public commitment backed up with real action to insure the safety of S'bu Zikode and all other AbM leaders.

6)- There must be genuine and safe negotiation on the way forward between the ANC and AbM. These negotiations should be mediated by someone that we all trust.

Noting that; In yesterday's Isolezwe the Housing MEC said that she will provide housing for those who have been displaced, while welcoming this announcement, demanded that those who have had their homes destroyed and all their things stolen should be at the top of the list, including S'bu Zikode, Mashumi Figlan and the KRDC.


The rally lasted close to about two hours with chants like; "Housing Is A Human Right, This Is Why We Stand And Fight"

You can also take action NOW by calling or e-mailing the South African Consulate and supporting the demands of the Shack Dwellers! Call: 212-213-4880 or e-mail: consulate.ny@foreign.gov.za