housing
Content about housing, housing policy and struggles over housing and accommodation.
The University of Abahlali baseMjondolo
This is a longer version of an article by Richard Pithouse first published in Voices of Resistance from Occupied London in October 2007. It gives a useful basic overview of Abahlali baseMjondolo from its founding in early 2005 to late 2007.
Since 2004 South African cities have been convulsed by a series of municipal revolts organised from shack settlements. They have most often taken the form of blockading roads with burning barricades and have generally targeted municipal party councillors. Across the country many of the more militant settlements have refused electoral politics and declared 'No Land, No House, No Vote'.
Neither the march nor the money are ours
Abahlali baseMjondolo press release in response to media confusion between Abahlali and the World Bank sponsored NGO Slum Dwellers International (SDI), critiquing mainstream development discourse. A press release from SDI is also provided.
[b]Slum Dwellers International (SDI) is a global NGO strongly supported by the World Bank, USAid and the Gates Foundation. In South Africa the state, which is highly repressive to shack dwellers and their organisations, has a formal partnership with SDI.
All charges dropped against Kennedy 6
.jpg)
Six activists from the Abahlali baseMjondolo in court on murder charges have been released with all charges dropped.
Abahlali baseMjondolo began in the 7000 strong Kennedy Road shack settlement and it is here were the state has concentrated repression. One year and one week ago six key activists in the settlement were arrested on a trumped up murder charge (the same tactic was used against the Landless People's Movement in Johannesburg the year before).
Democracy in my experience
Philani Zungu offers a brief but powerful account of the lived experience of life as a shack dweller under democracy in South Africa.
People have different definitions of democracy.
Some people say that democracy means freeing everyone to do whatever they want, regardless of rule or controls, with no instructions or boundaries, no importance to whether what is done is wrong or right.
When choices can no longer be choices - S'bu Zikode
S'bu Zikode wrote this article in early 2007 when he was finally forced out of his job at a petrol station as punishment for his political activities with Abahlali baseMjondolo. As of March 2008 he remains unemployed.
When Choices Can No Longer Be Choices
by S'bu Zikode
We are the restless majority - S'bu Zikode
S'bu Zikode's article after Abahlali baseMjondolo's successful anti-electoral campaign in 2006.
[i]This article by S'bu Zikode appeared in Durban's elite bourgeois newspaper, the Mercury, in July 2006. After Abahlali baseMjondolo put twenty thousand people on the streets in support of a boycott of the February 2006 local government elections in the face of major militarised state intimidation the middle classes began to concede some space to the voices of the militant poor.
The police and Abahlali baseMjondolo
This list of police abuses suffered by Abahlali baseMjondolo between 19 March 2005 and 13 November 2007 is an important document of record.
The Police & Abahlali baseMjondolo
A List of Key Incidents of Police Harassment Suffered by Abahlali baseMjondolo
- compiled by Stephanie Lynch and Zodwa Nsibande
Police open fire on Cape Town residents resisting eviction
Following on from previous libcom coverage, South African police opened fire on Delft residents defending their homes from unlawful evictions.
The High Court upheld Thubelisha Homes and the state’s eviction order against the community, which the residents decided to appeal at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.
Evictions and resistance in Western Cape Town
1600 residents of Delft, Cape Town gathered on Monday in a mass meeting to organise resistance against the eviction of 2000 of Cape Town's poorest families.
Organised with Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, the residents have been occupying the homes, demanding a right to adequate housing, and have vowed to peacefully resist any attempts at being evicted. If the eviction is successful, 8,000 residents with no alternative accommodation will be thrown onto the streets.
Walkout at Wulvern Housing
Tradesmen at Wulvern Housing in Cheshire have walked off the job after a colleague was suspended today.
The non-profit Housing Association manages former council housing in South Cheshire. A spokeman warned the striking workers that the strike was unofficial, claiming that had brought in scabs as to ensure 'services will not be affected' and that they were sure that workers would return to work tomorrow, according to icCheshire. The company has also contacted the relevant trade unions.
