Abahlali baseMjondolo – The Return to Kennedy Road Campaign
From Abahlali baseMjondolo – The South African Shackdwellers Movement based in Durban.
The truth remains. The truth frees. The truth cannot be hidden with lies for ever.
For lies to continue to hide the truth they must be constantly sustained and maintained. For truth to be able to emerge from under the lies we have to constantly remember what has really been said and done, by whom and for what purpose.
Channel 4′s Dispatches Brave Oh-Dearism: Lost girls of South Africa
South Africa, the home of the two “global elders”, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Since Mandela’s Presidency, it has been affectionately dubbed the Rainbow Nation, and changed from a pariah state which suffered the most effective academic, economic and cultural global boycott in history to now being the host of the first FIFA World Cup on the African continent. Despite its turbulent history and now 16 years of “self rule”, there are troubling persistent problems that remained common place and in some areas worsened since the historic Mandela Presidency.
South African victim of child-on-child rape
The British television programme, Channel 4′s Dispatches on 23rd May documented the story of four South African girls aged 11 to 13 as they struggle to come to terms with the crimes committed against them and fight the social stigma that comes with the abuse. These girls are shown and genuinely appear to be the tragic victims who overcome their fears to pursue justice in a society where violence and misogyny is prevalent. Their stories are deeply disturbing and upsetting. There are some powerful images and testimonies of these young people some of whom are raped either by other children, their father or some other adult in their community.
“Our eyes are on Durban, but not for the World Cup”
Today, Friday 14 May, a deputation from London Coalition Against Poverty visited the South African High Commission to deliver a message in solidarity with their sister group in Durban, the shackdwellers’ movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo. Even with the world’s attention focused on their city, the group is experiencing massive repression and its leaders have been driven into hiding.
LCAP activists outside South Africa House, London, UK
The letter was delivered to coincide with the court appearance of twelve Abahlali activists, arrested during two days of massive attacks on their settlement. Amnesty International stated that an armed mob of 500 people attacked their community on 26 and 27 September last year, targeting members of Abahlali in particular. Not a single person has been arrested for this violence, yet the Kennedy 12 are still facing the courts – with no evidence led thus far.
Film screening and discussion at School of African and Oriental Studies
Abahlali baseMjondolo Solidarity group in association with SOAS War on Want Society Presents:
The Right to Know: The Fight for Open Democracy in South Africa
- A Short Film Showing and Discussion -
7pm – Wednesday 3rd March
Room 4418 (4th Floor, SOAS Main Building)
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Malawi gay trial verdict “unjust and cruel”
Steven Monjeza & Tiwonge Chimbalanga found guilty of homosexuality
Convicted men hope that an appeal will overturn magistrate’s decision
“This is an outrageous verdict. While Steven and Tiwonge freely confirmed their love for each other, there was was no credible evidence that they had committed any illegal homosexual acts,” said London-based human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell who has been supporting and advocating for the men since their arrest and detention in December last year.
He was commenting on the trial result today of two men who were prosecuted in Malawi on charges of homosexuality, Steven Monjeza (26) and Tiwonge Chimbalanga (20).
“The law under which they were convicted is a discriminatory law that only applies to same-sex relations. It is unconstitutional. Article 20 of Malawi’s constitution guarantees equality and non-discrimination. The law in Malawi is not supposed to discriminate,” added Mr Tatchell.
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