Abahlali has been an intellectually serious project from the beginning. Among the banners painted in Kennedy Road while people were singing against the army who were occupying the settlement the night before the second big march on Councillor Baig back in 2005 was a key slogan - the "University of Kennedy Road". After that a "University of Foreman Road" was declared when Foreman Road attempted to march on Mayor Obed Mlaba in defiance of an illegal march ban, and were beaten back with severe police violence, and then a "University of Abahlali baseMjondolo". When Abahlali marched, (entirely peacefully and to put a reasoned position) into the University of the state under this banner in late 2006 a number of 'left' intellectuals, in the precise manner of the state, declared them criminal in the national press! At that moment it was clear that competing elites in the state and the institutionalised left were united on the position that the poor should not think their own politics and that doing so, no matter how calmly, peacefully and rationally, rendered the movement 'out of order' and even criminal. Abahlali's intellectual project is founded on the decision that "when order means the silence of the poor then it is good to be out of order".

Our struggle is thought in action and it is thought from the ground at the University of Abahlali baseMjondolo. We define ourselves and our struggle.
-S'bu Zikode, October 2006

As much as all debates are good, fighting only by talking does not take us much further. Sometimes we need to strengthen our muscles for an action debate, that is a living debate that does not only end on theories.
-S'bu Zikode, 24 September 2007

Most of the intellectual work done in Abahlali baseMjondolo is undertaken in discussions in meetings, innovations in song etc rather than via written dialogues but this page archives a selection of some of the digital (written) traces of the various kinds of ongoing intellectual work undertaken in and around the movement in the form of press statements, pamphlets, articles etc produced from within the movement as well as the odd newspaper article etc that has been particularly important. Because its ordered chronologically its also a useful way to get a sense of the history of the movement.

You can also visit the more focussed collections of writings on these pages:

* An Introduction to the movement (October, 2006)
* Political writings by Bahlali (Articles, press releases, memoranda etc)
* An archive of entries on Motala Heights
* An archive of documents on the Slums Act
* An archive of entries on the Kennedy Road 6
* Academic research on Abahlali baseMjondolo
* Academic research on shack settlements
* Reports on housing, evictions and repression in South Africa
* Statements and Essays on the May 2008 Pogroms
* Policy & Law
* Documents from other movements & struggles
* History
* Theory
* Links

University of Abahlali baseMjondolo: Basic Readings

1. Shack dwellers' fury erupts by Fred Kockott, 20 March 2005
2. Faith No More: Why a community revolted by Richard Pithouse, 27 March 2005
3. The Third Nelson Mandela by Raj Patel & Richard Pithouse, 20 May 2005
4. Thousands to March on Yacoob Baig Press Release for the second march on Yakoob Baig, 1 September, 2005
5. A Memorandum of Demands Demands delivered to Yakoob Baig, Wednesday 14 September 2005
6. Interviews with Nonhlanhla Mzobe, Jerome Bhengu, Mnikelo Ndabankulu; William Bogege, Interviews by Jacob Bryant, November 2005
7. Starting from Scratch After Forced Removal, by Anna Weekes, November 2005
8. We Are the Third Force / iThird Force - by S'bu Zikode This article was published in Afrikaans, English, isiXhosa and isiZulu in numerous popular South African magazines and newspapers. In a sense it become the founding public document of the Abahlali baseMjondolo struggle - like a manifesto.
9. Struggle Is a School: The Rise of a Shack Dwellers' Movement in Durban, South Africa, in Monthly Review by Richard Pithouse
10. Towards Delivery And Dignity: Community Struggle From Kennedy Road by Jacob Bryant
11. Hear Our Cries: Letters from Kennedy Road
12. UmAfrika front page
13. From best practice to Pariah: the case of Durban, South Africa StreetNet News, November 2005
14. Nobody cares about us shack dwellers by Zama Ndlovu and Hlengiwe Jara, December, 2005
15. Freedom of Expression Institute letter to Mike Sutcliffe, 23 February 2006
16. A Short Course In Politics At The University
    Of Abahlali Basemjondolo by Raj Patel
17. "Our Struggle Is Thought, On The Ground, Running" The University Of Abahlali Basemjondolo by Richard Pithouse
18. S'bu Zikode's Transcribed Speech Made at the Centre for Civil Society & Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Colloquium, March 2006
19. American Radio Interview with Mnikelo Ndabankulu, Exact date uncertain but early 2006
20. A Second Democracy for the Second Economy? Business Day, 6 March 2006, Richard Pithouse
21. Trapped in Corporatism? Trade Union Linkages to the Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement in Durban by Alex Beresford
22. UnFreedom Day 2006 booklet
23. Abahlali baseMjondolo Constitution
24. Umlazi Political Violence Crisis - Press Release 4
25. Thinking Resistance in the Shanty Town by Richard Pithouse
26. S'bu Zikode's Harold Wolpe Memorial Lecture, July 2006
27. Shack Fire Takes Life, eThekwini Municipality Electrification Policy Takes Soul by Shantel
    Vachani
28. Press Release 4 from the Motala Heights Development Committee
29. We Are Human Beings, Not Pets by Xin Wei Ngiam
30. Rethinking Public Participation from Below by Richard Pithouse
31. From Party Politics to Service Delivery to the Politics of the Poor
    by Philani Zungu.
32. eMaus Cracks: Press Release, 3 October 2006
33. The Founding of Motala Heights An Affidavit by Bhekuyise Ngcobo
34. Press Release on Intimidation at Work, 16 October 2006
35. Notes from the first meeting of the churches sub-committee of Abahlali baseMjondolo written up by Mark Butler
36. Shack Dwellers to Demand Full Disclosure of the plans for them authored by the City Manager of eThekwini Municipality, Mike Sutcliffe
37. MEC's Office Instructs Shack Dwellers to Stop All Communication with the Media
38. Sydenham Police Launch Savage Attack on Democracy, Press Release 12 September 2006
39. 'I was punched, beaten' by Niren Tolsi
40. Ally Brundige: Interviews with Abahlali Youth, November 2006
41. What Happened At or To the SMI by Two People Not Called Richard, and The Anti Eviction Campaign Statement on the SMI
42. Izwi Labampofu - the first issue of the Abahlali newspaper.
43. Police Brutality by System Cele
44. The Strong Poor and the Police by Philani Zungu
45. The No Land, No House, No Vote Campaign Still on for 2009 by M'du Hlongwa.
46. Make Crime History by S'bu Zikode
47. [re]connecting the World Social Forum by Mark Butler and 100 others.
48. Reflections on the World Social Forum by David Ntseng
49. Conversion, Struggle, New Creation by Filippo Mondini.
50. When Choices Can No Longer Be Choices by S'bu Zikode
51. KZN Slum Elimination Bill by Marie Huchzermeyer
52. Unfinished Struggles Against Apartheid: The Shack Dwellers' Movement in Durban by Nigel Gibson in Socialism & Democracy
53. The Meaning of the Cross by Filippo Mondini
54. Lessons from eThekwini: Pariahs Hold Their Ground Against a State that is Both Criminal and Democratic by Richard Pithouse and Mark Butler
    
55. Letters from Kennedy Road after the arrest of the Kennedy 5
56. Electing Land Questions: A Methodological Discussion with Reference to Abahlali baseMjondolo, the Durban Shackdweller Movement by Raj Patel
57. System Cele interviewed by Sokari Ekine (audio) April 2007
58. A Memorandum to Glen Nayager April 2007
59. The March on Nayager by Filippo Mondini
60. Letter to all COMSA Members from Fazel Khan
61. Citizenship and Politics by Michael Neocosmos, May 2007
62. Operation Murambatsvina comes to KZN: The Notorious Elimination & Prevention of Re-emergence of Slums Bill Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement, June 2007
63. Sindy Mkhize interviewed by Sokari Ekine (audio), 6 July 2007
64. Minutes of the Abahlali baseMjondolo meeting to Discuss Legal & Political Strategies to Oppose the Slums Bill Mark Butler & David Ntseng, 13 July 2007
65. Democracy in My Experience Philani Zungu, 14 August 2007
66. Abahlali's Narrative This is the 3rd chapter of Jacob Bryant's thesis researched in November 2005 & August 2006
67. Memorandam of Demands to Mayor Obed Mlaba, 28 September 2007 Click here for various documents relating to the police attack on this march
68. The people our national debate does not see or hear, Stephen Friedman, Thought Leader, October 2007
69. Free expression means nothing if it’s limited to the media, Na'eem Jenah, Thought Leader, October 2007
70. The University of Abahlali baseMjondolo Article by Richard Pithouse giving a more up to date overview of Abahlali, October 2007
71. Street Children Put in Westville Prison for FIFA draw Daily News, November 2007
72. Neither The March Nor the Money are Ours Abahlali press statement on the Gates Foundation Donation to Shack Dwellers' International, November 2007
73. Open Letter to Participants in the Social Movements Indaba by the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, December 2007
74. Interviews with System Cele, Mashumi Figland, Louisa Motha & David Ntseng by Kate Gunby, December 2007
75. Christmas Message from Bishop Rubin Phillip, December 2007
76. Ingane ilunywe yigundane okhakhayini yafa, Isolezwe, January 2008
77. Umbono weSolezwe: Baphila kanzima emijondolo, Isolezwe, January 2008
78. Poor in hell while elite buys heaven, by Imraan Buccus, Sunday Tribune February 2008
79. The Innocent in the Dock, the Guilty in their Offices, Press Statement on three pending cases against Abahlali (involving a total of 21 members), January 2008
80. Umlando ngempilo nomzabalazo wabahlali basemijondolo eThekwini, by David Ntseng & Richard Pithouse, February 2008
81. Abahlali baseMjondolo Take the Provincial Government to Court Over the Notorious Slums Act, February 2008
82. Mass Disconnections from Electricity at Gun Point in the Kennedy Road Settlement, February 2008
83. Kennedy Road shack fire, a double attack by S'bu Zikode, February, 2008
84. The Western Cape Housing Crisis: Writings on Joe Slovo and Delft by Martin Legassick, 2008
85. Abahlali baseMjondolo report on the AbM Event for the 3rd International Day of Solidarity for Haiti by S'bu Zikode, February, 2008
86. Costly Ignorance Editorial in the Sowetan, March, 2008
87. Everyone Needs a Stake in Our Society Column in the Mercury, by Imraan Buccus March, 2008
88. UnFreedom Day Pamphlet, April 2008
89. Bishop Rubin Philip's UnFreedom Day Speech, April 2008
90. Beyond State Politics, by Brother Filippo Mondini, May 2008
91. Motala Heights Crisis Deepens as Violent Intimidation Against the Strong Poor Continues, May 2008
92. Housing and Evictions at the N2 Gateway Project in Delft, by Kerry Chance, May 2008
93. Abahlali baseMjondolo Statement on the Xenophobic Attacks in Johannesburg, May 2008
94. New ANC leaders need to look down, by Stephen Friedman in Business Day, May 2008
95. From Cité Soleil (Haiti) to Durban (South Africa) where Freedom Day is now being seen as Unfreedom Day, by Jacques Depelchin, May 2008
96. Article on Abahlali Women's League in Solidarity Project special issue on Housing as HIV/AIDS Prevention, by Suzy Subways, May 2008
97. A Crisis of Citizenship, by Richard Pithouse, June 2008
98. The Country That Never Was, by Fanuel Ntsingo, June 2008
99. Resistance from the other South Africa, by Neha Nimmagudda, July 2008
100. Politics at stake: a note on stakeholder analysis, by Mark Butler & David Ntseng, July 2008
101. Human Rights are Just Words for Poor People, by Imraan Buccus, July 2008
102. A Prayer for Justice, by Fanuel Nsingo, July 2008
103. The Solution to Shack Fires is Electrification, Not More Training, by Richard Pithouse, August 2008
104. Abahlali baseMjondolo eThekwini Calls for City Wide Shack Fires Summit, August 2008
105. AbM Statement on the Cornubia Development, August 2008
106. The social value of land must come first, by Imraan Buccus, August 2008
107. Land & Housing Speech by S'bu Zikode at the Diakonia Council of Churches Economic Justice Forum, 28 August 2008
108. A Big Devil in the Jondolos: The Politics of Shack Fires, by Matt Birkinshaw, September 2008
109. South Africans protest mass eviction order in court, by Toussaint Losier in the Bay Street Banner, September 2008
110. A Big Devil in the Jondolos: A report on shack fires, September 2008
A State of Emergency - Statement After the Fire Summit, October 2008
111. The Food Crisis Is Not Just About Food, by Jacques Depelchin, October 2008
112. 'Be a visitor, not a spy' - QQ Section, Site B, Khayelitsha, by Matt Birkinshaw, October 2008
113. Abahlali baseMjondolo Case Against the KwaZulu-Natal Eradication and Prevention of Re-Emergence of Slums Act to be Heard in the Durban High Court on 6 and 7 November 2008, November 2008
114. Ten Thousand to March on S’bu Ndebele in Protest at eMacambini Evictions, Amacambini Anti-Removal Committee, November 2008
115. Open Letter to the Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Helen Zille, December 2008
116. Post Annual General Meeting Speech by S'bu Zikode, December 2008