Abahlali baseMjondolo

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 focused collections of writings from and on Abahlali baseMjondolo 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 entries on Siyanda
* An archive of documents on the Slums Act
* An archive of entries on the Kennedy Road 6
* An archive of entries on the Macassar Village Occupation
* An archive of entries on shack fires
* An archive of entries on the September 2009 attack on AbM in Kennedy Road, and its aftermath
* An archive of entries on the Marikana Massacre in August 2012
* Academic research on Abahlali baseMjondolo

And these more general collections of documents may also be useful.

* Academic research on shack settlements
* Reports on housing, evictions and repression in South Africa
* Policy & Law (Documents, Analysis & Guides)
* An archive of entries on Joe Slovo/N2 Gateway
* Statements and Essays on the May 2008 Pogroms
* An archive of entries on the 2009 Wave of Local Rebellions (June to August)
* 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. Shacks of fear, by Max du Preez, 17 November 2005
10. Struggle Is a School: The Rise of a Shack Dwellers' Movement in Durban, South Africa, in Monthly Review by Richard Pithouse
11. Towards Delivery And Dignity: Community Struggle From Kennedy Road by Jacob Bryant
12. Hear Our Cries: Letters from Kennedy Road
13. UmAfrika front page
14. From best practice to Pariah: the case of Durban, South Africa StreetNet News, November 2005
15. Nobody cares about us shack dwellers by Zama Ndlovu and Hlengiwe Jara, December, 2005
16. Freedom of Expression Institute letter to Mike Sutcliffe, 23 February 2006
17. A Short Course In Politics at the University of Abahlali Basemjondolo by Raj Patel
18. "Our Struggle Is Thought, On The Ground, Running" The University Of Abahlali Basemjondolo by Richard Pithouse
19. S'bu Zikode's Transcribed Speech Made at the Centre for Civil Society & Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Colloquium, March 2006
20. American Radio Interview with Mnikelo Ndabankulu, Exact date uncertain but early 2006
21. A Second Democracy for the Second Economy? Business Day, 6 March 2006, Richard Pithouse
22. Trapped in Corporatism? Trade Union Linkages to the Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement in Durban by Alex Beresford
23. UnFreedom Day 2006 booklet
24. Abahlali baseMjondolo Constitution
25. Umlazi Political Violence Crisis - Press Release 4
26. Thinking Resistance in the Shanty Town by Richard Pithouse
27. S'bu Zikode's Harold Wolpe Memorial Lecture, July 2006
28. Shack Fire Takes Life, eThekwini Municipality Electrification Policy Takes Soul by Shantel
    Vachani
29. Press Release 4 from the Motala Heights Development Committee
30. We Are Human Beings, Not Pets by Xin Wei Ngiam
31. Rethinking Public Participation from Below by Richard Pithouse
32. From Party Politics to Service Delivery to the Politics of the Poor
    by Philani Zungu.
33. eMaus Cracks: Press Release, 3 October 2006
34. The Founding of Motala Heights An Affidavit by Bhekuyise Ngcobo
35. Press Release on Intimidation at Work, 16 October 2006
36. Notes from the first meeting of the churches sub-committee of Abahlali baseMjondolo written up by Mark Butler
37. Shack Dwellers to Demand Full Disclosure of the plans for them authored by the City Manager of eThekwini Municipality, Mike Sutcliffe
38. MEC's Office Instructs Shack Dwellers to Stop All Communication with the Media
39. Sydenham Police Launch Savage Attack on Democracy, Press Release 12 September 2006
40. 'I was punched, beaten' by Niren Tolsi
41. Ally Brundige: Interviews with Abahlali Youth, November 2006
42. What Happened At or To the SMI by Two People Not Called Richard, and The Anti Eviction Campaign Statement on the SMI
43. Izwi Labampofu - the first issue of the Abahlali newspaper.
44. Police Brutality by System Cele
45. The Strong Poor and the Police by Philani Zungu
46. The No Land, No House, No Vote Campaign Still on for 2009 by M'du Hlongwa.
47. Make Crime History by S'bu Zikode
48. [re]connecting the World Social Forum by Mark Butler and 100 others.
49. Reflections on the World Social Forum by David Ntseng
50. Conversion, Struggle, New Creation by Filippo Mondini.
51. When Choices Can No Longer Be Choices by S'bu Zikode
52. KZN Slum Elimination Bill by Marie Huchzermeyer
53. Unfinished Struggles Against Apartheid: The Shack Dwellers' Movement in Durban by Nigel Gibson in Socialism & Democracy
54. The Meaning of the Cross by Filippo Mondini
55. Lessons from eThekwini: Pariahs Hold Their Ground Against a State that is Both Criminal and Democratic by Richard Pithouse and Mark Butler
    
56. Letters from Kennedy Road after the arrest of the Kennedy 5
57. Electing Land Questions: A Methodological Discussion with Reference to Abahlali baseMjondolo, the Durban Shackdweller Movement by Raj Patel
58. System Cele interviewed by Sokari Ekine (audio) April 2007
59. A Memorandum to Glen Nayager April 2007
60. The March on Nayager by Filippo Mondini
61. Letter to all COMSA Members from Fazel Khan
62. Citizenship and Politics by Michael Neocosmos, May 2007
63. Operation Murambatsvina comes to KZN: The Notorious Elimination & Prevention of Re-emergence of Slums Bill Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement, June 2007
64. Sindy Mkhize interviewed by Sokari Ekine (audio), 6 July 2007
65. Minutes of the Abahlali baseMjondolo meeting to Discuss Legal & Political Strategies to Oppose the Slums Bill Mark Butler & David Ntseng, 13 July 2007
66. Democracy in My Experience Philani Zungu, 14 August 2007
67. Abahlali's Narrative This is the 3rd chapter of Jacob Bryant's thesis researched in November 2005 & August 2006
68. Briefing Notes from the ‘Maritzburg Planning Meeting for the University of Abahlali baseMjondolo Seminar to Prepare Delegates to the ILRIG ‘Globalisation School', 21 September 2007
69. Memorandam of Demands to Mayor Obed Mlaba, 28 September 2007 Click here for various documents relating to the police attack on this march
70. The people our national debate does not see or hear, Stephen Friedman, Thought Leader, October 2007
71. Free expression means nothing if it’s limited to the media, Na'eem Jenah, Thought Leader, October 2007
72. The University of Abahlali baseMjondolo Article by Richard Pithouse giving a more up to date overview of Abahlali, October 2007
73. Street Children Put in Westville Prison for FIFA draw Daily News, November 2007
74. Neither The March Nor the Money are Ours Abahlali press statement on the Gates Foundation Donation to Shack Dwellers' International, November 2007
75. Open Letter to Participants in the Social Movements Indaba by the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, December 2007
76. Interviews with System Cele, Mashumi Figland, Louisa Motha & David Ntseng by Kate Gunby, December 2007
77. Christmas Message from Bishop Rubin Phillip, December 2007
78. Ingane ilunywe yigundane okhakhayini yafa, Isolezwe, January 2008
79. Umbono weSolezwe: Baphila kanzima emijondolo, Isolezwe, January 2008
80. Poor in hell while elite buys heaven, by Imraan Buccus, Sunday Tribune February 2008
81. 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
82. Umlando ngempilo nomzabalazo wabahlali basemijondolo eThekwini, by David Ntseng & Richard Pithouse, February 2008
83. Abahlali baseMjondolo Take the Provincial Government to Court Over the Notorious Slums Act, February 2008
84. Mass Disconnections from Electricity at Gun Point in the Kennedy Road Settlement, February 2008
85. Kennedy Road shack fire, a double attack by S'bu Zikode, February, 2008
86. The Western Cape Housing Crisis: Writings on Joe Slovo and Delft by Martin Legassick, 2008
87. Abahlali baseMjondolo report on the AbM Event for the 3rd International Day of Solidarity for Haiti by S'bu Zikode, February, 2008
88. Costly Ignorance Editorial in the Sowetan, March, 2008
89. Everyone Needs a Stake in Our Society Column in the Mercury, by Imraan Buccus March, 2008
90. UnFreedom Day Pamphlet, April 2008
91. Bishop Rubin Philip's UnFreedom Day Speech, April 2008
92. Beyond State Politics, by Brother Filippo Mondini, May 2008
93. Motala Heights Crisis Deepens as Violent Intimidation Against the Strong Poor Continues, May 2008
94. Housing and Evictions at the N2 Gateway Project in Delft, by Kerry Chance, May 2008
95. Abahlali baseMjondolo Statement on the Xenophobic Attacks in Johannesburg, May 2008
96. New ANC leaders need to look down, by Stephen Friedman in Business Day, May 2008
97. From Cité Soleil (Haiti) to Durban (South Africa) where Freedom Day is now being seen as Unfreedom Day, by Jacques Depelchin, May 2008
98. Article on Abahlali Women's League in Solidarity Project special issue on Housing as HIV/AIDS Prevention, by Suzy Subways, May 2008
99. A Crisis of Citizenship, by Richard Pithouse, June 2008
100. The Country That Never Was, by Fanuel Ntsingo, June 2008
101. Resistance from the other South Africa, by Neha Nimmagudda, July 2008
102. Politics at stake: a note on stakeholder analysis, by Mark Butler & David Ntseng, July 2008
103. Human Rights are Just Words for Poor People, by Imraan Buccus, July 2008
104. A Prayer for Justice, by Fanuel Nsingo, July 2008
105. The Solution to Shack Fires is Electrification, Not More Training, by Richard Pithouse, August 2008
106. Abahlali baseMjondolo eThekwini Calls for City Wide Shack Fires Summit, August 2008
107. AbM Statement on the Cornubia Development, August 2008
108. The social value of land must come first, by Imraan Buccus, August 2008
109. Land & Housing Speech by S'bu Zikode at the Diakonia Council of Churches Economic Justice Forum, 28 August 2008
110. A Big Devil in the Jondolos: The Politics of Shack Fires, by Matt Birkinshaw, September 2008
111. South Africans protest mass eviction order in court, by Toussaint Losier in the Bay Street Banner, September 2008
112. A Big Devil in the Jondolos: A report on shack fires, September 2008
A State of Emergency - Statement After the Fire Summit, October 2008
113. The Food Crisis Is Not Just About Food, by Jacques Depelchin, October 2008
114. 'Be a visitor, not a spy' - QQ Section, Site B, Khayelitsha, by Matt Birkinshaw, October 2008
115. 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
116. Ten Thousand to March on S’bu Ndebele in Protest at eMacambini Evictions, Amacambini Anti-Removal Committee, November 2008
117. Open Letter to the Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Helen Zille,by Abahlali baseMjondolo Cape Town, December 2008
118. Post Annual General Meeting Speech by S'bu Zikode, December 2008
119. Sekwanele! - Social Movement struggles for Land and Housing in Post-Apartheid South Africa by Toussaint Losier, January 2009
120. Where To For Rural Development After Polokwane?, by Stephen Greenberg, January 2009
121. The Right to the City, by Richard Pithouse, January 2009
122. AEC members tear gassed, beaten and arrested; residents lay blame on ANC, February 2009
123. Landless People’s Movement v The City of Johannesburg, February 2009
124. No Room for the Poor in our Cities? by Bishop Rubin Phillip, March 2009
125. An Open Letter from the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign in South Africa to US Activists, April 2009
126. Siyanda - Mpola - Macassar Village: The War on the Poor Continues, 19 May 2009
127. Macassar: if the state can't provide, people must be allowed to build themselves, by Martin Legassick, Cape Times, 26 May 2009
128. The Will of the People, by Peter Hallward, Radical Philosophy, May 2009
129. The deficiency of reality in the Joe Slovo judgment, by Kate Tissington, 15 June 2009
130. June 16th Commemoration to be Held at the Macassar Village Occupation, Abahlali baseMjondolo of the Western Cape, 15 June 2009
131. Fire Devastates the Kennedy Road Settlement – At Least One Hundred Homes Destroyed, 16 June 2009
132. Fanonian Practices and the politics of space in postapartheid South Africa: The Challenge of the Shack Dwellers Movement, by Nigel Gibson, 7 July 2009
133. eShowe: Death Threats, Ban on Political Meetings, Mass Evictions, Corruption, Water Disconnected, 15 July 2009
134. Burning message to the state in the fire of poor’s rebellion, by Richard Pithouse, 23 July 2009
135. Meaningful Engagement, by S'bu Zikode, 27 July 2009
136. The Western Cape Housing Crisis Can be Resolved, by Martin Legassick, 12 August 2009
137. Notes on Gentrification for the Manchester Conference, U of AbM ad hoc seminar on gentrification group, August 2009
138. Relocation, relocation, demonstration, The Morning Star, 9 September 2009
139. "Getting Electricity Was So Exciting", The Guardian, 11 September 2009
140. The ANC Has Invaded Kennedy Road, by S'bu Zikode, 29 September 2009
141. Democracy Under Attack, by Bishop Rubin Phillip, 29 September 2009
142. Living Learning, 8 October 2009
143. Living Politic Vs Party Politic in Kennedy Road, by S'bu Zikode, 22 October 2009
144. Laying an Axe to the Roots, An Advent Message from the KwaZulu-Natal Church Leaders Group, 21 December 2009
145. The Third Force is Gathering its Strength, AbM statement, 3 March 2010
146. The High Cost of the Right to the City, Abahlali baseMjondolo, March 2010
147. A Memorandum of Demands to Jacob Zuma, 22 March 2010
148. Serving our Life Sentence in the Shacks, by Zodwa Nsibande and S’bu Zikode, 16 July 2010
149. Why a full and independent enquiry remains vital, Bishop Rubin Phillip, 21 July 2010
150. The Work of Violence: a timeline of armed attacks at Kennedy Road, Kerry Chance, July 2010
151. Statement on the Anniversary of the Attack on Abahlali baseMjondolo, Abahlali baseMjondolo, 26 September 2010