ANC Intimidation Tries to Prevent the Return of AbM & the KRDC to Kennedy Road

Update: (Sunday 13 June, 15:41) This short statement was received via sms. A longer statement will be issued tomorrow.

The intimidation from Jackson Gumede, Yakoob Baig and Zandile Mdletshe began very early this morning, from 6. People were threatened with having their homes burnt and with death if they attended the meeting today. In the end about 150 people, mostly women, had the courage to resist the manufactured politics of fear and to attend the meeting despite the intimidation. They spoke very well, very powerfully. The police were there, with their helicopter, but they played a very fair role just insisting on the safety of everyone. They were witness to some of the intimidation so if anything happens tonight they will know where to look for the perpetrators.

AbM & KRDC Emergency Press Statement
10:20 a.m. 13 June 2010

ANC Intimidation Tries to Prevent the Return of AbM & the KRDC to Kennedy Road

The police were at Kennedy Road throughout last night. They remained neutral and were just there to keep the peace.

But this morning ANC leaders from outside of the Kennedy Road settlement have arrived at the settlement including the notorious shacklord, Jackson Gumede, who is also head of the ANC BEC for ward 25. It was Gumede who seized control of the Kennedy Road settlement after the attacks last year.

The ANC are currently intimidating people in Kennedy Road not to attend today’s meeting. This intimidation is serious. The ANC in the area have driven many people from their homes and, as they do around the country, they have the power to order to police to arrest people on false charges.

AbM has been told that the ANC have been phoning and mobilising all structures, up to provincial level, to try and stop today’s meeting.

The Kennedy Road AbM branch are contesting the intimidation by using a loudhailer to encourage people to stand up for their rights. So far there have only been threats from the ANC. There has not been any violence. But this intimidation is a clear attack on the basic democratic rights of the residents of Kennedy Road.