Call for solidarity with the struggling people of Sebokeng
posted by impuku | 15.08.2007 21:23
On Tuesday morning, 14th of August, over 1000 community members from
Sebokeng's "informal settlement" attempted to blockade the Golden Highway
between Sebokeng and Johannesburg in protest at the ANC government's
inadequate service delivery since its election in 1994.
The police arrived in numbers and fired randomly at the community members,
allegedly with live ammunition, seriously injuring 6 people and injuring
others, including small children.
Thirty-five people were then arrested and taken to the Sebokeng police
station, and are being charged with public violence and illegal gathering.
When leaders of the Anti-Privatisation Forum and Coalition Against Water
Privatisation, under whose banner the protest was held, arrived at the
police station to enquire about the situation and try and have their
comrades released nine of them were also arrested, for addressing a
community gathering.
The fact that the SAPS police, under the ANC, can shoot with impunity at
poor people who are merely attempting to have their most basic human
rights met reminds one of the Apartheid era police. And it only goes to
prove that all governments, even those democratically elected, soon turn
on those they are supposed to represent, in order to defend their newly
acquired wealth, power and privilege. We know very well by now that the
ANC is not concerned with providing for the majority of the population in
South Africa and delivering on the promises that got the ANC into power,
but that it is only concerned with making a profit out of the people, and
further enriching the already disgustingly rich new back elite. Even if it
means charging the poorest of the poor for the most basic necessities and
essential human rights such as electricity and water, which are laid down
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which South Africa is one
of the signatory states, as well as in the ANC People's Charter.
We make take the following stand:
1. We are absolutely disgusted by the ANC leaders, who flagrantly flaunt
their wealth in the face of so many poor and hungry people. We are equally
disgusted by the police responsible for this atrocity, who have once again
shown us that their role is not that of serving and protecting the people,
but serving and protecting the interests of big business and capital.
2. We are encouraged and inspired by this bold action by the people of
Sebokeng which, by sabotaging the circulation of goods and obstructing
the flow of money, struck at that which the government – through the
police – most wishes to protect, big business and capital. It is
important to note that these protests come only after years of the
community having exhausted all legal means - including ANC Alliance
channels - to have their voices heard.
3. We wholeheartedly support the poor communities of the Vaal, and all
those across South Africa, who are struggling for their basic rights. We
are not convinced, however, that the ANC government, or any other for that
matter, will ever adequately deliver to the people. But we support these
struggles nevertheless as necessary for building the confidence and power
for a larger struggle. The struggle for total liberation, that is, the
struggle for the people to own and control all the industries and the
land, for them to be in control of the communities the live in, and to
have power to decide over all that which affects them.
4. The ZACF - which has done numerous workshops in Sebokeng, and has good
relations with community activists - calls on all our comrades around the
world, and everyone who supports the struggle of the poor and working poor
for a dignified existence, to please organise actions in solidarity with
the struggling people of Sebokeng.
5. We call on everyone who can to picket South African embassies, as well
as to send protest letters and make phone-calls to the Johannesburg City
Mayor, Mr. Amos Masondo, Media Liaison to Minister of Safety and Security
Mr Trevor Bloem or to carry out any other actions you deem fitting to
protest this atrocious act, and warn the ANC government against the course
of action they have take. Which is to declare war on the poor, and decree
a new form of Apartheid, social Apartheid, which excludes the poor from
their rights to a dignified life.
In Solidarity with the struggling people of Sebokeng,
Jonathan Payn - Federation Secretary, Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation
www.zabalaza. net
ZACF
Postnet Suite 47
Private Bag X1
Fordsburg
2033
South Africa
NOTE:
A proposed protest march to Sebokeng police station has been postponed
until a proper decision has been reached, involving the appropriate
structures. This is because it is too late to notify the police, and the
march will thus constitute an illegal gathering (sound familiar?), which
would probably result in the arrest of many more comrades.
The arrested comrades are still being held, and the hearing has been
postponed until Thursday. Bail is not yet set.
On behalf of the APF, donations are being asked for in order to cover this
bail, as they still owe a large amount of money, accumulated through years
of struggle and having to pay for bail, lawyers etc.
Details for donations are as follows:
Local Donations(ie. from South Africa):
FNB
Acc. No.: 62 02 785 1452
Account Type: Cheque Account
Branch: Bank City
International Donations:
Acc No.: 250805
Block A
3 First place
Bank City
First National Bank
Johannesburg
2000
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJA046
(for donations from the U.S. - JP Morgan Chase- Manhattan Bank)
List of contacts:
Ministry of Safety and Security
Director: Media Liaison
Mr Trevor Bloem
Mail: Private Bag X463, PRETORIA, 0001
Street: Wachthuis, 7th Floor, 231 Pretorius Street, PRETORIA
Tel: 00 27 (0) 12 393 1523 / 00 27 (0) 21 467 7000*
Fax: 00 27 (0) 12 393 2833 / 00 27 (0) 21 467 7032/3*
Cell: 00 27 (0) 82 778 3561*
E-mail: bloemb@saps. org.za
Personal Assistant
Mr Peter Nkabinde
Mail: Private Bag X463, PRETORIA, 0001
Street: Wachthuis, 7th Floor, 231 Pretorius Street, PRETORIA
Tel: 00 27 (0) 12 393 2810 / 00 27 (0) 21 467 7004*
Fax: 00 27 (0) 12 393 2812 / 00 27 (0) 21 467 7036*
Cell: 00 27 (0) 82 446 6236*
E-mail: peternk@saps. org.za
Sedibeng District Council
Mayor Mlungisi Hlongwane
Designation: Executive Mayor
Telephone: 00 27 (0) 16 450 3017 *
Fax: 00 27 (0)16 421 3182 *
Email: sibongiler@sedibeng .gov.za
* If you are calling/ faxing from outside South Africa, drop the "(0)".
Sebokeng's "informal settlement" attempted to blockade the Golden Highway
between Sebokeng and Johannesburg in protest at the ANC government's
inadequate service delivery since its election in 1994.
The police arrived in numbers and fired randomly at the community members,
allegedly with live ammunition, seriously injuring 6 people and injuring
others, including small children.
Thirty-five people were then arrested and taken to the Sebokeng police
station, and are being charged with public violence and illegal gathering.
When leaders of the Anti-Privatisation Forum and Coalition Against Water
Privatisation, under whose banner the protest was held, arrived at the
police station to enquire about the situation and try and have their
comrades released nine of them were also arrested, for addressing a
community gathering.
The fact that the SAPS police, under the ANC, can shoot with impunity at
poor people who are merely attempting to have their most basic human
rights met reminds one of the Apartheid era police. And it only goes to
prove that all governments, even those democratically elected, soon turn
on those they are supposed to represent, in order to defend their newly
acquired wealth, power and privilege. We know very well by now that the
ANC is not concerned with providing for the majority of the population in
South Africa and delivering on the promises that got the ANC into power,
but that it is only concerned with making a profit out of the people, and
further enriching the already disgustingly rich new back elite. Even if it
means charging the poorest of the poor for the most basic necessities and
essential human rights such as electricity and water, which are laid down
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which South Africa is one
of the signatory states, as well as in the ANC People's Charter.
We make take the following stand:
1. We are absolutely disgusted by the ANC leaders, who flagrantly flaunt
their wealth in the face of so many poor and hungry people. We are equally
disgusted by the police responsible for this atrocity, who have once again
shown us that their role is not that of serving and protecting the people,
but serving and protecting the interests of big business and capital.
2. We are encouraged and inspired by this bold action by the people of
Sebokeng which, by sabotaging the circulation of goods and obstructing
the flow of money, struck at that which the government – through the
police – most wishes to protect, big business and capital. It is
important to note that these protests come only after years of the
community having exhausted all legal means - including ANC Alliance
channels - to have their voices heard.
3. We wholeheartedly support the poor communities of the Vaal, and all
those across South Africa, who are struggling for their basic rights. We
are not convinced, however, that the ANC government, or any other for that
matter, will ever adequately deliver to the people. But we support these
struggles nevertheless as necessary for building the confidence and power
for a larger struggle. The struggle for total liberation, that is, the
struggle for the people to own and control all the industries and the
land, for them to be in control of the communities the live in, and to
have power to decide over all that which affects them.
4. The ZACF - which has done numerous workshops in Sebokeng, and has good
relations with community activists - calls on all our comrades around the
world, and everyone who supports the struggle of the poor and working poor
for a dignified existence, to please organise actions in solidarity with
the struggling people of Sebokeng.
5. We call on everyone who can to picket South African embassies, as well
as to send protest letters and make phone-calls to the Johannesburg City
Mayor, Mr. Amos Masondo, Media Liaison to Minister of Safety and Security
Mr Trevor Bloem or to carry out any other actions you deem fitting to
protest this atrocious act, and warn the ANC government against the course
of action they have take. Which is to declare war on the poor, and decree
a new form of Apartheid, social Apartheid, which excludes the poor from
their rights to a dignified life.
In Solidarity with the struggling people of Sebokeng,
Jonathan Payn - Federation Secretary, Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation
www.zabalaza. net
ZACF
Postnet Suite 47
Private Bag X1
Fordsburg
2033
South Africa
NOTE:
A proposed protest march to Sebokeng police station has been postponed
until a proper decision has been reached, involving the appropriate
structures. This is because it is too late to notify the police, and the
march will thus constitute an illegal gathering (sound familiar?), which
would probably result in the arrest of many more comrades.
The arrested comrades are still being held, and the hearing has been
postponed until Thursday. Bail is not yet set.
On behalf of the APF, donations are being asked for in order to cover this
bail, as they still owe a large amount of money, accumulated through years
of struggle and having to pay for bail, lawyers etc.
Details for donations are as follows:
Local Donations(ie. from South Africa):
FNB
Acc. No.: 62 02 785 1452
Account Type: Cheque Account
Branch: Bank City
International Donations:
Acc No.: 250805
Block A
3 First place
Bank City
First National Bank
Johannesburg
2000
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJA046
(for donations from the U.S. - JP Morgan Chase- Manhattan Bank)
List of contacts:
Ministry of Safety and Security
Director: Media Liaison
Mr Trevor Bloem
Mail: Private Bag X463, PRETORIA, 0001
Street: Wachthuis, 7th Floor, 231 Pretorius Street, PRETORIA
Tel: 00 27 (0) 12 393 1523 / 00 27 (0) 21 467 7000*
Fax: 00 27 (0) 12 393 2833 / 00 27 (0) 21 467 7032/3*
Cell: 00 27 (0) 82 778 3561*
E-mail: bloemb@saps. org.za
Personal Assistant
Mr Peter Nkabinde
Mail: Private Bag X463, PRETORIA, 0001
Street: Wachthuis, 7th Floor, 231 Pretorius Street, PRETORIA
Tel: 00 27 (0) 12 393 2810 / 00 27 (0) 21 467 7004*
Fax: 00 27 (0) 12 393 2812 / 00 27 (0) 21 467 7036*
Cell: 00 27 (0) 82 446 6236*
E-mail: peternk@saps. org.za
Sedibeng District Council
Mayor Mlungisi Hlongwane
Designation: Executive Mayor
Telephone: 00 27 (0) 16 450 3017 *
Fax: 00 27 (0)16 421 3182 *
Email: sibongiler@sedibeng .gov.za
* If you are calling/ faxing from outside South Africa, drop the "(0)".
posted by impuku
