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, economic & 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)".
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