By: Saneliso Mlambo
The Housing Rights Organization known as Abahlali Basemjondolo or The Red Shirts, took it to the streets to deliver a list of complains and demands to the Durban officials on Monday.
The Red Shirts led by Sibusiso Zikode refused to take a notice of a blazing hot weather and paused the city of Durban with toyi toyi dance and struggle songs.
The march started from Curies Fountain stadium to Durban city hall where the organization delivered their memorandum of demands to the Office of Presidency and the Ministry of Police.
Watch Abahlali Basemjondolo march at Durban City hall by Saneliso Mlambo on YouTube: https://youtu.be/I1i8DUbhZp4
The Red shirts are criticizing the ANC for trying to destroy their organization and killing their leaders and members of Abahlali Basemjondolo.
watch Video on YouTube about the killings of Abahlali Basemjondolo: https://youtu.be/Rxzhw0V9jLw (source: YouTube)
The president and founder of the housing rights organization that was formed in 2005, Sibusiso Zikode, made a rare appearance on Monday to address thousands of members of the Red Shirts.
Accompanied by three heavy armed guards, Zikode shared his rough past years’ experience as a leader living the life of fear and hiding.
Zikode said, “Since 2005, we have experienced the waves of oppression including assault, arrests, torture, death threats and assassination of our members”
“Our journey to free and better living has been characterized and shuttered by oppression and death,” he added.
The march was supported by National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA) and South African Federation of Traders Union (SAFTU).
Mbuso Ngubane’s speech at Durban city hall during abahlali basemjondolo march: https://soundcloud.com/saneliso-radebe/numsas-mbuso-ngubane-talking-at-durban-city-hall
In the memorandum, the Red shirts are demanding an end to the killing of their members, the right to free and democratic organizing outside of ANC, and a proper investigation to all threats and murders of their members.
The memorandum was handed over to Brigadier Tefo Mpete of the SAPS’s provincial office.
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SOUND CLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/saneliso-radebe/numsas-mbuso-ngubane-talking-at-durban-city-hall
VIMEO: https://vimeo.com/294465338
YouTube: https://youtu.be/I1i8DUbhZp4