Abahlali baseMjondolo is no ‘spent force’

I have no desire to undermine the legacy of Fatima Meer. Nor, frankly, do I have any desire to undermine Ashwin Desai as an academic, intellectual or as an activist.

But Desai's recent backhanded swipe at Abahlali baseMjondolo during his Eulogy to Fatima Meer is not only uncalled for, it is also completely inaccurate. Quoting Andile Mngxitama, he says that shackdweller movements (implying the largest movement in the country - Abahlali baseMjondolo) are no longer independent or militant but are actually 'begging' the government for permission to march.

The reality is that Abahlali baseMjondolo would have marched on 22 March with or without permission from the City and its caretaker Michael Sutcliffe. They have stated quite clearly in their own words that: ‘Our right to protest is not negotiable.’ They have also declared in advance that, ‘We will march on Jacob Zuma tomorrow irrespective of the outcome in court.’ These words are their words, not the words of any academic or sympathiser.

And if you look at the outcome as was reported in the Sowetan, it shows that Abahlali baseMjondolo is hardly a spent force. In fact, during the march, they defied both Sutcliffe and the court ruling and occupied parts of the Durban CBD. Counting the number of full buses and taxis that arrived at Albert Park, we know that there was at least 2,000 shackdwellers marching that day.

Desai has had no contact with Abahlali baseMjondolo in the past few years and really knows next to nothing about the movement. He should refrain from bashing entire movements merely because its members have chosen to be independent of Desai's own agenda as a privileged (not rank and file) activist.

* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at Pambazuka News.