Sbu Zikode of Abahlali baseMjondolo, the Shack Dweller's Movement of South Africa

Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Sbu Zikode of Abahlali baseMjondolo from Oriana Bolden on Vimeo.

In this segment of Freedom Is A Constant Struggle, Kiilu’s guest is S’bu Zikode, leader of Abahlali baseMjondolo, the shack dwellers’ movement of South Africa, who visited the Bay Area last November (2010).

Thanks to Raj Patel and Oriana Bolden, Kiilu got to have S’bu visit her to discuss on camera the disastrous living conditions and economic disparities that currently exist in the post-Apartheid nation governed by the African National Congress (ANC).

S’bu comes from the shanty town of Kennedy Road in Durban, South Africa, where Abahlali was formed in 2005 in protest of the ANC policies denying land and housing to the poor. Life threatening conditions (no water, electricity, security) pushed the people to demand the Government abide by its new Constitution, stop evictions and brutal attacks by the police, and make good on its promises.

Abahlali has grown to include some 30,000 people, and a coalition with other organizations has formed a Poor Peoples Alliance of at least 50,000 activists. A slogan adopted by Abahlali is NO LAND, NO HOUSE, NO JOB, NO VOTE!