S'bu Zikode - New Zealand visit 1st - 13th September 2011

South African President Jacob Zuma may have cancelled his visit to New Zealand for the World Rugby Cup but a much more significant visitor will be arriving late tonight.

S'bu Zikode has been invited to New Zealand by Global Peace and Justice Auckland as part of the 30th anniversary of the 1981 Springbok tour.

S'bu is President of the Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement in South Africa. ABM is the largest organization of the poor in South Africa and campaigns for housing, water and electricity supplies for the poorest South Africans.

GPJA has invited the South African community leader here to give an opportunity for New Zealanders to get an up to date picture of progress in South Africa in the 17 years since the first democratic election. There is no better time to do this than the anniversary of the 1981 tour.

"New Zealanders marched and demonstrated against apartheid and many thought the struggle ended with the election of Nelson Mandela as President in 1994. However while there are now a few black millionaires, life for most black South Africans has worsened in the years since. Gaining civil and political rights has not led to economic and social rights for the majority because of the free-market economic policies adopted by the ANC."

S'bu will be showing a newly-released, award-winning, post-apartheid video Dear Mandela which highlights the struggles of the poor for decent housing under ANC government policies.

S'bu will be speaking to public meetings and meeting with community groups around New Zealand during a six-centre visit which includes Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

He will be available for interviews from tomorrow.

Sept 1 - arrives in Auckland

Saturday 3rd - drive to Hamilton

Sunday 4th - flies to Dunedin

Monday 5th - flies to Chch

Wednesday 7th - flies to Wellington

Thursday 8th - drives to Palmerston North

Friday 9th - flies to Auckland

Tuesday 13th - returns to SA

John Minto

Spokesperson Global Peace and Justice Auckland

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