Update from the Pinetown Magistrate's Court

29 January 2013 Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

Update from the Pinetown Magistrate's Court

Abahlali baseMjondolo were at the Pinetown magistrate's court today in our numbers where one of the four comrades from KwaNdengezi appeared on one charge of assault. Comrade Mandla Hlophe was released on warning. His matter has been adjourned for the 19th of February 2013.

The other three comrades were not brought to court on the ground that more charges are still to be laid on to them. Right now we are told that at least four charges are laid against each one of them: public violence, damage to property, assault with gross bodily harm (GBH) and robbery. We have no doubt that all these charges have been fabricated and that this will become clear if this matter ever goes to trial.

As we all know that the state will try by all means to protect its corrupt councilors, corrupt politicians and corrupt officials by making the poor pay for speaking out against its corrupt activities. Now Nqola, the warlord Councilor of the area, has managed to instruct the police to arrest those that are a threat to his kingdom and to protected the MK veteran from being arrested despite having openly threatened comrades with his fire arm and despite a case open being opened against him.

Tomorrow Abahlali will again go to the Pinetown magistrate's court in our numbers to support the three comrades who are still in custody. They are Sindisiwe Mabaso, Mr Madlokovu and Mlungisi Hlongwane.

This is a political case. It is not in any way a criminal matter. This is how a state forces the struggle of the poor off the streets and out of the communities and into the courts where it is known that we are weak. But with the support of our members and friends we are going to make sure, as we have done so often, that justice serves the poor

For more information please contact:

http://www.abahlali.org

Sekwanele! No House! No Land! No Vote! Everyone Counts -- For more, please visit the website of the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign at: www.antieviction.org.za and follow us on www.twitter.com/antieviction

Visit Abahlali baseMjondolo at www.abahlali.org and www.khayelitshastruggles.com

The Poor People's Alliance: Abahlali baseMjondolo, together with with Landless People's Movement (Gauteng), the Rural Network (KwaZulu-Natal) and the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, is part of the Poor People's Alliance - a unfunded national network of democratic membership based poor people's movements.

ENDS

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