(Note: This post was written nearly two weeks ago but due to technicalities we haven't been able to publish it until today.)
On Thursday March 4, during the state visit to England of South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, members of the Abahlali Solidarity Campaign in the UK staged a picket outside 10 Downing Street to raise public awareness of the repression and problems faced by Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) in recent months.
As Zuma had breakfast with Gordon Brown, protesters held up placards demanding an end to the intimidation and political repression the movement has suffered since the attacks on the Kennedy Road settlement in September 2009.
Information was handed out to passersby explaining the poverty faced by shack dwellers in South Africa, and demanding proper land rights for the poor.
It was hoped the protest would also highlight the failure of the South African government to provide services for the poor and the continued lack of deep and proper democracy for those affected by poverty.
As Zuma left Downing Street by car, he was forced to face the protest, confronting the failure of his government to provide for the poor.
As the run-up to the 2010 World Cup begins, global solidarity is as important as ever, both to keep the pressure on decision makers in South Africa and show that the struggle of AbM is an international one, uniting all those fighting for land, services and democracy through direct action against government neglect and corporate control of society.
