Abahlali condemns xenophobia

1. Abahlali baseMjondolo condemns xenophobia
Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu. A person is a person through
other people.
Unyawo alunampumlo. A person is a person whenever and
wherever they find themselves.
These are African proverbs that encourage the spirit of
humanity.
Borders were created by those who colonised us in order to
divide and control us. We were further divided by the creation
of fixed ethnicities tried to specific top down political authorities
in specific territories. Today elites continue to try and actively
divide the working class and impoverished people on the basis
of nationality and ethnicity.
Our politics is rooted in the land occupation and in struggle. If
you are a resident in an occupation you are from that
occupation. If you are a participant in a democratic struggle you
are a comrade in that struggle. It does not matter which country
or province you came from. Our politics is a politics of gathering
people together, forging community, and building the power of
the oppressed in struggle. Those who try and tell us that are
neighbours and our comrades are really our enemies because
of where they were born or what language they speak at home
are in fact our real enemies.
Since our movement was first formed we have always opposed

2. all forms of xenophobia or ethnic discrimination. We have
always called on all progressive forces to shelter and defend
people that come under xenophobic attack. We have always
worked to build a movement in which everyone can feel at
home and have their dignity respected. We are proud that we
have members and leaders from different provinces and
countries in our movement.
The xenophobic actions of people in Soweto and Zeerust are
disgraceful and must be condemned in the strongest possible
way by all of us. That condemnation must translate into
concrete forms of solidarity.
Let us not allow our minds to be colonised even though we
have fought against colonialism. Let us understand clearly that
our oppressors, including the ANC, want to divide impoverished
people and the working class in order to keep us weak. Let us
build the democratic power of the oppressed in struggle.