[fse-esf] FW: APF call for support (please circulate)

[Alex Callinicos]

  _____  

From: Nerisha Baldevu [mailto:nerishabs at gmail.com] 
Sent: 05 September 2007 01:16 PM
To: sasfroc at googlegroups.com
Cc: nbsukai at yahoo.co.uk
Subject: APF call for support (please circulate)

 

APF call for Support 

 

Over the past 2 months, as communities all over the Gauteng again take to
streets in protest against the pace and neoliberal frame of service
delivery, there has been an unprecedented escalation of state violence,
repression and the criminalisation of protest. While the APF has managed to
provide activists with legal and jail support, this has been severely
circumscribed by the limited financial means of the organisation. As these
protests spread, the brutality and arrests that have characterised the
state's response thus far are likely to intensify as well.  With at least 14
people arrested yesterday alone (see APF press statement below), and dozens
more injured, the mounting costs of legal representation (both for defence
of those arrested and for the preparation of civil action against the
police) is a disabling weight on the APF and it's affiliates from poor
communities across the province. Believing that voices of these communities
should not be muted with state violence and repression, the APF calls on all
those who are able to, and are interested in supporting the defence of
communities in struggle, to make contributions the APF legal war chest. 

 

Money can be directly deposited in the APF account (be sure to stipulate
that the money is for legal defence when making deposits) and will only be
used for the purpose for which it was given.

 

The APF's account details are as follows:

 

Account Name:                                Anti-Privatisation Forum

Bank:                                                First National Bank

Branch:                                             Bank City

Bank Address:                                Block A, #3 First Place, Bank
City, FNB, Johannesburg, 2000

Branch Code:                                 250805

Account Number:                            62027851452

Type of Account:                             Cheque

Swift Code:                                      FIRN ZAJJA046

Telephone:                                       (27 11) 352 1338/492
3321/492 3345

Contact Person:                               Vanitha Maharaj/Mabel

Foreign Transfer Desk:                   352 8290 (tel), 352 8219 (Fax) -
Attn: Paulina

e-bus:                                                083 123 3000

 

Bank and ABA # for US wire transfers -  J.P. Morgan-Chase Manhattan
(021000021)

 

 

Thank you for your support

 

 

ANTI-PRIVATISATION FORUM 

Press Statement

Monday 3rd September 2007

 

 

Service delivery protests by range of communities across the Vaal and
Greater Soweto attacked by police early this morning 

 

Community member in Protea South knocked down by car in road and killed
instantly

 

8 arrested in Kliptown and 6 in Protea South. Scores shot at and chased into
their homes. Journalists being harassed 

 

In Vaal, heavily armed police everywhere firing randomly and are conducting
house-to-house searches for community leaders who remain in 'hiding' 

 

 

>From very early this morning, a range of poor communities  - which include
Boiketlong, Kanana, Dunusa and Sonderwater in the Vaal as well as Kliptown,
Freedom Park and Protea South in Greater Soweto - embarked on a series of
protests against lack of service delivery. 

 

In Protea South, one community resident taking part in the protest was
knocked down by a car in the road and died instantly. Police began shooting
randomly and chasing protesters through the settlement but residents fought
back and forced the police back onto the main roads. While conducting a
press interview, Protea South community leader, Maureen Mnisi was arrested
along with 5 others residents. They are presently being held in Protea
Police Station without charge.

 

In Kliptown, 7 residents alongside APF organiser, Thabo Modisane, have been
arrested by a private security near the railway line. All these comrades
were heavily beaten by these private security thugs. They are presently
being held in Kliptown Police Station without charge.

 

In the variously mentioned communities in the Vaal, police forces
immediately attacked community residents who had taken up positions on
various roads, shooting randomly and chasing residents back into the homes.
At present, although no one has been arrested, police are systematically
conducting house-to-house searches to try and 'flush out' community leaders.

 

THE APF EXTENDS ITS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF THE COMRADE
KILLED IN THE PROTEA SOUTH ACCIDENT

 

 

THE APF CONDENMS THE INDISCRIMINATE USE OF VIOLENCE BY THE POLICE AGAINST
COMMUNITY PROTESTERS AND THE VIOLENT CONDUCT OF PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS 

 

THE APF DEMANDS THAT POLICE IMMEDIATELY STOP THEIR CONTINUED HARRASSMENT OF
JOURNALISTS AND GENERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STOP THE CONTINUED
VIOLATION/INVASION OF RESIDENTS HOMES 

 

 

 

For further comment/information contact on the scene contact:

 

IN THE VAAL: Patra Sindane on 073-052-7005 and/or Mish on 079 812-4724

IN KLIPTOWN: Thabo Modisane on 078 129-7797

IN PROTEA SOUTH: Virginia on 078 473-3086

 

OR CONTACT APF ORGANISER - Silumko on 072 173-7268

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.fse-esf.org/pipermail/fse-esf/attachments/20070905/347775fa/attachment.htm