CSD Seminar - Abahlali baseMjondolo attacks and implications for democracy
Dear Colleagues
In light of the recent attacks on Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) in Kennedy Road, Durban, the Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD) at University of Johannesburg/Rhodes University will hold a seminar entitled Democracy under Threat?: What Attacks on Grassroots Activists Mean for our Politics where grassroots activists, scholars and human rights campaigners will discuss threats to free political activity and their implications. For more information, see invitation attached.
Venue: Training Centre, 6th Floor, South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) – 29 Princess of Wales Terrace, cnr York and St Andrews
Streets, Parktown, Johannesburg. See map here: http://www.sahrc.org.za/sahrc_cms/downloads/Map%20of%20Directions.doc
Time: 9am to 3pm
Date: Wednesday, 4 November 2009
RSVP: Johnny Selemani – jaselemani@gmail.com / 073 553 0726
Kate Tissington – kate.tissington@wits.ac.za / 072 220 9125
If you would still like to attend please RSVP as soon as possible for catering/seating purposes.
Speakers:
Steven Friedman, Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD)
Pregs Govender, South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)
S’bu Zikode, President, Abahlali baseMjondolo
Mnikelo Ndabankulu, Spokesperson, AbM
Zodwa Nsibande, General Secretary of the Youth League, AbM
Michael Neocosmos, Monash University
Richard Pithouse, Politics Department, Rhodes University
Andile Mngxitama, Foundation for Human Rights (FHR)
Noor Nieftagodien, History Department, University of the Witwatersrand
Programme:
9am Introduction: Threats to Democracy at the Grassroots? Steven Friedman, Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD)
10:45 Panel One: The View from the Ground: The Perils of Organising in Kennedy Road - Chair: Pregs Govender (SAHRC)
S’bu Zikode (President, Abahlali baseMjondolo)
Mnikelo Ndabankulu (Spokesperson, AbM)
Zodwa Nsibande (General Secretary of the Youth League, AbM)
12:30 Lunch
1-2:30 Panel Two: Is Democracy at Risk?: Understanding Conflict Between Social Movements and Local Elites - Chair: Michael Neocosmos (Monash University)
Richard Pithouse (Politics Department, Rhodes University)
Andile Mngxitama (Foundation for Human Rights)
Noor Nieftagodien (History Department, University of the Witwatersrand)
2:30 – 3pm Summary: Concluding Discussion
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