HELP! – GPJA needs $3000 for activist visit during Springbok tour anniversary.

HELP! – GPJA needs $3000 for activist visit during Springbok tour anniversary.

We rarely ask for funds from supporters but this time we must. Global Peace and Justice Auckland has invited South African S’bu Zikode to visit New Zealand as part of the 30th anniversary of the 1981 Springbok tour protests. S’bu is the President of the Abahlali baseMjondolo (Shackdwellers) Movement which is the largest organization of the poor in South Africa and campaigns for housing, water and electricity supplies for the poorest communities.

ABM is very critical of the post-apartheid policies of the South African government which have not improved the lives of the poor.

His visit is a great opportunity for New Zealanders, especially those active in the campaign against the 1981 Springboks, to get an up to date picture of progress in South Africa in the 17 years since the first democratic election.

S’bu is bringing a newly released, award-winning post-apartheid video Dear Mandela with him. It expresses the problems faced by the poor under ANC government policies.

S’bu will be speaking to public meetings and the media as well as meeting with community groups around New Zealand. He will be visiting Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington Christchurch and Dunedin.

In Auckland S’bu will be our guest at the 30th anniversary Springbok tour event on September 11th . We need your help to raise $3000 for his trip ($2,200 for the international fare and $800 for internal travel) You can donate on-line by depositing money in GPJA’s account and mark it “shackdwellers”. The GPJA bank account is: Kiwibank 38-9000-0099726-00 We do most of our work on the smell of an oily rag but this time the rag just won’t do. We need some hard cash. Thanks for helping.

Auckland’s 30th anniversary of Springbok tour

Sunday September 11th 12.00noon. (This is just a day from the 30th anniversary of the infamous third test and last game of the 1981 Springbok tour). Gather at Eden Park Gates on Walters Road. A walk around the park to sites of the 1981 tour battles will end at the Mt Eden War Memorial Hall on Dominion Road. Here a photo exhibition from the protests will be on display, the film Patu will be screened, afternoon tea will be provided and speakers will recall the events of 1981. Our guest will be S’bu Zikode, President of Abahlali baseMjondolo (Shackdwellers). More details in next newsletter.