Lindela Figlan In the Glasgow Social Centre Friday 2nd November

The Glasgow date of Lindela Figlan's UK tour - he was brought over for the London Anarchist Bookfair as a member of Abahlali baseMjondolo - the Shack Dwellers' Movement.

Abahlali baseMjondolo only formed in 2005, but by using popular democracy, direct action tactics and fighting on issues directly relevant to themselves as shackdwellers this genuinely grassroots organisation has grown to be a strong and successful movement.

Event is free, however we will have a voluntary and anonymous collection towards

travel costs for Lindela, with anything leftover donated to Abahlali baseMjondolo.

All welcome. Abusive and oppressive behaviour will not be tolerated.

BYOB for social afterwards in the new Glasgow Social Centre (GSC) space.

Meeting hosted by Glasgow AFed with assistance and cooperation from other individuals. We are especially happy to be hosting Lindela in the new GSC, which is open every Tuesday and Friday evening. More details on their website linked below.

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Lindela Figlan was born in Flagstaff in Pondoland in 1970 what was then the Transkei bantustan. His father, a mineworker, had been a militant in the Pondo revolt of 1960. Lindela was politically active in high school and continued to be involved in politics when he moved to the shanty towns of Durban in 1998 to work as a security guard.

He joined Abahlali baseMjondolo when the movement was formed in 2005. What excited him most about Abahlali baseMjondolo was the idea, on which the movement was founded, that poor people should think for themselves rather than always relying on other people to think for them. Lindela has held various elected positions in the movement and is currently its Deputy President. He has been subject to serious and ongoing intimidation as a result of his political work with Abahlali baseMjondolo.

Lindela is very critical of trade unions arguing that “there to exploit. It is a double exploitation – we are exploited by the bosses at the companies and then we are also exploited by the union bosses.” His politics is based on a commitment to immediate equality. He says that: “The only thing that I believe is that all people are equal. No matter where you come from, no matter how you look, no matter how poor you are or what your gender is we are all equal. Abahlali baseMjondolo has trust in the people. The movement insists that everyone must be respected no matter who they are. That is why I joined Abahlali baseMjondolo. It is not wise to think that somebody else must think for your future. In Abahali baseMjondolo everybody is equal.

Everybody joined the movement to emancipate themselves from oppression and the difficulties of the world. You do not join Abahali baseMjondolo for someone else to emancipate you.”

There is a fuller biography online at: http://abahlali.org/node/9214