OscailtJohannesburg, Anarchist arrested in MotsolediAn anarchist member of the Sowetan Motsoledi Concerned Residents Association (MCRA) was arrested 2 weeks ago following an open discussion with a local ward councillor.2005-09-28T20:43:45+08:00Anarkismoanarkismoeditors@lists.riseup.nethttp://www.anarkismo.net/atomfullposts?story_id=1422http://www.anarkismo.net/graphics/feedlogo.gifextra informationhttp://www.anarkismo.net/article/1422#comment13462005-09-28T20:43:45+08:00michaeli'm actually not sure who posted this report to a-infos (i think it was our fede...i'm actually not sure who posted this report to a-infos (i think it was our federation secretary), but it is essentially correct, except the shantytown/favela is spelled "motsoaledi" - ironically after an anc struggle hero.
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also, our regional organiser still faces charges, but i'm not sure if it will ever get to court. we did not respond publicly to the arrest because, unless it gets to court - or unless such tactics become common (as has happened with the anti-eviction campaign organisation in the western cape), there is no point us worrying about it.
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the context was the dispute between the anarchist/"no services - no vote" faction in motsoaledi and the opportunist / elect our "own" councillor faction. in the event, our regional organiser was released by the police *because* voter-registration on september 3 for local govt elections next year was so poor - and they thought that people were staying away because he was detained - but in fact they were staying away because by far the bunk of the community agreed with the no services - no vote faction.
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so because there was very low voter registration - the trotskysists (who hope against hope to win the neigbouring phiri ward) and anc opportunists (who dominate soweto) won't be able to take motsoaledi to the polls next year! a hard-won victory for us, though the war is far from over.
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<b>michael </b>
(international secretary, zabalaza anarchist communist federation, southern africa)