Socialist shack dwellers’ movement Abahlali baseMjondolo has strongly condemned the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) for “repeatedly and unlawfully” including the movement’s name and logo on the programme for the upcoming ‘Conference of the Left’.
The movement asserts that it has no affiliation with the conference and was never consulted during its planning.
The controversy escalated when Cosatu included Abahlali baseMjondolo on the programme, circulated prior to their Special Central Executive Committee meeting on May 14.
Abahlali leadership boycotted the virtual meeting, citing a refusal to participate in the ‘Conference of the Left’.
This follows a previous incident where the movement noticed its name and logo on a promotional poster allegedly released by the SACP. At that time, Abahlali released a public statement clarifying that the poster was misleading and that it would not be participating.
Abahlali baseMjondolo viewed the inclusion of its name as a “blatant attempt” to co-opt and undermine its ongoing struggle.
It noted that at least five other organisations listed on the latest programme had also decided not to participate yet remain listed by the organisers.
In a statement, the movement said it refuses to be used to “validate events or initiatives that run contrary to its core interests, values, and political principles”.
As a democratic grassroots organisation, Abahlali policies and decisions are determined by its members through open public discussions, not by external forces, it stated.
The movement has called on allied organisations and comrades to reject this “opportunism”.