In South Africa, one in four people live in overcrowded shacks scraping a living on less than a dollar a day. They frequently have no toilets, no water, no electricity and are evicted from their homes. Despite extreme poverty and hostility from the government, shackdwellers are coming together to fight for their rights and improve their conditions.

Abahlali baseMjondolo is a pioneering social movement, supporting tens of thousands of shackdwellers. But a year ago, Abahlali's leaders were brutally attacked. Armed men threatened them and their families' lives and destroyed their homes on the night of September 26 last year. Since then, the leaders have been hiding and the movement has had to operate quasi-clandestinely - even though just ten days after the attack, Abahlali won a constitutional case entirely vindicating their operations!

We are making an emergency appeal on behalf of Abahlali. Justice has been denied to thirteen of its members arrested after the attack in Kennedy Road, who have still not been brought to trial. Many families were displaced by the violence, and have been unable to return to their homes, losing what little they had.

Abahlali is a true grassroots movement. It funds its activities on the subscriptions of its members – R10 a year (the price of a loaf of bread). But the demands placed on it now, by people losing their homes and being dragged through the courts, are way beyond what these subscriptions can cover.

A donation as small as £10 translates into R120 – enough to help Abahlali support a family to stay in their home. 100 per cent of all the money donated will go straight to Abahlali and their amazing work. Abahlali will be sent the names of everyone who contributes unless you would prefer to remain anonymous.

Many thanks.

* Please visit www.justgiving.com/Abahlali-Appeal to make a contribution to the appeal.
* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at Pambazuka News.