STAND UP FOR YOUR CHILD
Participate in reclaiming our country’s future

The election date has been announced for 29 March 2008 and we know that now is the time candidates will be coming to us making all kinds of promises to make us vote for them. It is also the time when people realise that they have the chance to decide who will lead our country. WOZA wants you to realise that now is also the time when you should be seriously looking at what the future holds for the next generation. When you read this newsletter, please sit down and think about your child and the dreams you had of a better life for them. Look around you at what your children are doing. Are they in school studying hard and doing well or sleeping on their desks without teachers? Are they queuing at the boreholes or in the bush looking for firewood? Or far away in a foreign land? Is this the future you imagined for them?

YOUR CHILD EXPECTS YOU TO CHANGE THIS BY TAKING FOUR STEPS
1.    Register to vote and check that your name appears on the voters roll.
2.    Attend any rally that you can and ask questions of the candidates, so you can be sure you will vote wisely.
3.    Get up early on 29 March 2008 and go and vote. There are many candidates in this election and we recommend that you vote for a candidate rather than a party. If we do not have independent observers; a proper delimitation process; vote counting and announcement directly from the polling station, then the election process is flawed and can easily be rigged so we must all be vigilant and watch out for those who cheat.
4.    Defend your vote from the time you cast it until it is counted and announced. Just the same way you defend your child, you should defend your vote.

We are disappointed that the election date has been made without our 10 steps and hope that we will vote for someone who will address these steps within 100 days of office.

1.    Violence, in all its forms, must be stopped to allow for a period of healing, peace and justice.
2.    The winners of the election should convene an all-stakeholders’ conference with the following participants: all political parties, non-governmental organisation, churches, labour, business, youth and women all meeting on an equal basis.  Their agenda is to devise a programme for peace and development using the PEOPLE model – People for Economic Opportunity, Peace, Learning and Empowerment
3.    They should also constitute an All-Stakeholders’ Commission with the mandate to outline a process of constitution making. Initiate a constitution-making process, including a plan for transitional justice, consulting all Zimbabweans both at home and abroad.
4.    Having assumed legislative power, they should repeal oppressive legislation against freedom of expression and assembly such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). An end to the selective application of other laws.
5.    Conduct an audit of civil servants, the judiciary and law enforcement agents as to their professional and non-partisan conduct. Offenders should be sent to re-training/community service or for prosecution. The youth militia should be disbanded and the defence forces should be confined to barracks for retraining.
6.    Begin the process of re-engaging the international community with a view to rehabilitating the economy aimed at job creation.
7.    Carry out a land audit to lay the basis for a permanent and equitable solution to land reform, while promoting immediate resumption of food production.
8.    Take the resulting constitutional and transitional justice proposals to a referendum supervised by Southern African Development Community (SADC). Ensure the referendum has been conducted according to the SADC protocols and under international and regional supervision with international and local observers.
9.    Prepare for the referendum, including reconstituting the Registrar General’s department, preparing new electoral laws, appointing an independent electoral commission and delimitation commission to prepare an electoral roll and prepare for the election.
10.

On Valentine’s Day, WOZA march for Bread and Roses – bread representing the need for affordable food and the roses representing dignity and the call for social justice.  In 2008, nothing has changed. We still need to afford to eat and we still desire a dignified and good life – a life where we can enjoy social justice, a life that we have outlined in the People’s Charter.

Social justice can be defined as a system where people have equal opportunities/access to social, economic, cultural, religious and political needs regardless of race, gender, creed or any other form of discrimination.

It can be the way we interact with others and a method of governance that includes the following:
·    Full enjoyment of all social, political, economic and cultural rights
·    An equal society including gender equality
·    Respect for human rights including women’s and children’s rights
·    Freedoms including speech, assembly and association
·    Respect and tolerance of diversity – culture and religion
·    Transparency and accountability
·    Equal participation in political and economic decision-making
·    Equal application of the law – access to justice and understanding of the law
·    Correction of past injustices such as Gukurahundi and Murambatsvina
·    Gutsaruzhinji/inhlalakahle yabantu (Good living)
·    Access to affordable education
·    Adequate and affordable food
·    Access to affordable housing, electricity, sanitation and clean water
·    Access to affordable healthcare and medication including anti-retrovirals (ARVs)
·    Equal and fair access to fertile land, inputs, equipment and secure ownership
·    Equal opportunities to resources, employment, self-help projects and the right to earn a living wage
·    Development of adequate infrastructure and access to affordable transport
·    Environmentally sustainable usage of resources

As Zimbabweans we deserve the social justice that we talk about but we can only get it if we are prepared to stand up and demand it from our leaders. Make a start today.

Stand up for your child’s future.

Indira Gandhi once said, “You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.” Was she talking about Zanu PF?

AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE TO:

1. PRINCIPALS: Robert Mugabe/Arthur Mutambara/Morgan Tsvangirai
2. Mediation Team led by Thabo Mbeki
3. Southern African Development Community Chairman/President South Africa Kgalema Motlanthe
4. African Union Chairman/ Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete

Dear Sirs,
WE DECLARE A NATIONAL DISASTER AND DEMAND FOOD FOR ALL ZIMBABWEANS

You all signed an agreement on 15 September 2008 with lots of taxpayer’s money being used to feed all the delegates. Now you are meeting again and spending lots of money feeding the same people all over again, they sleep with full stomachs while our children starve. You said this was an ‘African solution to African problems’ but Africans are dying slow and painful deaths through starvation. You wrote in your deal that you were gravely concerned but these were empty words. Today we have lost patience. We demand FOOD, SEED and FERTILISER; this is now a national disaster. Zimbabweans both in rural areas and in the city are starving, the rains are coming but we have nothing to plant.

In the agreement preamble it states that you are “CONCERNED about the well-being of our people”. THESE WORDS ARE EMPTY JUST LIKE OUR STOMACHS.

You said you “ACKNOWLEDGE the sacrifices made by thousands of Zimbabwe’s gallant sons and daughters in the fight against colonialism and racial discrimination and determined to accept, cherish and recognise the significance of the Liberation Struggle as the foundation of our sovereign independence, freedoms and human rights.”

IS STARVATION THE WAY YOU ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SACRIFICES? WHEN WILL YOU SACRIFICE POWER FOR THE LOVE OF THE SUFFERING PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE?

You agreed “COMMITTING ourselves to putting our people and our country first by arresting the fall in living standards and reversing the decline of our economy.”

You have put yourselves first and us last! Inflation is in the billions, the economy has collapsed. We are being told to buy food in Rand currency and yet we live in Zimbabwe. Even if we have money in the bank, we cannot get cash and it is even more impossible for us to get foreign currency. What happened to your commitment? Did Police misunderstand the word ‘arrest’ and put ‘Living standards’ in jail thinking it is the name of an opposition activist?

You said “RESPECTING the rights of all Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation to benefit from and participate in all national programmes and events freely without let or hindrance.”

We are therefore demanding a national food relief programme. How many more Zimbabweans must die before you act? We are human beings needing a balanced diet and cannot survive on green vegetables like animals. We have lost patience with your kind of ‘African solution’. THIS IS A NATIONAL DISASTER AND WE DEMAND FOOD FOR ALL ZIMBABWEANS NOW.

Woza Moya
Signed by WOZA members for the people of Zimbabwe

P.S. If Police officers arrest us or beat us as we make our demand, you must take it as another sign of your empty promises for a violence free Zimbabwe and an unfortunate African solution to silence and disrespect citizens.

WOZA leaders, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, appeared in Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court today in a continuation of their trial on charges of disturbing the peace. The matter had been postponed from last week to give the High Court time to rule on two appeals placed before it by the defence.

Despite the fact that defence lawyer Kossam Ncube had been to the High Court and seen no ruling, Magistrate Msipa produced a copy of a ruling granting our initial application to delay the trial. The High Court ruling submitted in January granted a delay in trial to 26th February, a date superseded by time. This left the matter of a ruling for the second appeal on the merit of the charges. She refused to further delay the trial pending a ruling from the High Court and indicated she would only stop the trial if she were in possession of an order to stop. This came as no surprise as the State have been overeager to take this matter to trial.

Mr Ncube then applied for a constitutional application on the grounds that the sections under which Williams and Mahlangu are charged violate their constitutional right to freedom of expression, association and assembly. It would be a matter for the Supreme Court to determine if charges constitute a violation of these rights. This is the second application to be made for Williams and Mahlangu by Ncube. The first application is from July 2007 and it is still pending in the Supreme Court.

Magistrate Msipa will hand down her ruling on the application on Monday 9th March at 10 am. She will have to determine if the application has merit or deem it frivolous or vexatious. If she deems it to be frivolous, she will insist on going to trial immediately.

WOZA wishes to express disquiet about the manner in which this matter is being dealt with by the State. At one stage the Magistrate even went so far as to inform Ncube that his arguments were not appropriate at this stage but should be included in his appeal, indicating that a guilty verdict has already been prepared. WOZA asks for observers in court on Monday as concern is mounting that a free and fair trial is not on the cards for Williams and Mahlangu. If convicted they could face up to five years in prison.

Meanwhile, eight members of WOZA and two lawyers arrested on 10th February appeared in Harare Rotten Row Court on 4th March. The matter was to have gone to trial but as the state witnesses were not present, the trial will now take place on 25th March.

WOZA would also like to express solidarity with the released detainees, including Jestina Mukoko. We wish them a speedy recovery from their ordeal. We call upon the state to release all other detainees without any further delay – justice delayed is justice denied.

News update – 3pm:

The 22 women arrested in Pumula today have been released without being charged. As lawyers from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights were unavailable to attend to the matter, WOZA National Coordinator, Jenni Williams, and Magodonga Mahlangu attended the police station and met with the Officer in Charge, Assistant Inspector Chimani. He advised that the members had already been released and apologised for arresting them, saying that the officers concerned did not realise that they were WOZA members.

WOZA would like to acknowledge the professionalism of Assistant Inspector Chimani but call on him and other police officers to stop the arbitrary arrest of Zimbabweans.

***

At 11 am today, 22 women in a private home were arrested in Pumula, a suburb of Bulawayo.  They are currently being held at Pumula Police Station. Most of the arrested are members of WOZA who were discussing the constitutional reform process. As lawyers were unable to respond, WOZA National Coordinator, Jenni Williams called the Officer in Charge at Pumula, Assistant Inspector Chimani, and asked him why the members had been arrested. He professed no knowledge of the situation.

The meeting was a private meeting of members exempt under all public order laws. Please call Inspector Chimani on + 263 9 422907 or 422898 and ask him to stop harassing WOZA members. Also advise him that there is an ongoing constitutional reform process countrywide and that they should participate and allow others to participate freely.

WOZA members arrest themselves in solidarity outside ZESA headquaters in Harare

61 of the 65 members, including juveniles, arrested outside ZESA headquarters in Harare earlier today have been released without charge. Four members, Jenni Williams, Magodonga Mahlangu, Clara Manjengwa and Celina Madukani, remain in custody and will spend the night in cells. They are being charged with participating in an illegal gathering.

Please continue to call Harare Central Police Station on (+263 4) 777777 or (+263 4) 736931 or (+263 4) 725803 or (+263 4) 733033 or (+263 4) 721212 to demand that the WOZA activists be taken to court tomorrow and that they not be mistreated in custody.

Watch footage from the demonstration here: clip-21

Update 1 March 2011 – number of arrested rises to 21 The seven members arrested remain in custody and finally managed to receive a meal at lunchtime today. All seven will spend a second night in custody.

The Mabutweni 4, three ladies and one man, were seen by relatives at lunchtime and were walking uncomfortable. They made a sign that they had been beaten under the soles of their feet. This is Falanga, a form of torture.  These four complained that there was no water at Sauerstown police station. They have now been moved to central police station and as the relocation was conducted over feeding time, police refused to allow them to get their meal late.

Moreblessing, the nursing mother continues to be denied access to her baby. Attempts by the lawyer to see his clients failed and when he pushed the Investigating officer Z. Moyo to discuss charges he was told to relax ‘we have finished arresting people yet’.

Another 14 people, 4 members and 10 non-members were meeting in Mabutweni to contribute their $1 burial society fee; police swooped and arrested them all. The 14, all women are not accounted for at this time, the hunt for them at different police stations continues. There is not food given to prisoners at police stations so if relatives fail to bring in food, they starve.

Police officers, some in full Riot gear visited the homes of another 6 members but they were not home.
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28 February 2011 press statement Seven members, two beaten, all spending night in custody in Bulawayo and were denied food brought in by relatives.

At noon, today 28 February 2011, three Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA) members were arrested in Entumbane at a member’s house. Police came into the house where the members were meeting. They made the men present; numbering about 15, hold out their hands. They then arrested Proud Pandeya, Noah Mapfuma who they said had black hands, and according to them this is a sure sign that they smoke cannabis. At this point Gift Nkomo walked in and was also subsequently arrested. They were taken by these plain-clothes police officers to their local police station. One of the police officers fisted Proud four times in the face when they were arrested. They were released them after 2 hours. At five pm, police officers then came to re-arrest them and tried to arrest a fourth member who was not at home. The were said to be being taken to Bulawayo Central Police station for questioning but the feeding team could not locate them there.

At 4pm today, another 4 members were arrested, three women and one male.  They were arrested in the Mabutweni suburb of Bulawayo at the home of  Sitshiyiwe Ngwenya. They were sitting in the house and counting burial society contributions. The four who include Joyce Ndebele, Moreblessing Dube, one a nursing mother, and the male member Kholwani Ndlovu were arrested by plain clothed police officers from Western Commonage police station. They were loaded into a white van and taken to Western Commonage police station in Mpopoma south. The lawyer, Lizwe Jamela of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights was unable to see them as they were being relocated to Bulawayo Central police station.

Relatives, who sacrificed to buy food at a food outlet, as there was no electricity to cook food, arrived at the police station to give the food to the activists but were detained for an hour. Police Officer George Levison Ngwenya, threatened to arrest them for bringing ‘bought’ food but another police officer told them to leave with the food. Kholwani was obviously in pain from being severely beaten and him and the three women arrested at Mabutweni were seen by their relatives in the Law and Order department and were being made to answer profile questions and were due to be relocated for a third time to Sauerstown police station along the airport road.

WOZA leaders wish to express concern for members arrested and for the two male members beaten by police. We also express concern about the whereabouts of the 3 members arrested in Entumbane who were not to be found at Bulawayo Central police station.

WOZA is currently consulting members on the introduction of a development programme to be entitled Demand Dignity – Demand Development. This programme is based on the works of Mahatma Ghandi who combined an obstructive and constructive programme to mobilise independence to the Indian people. The CONSTRUCTIVE (productive and practical) Program emphasises on “cooperating with good” whiles the OBSTRUCTIVE (disruptive and defiant) Program’s emphasis is on “resisting evil.”

About the Demand Dignity – Demand Development Programme History have shown us that while nonviolent movements have successfully liberated people from repressive regimes in almost all cases the same problems of poverty and other forms of structural violence have returned to undermine the gains of the struggle. This is not because Nonviolence doesn’t “work” but because Nonviolence campaigns or obstructive campaigns need to have a Constructive Program to make them complete and deliver permanent, constructive change.

So WOZA/MOZA have resolved to begin a Constructive Program for members so that they can see positive alternatives to oppression, let them begin to act out the future, become productive and practical. As we do this we will also escalate our demand for social justice. WOZA and MOZA have been conducting some of these activities as part of our fight for freedom and our demand for social justice, a new constitution and a better life – we have been trying to see the Zimbabwe of our dreams.

Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) 300 member’s representatives delivered 101 000 ‘anti abuse of power’ petition signatures, red cards and symbolic ‘Coffins’  to Parliament for onward submission to the Anti Corruption and Monopolies Committee on Wednesday 24 August 2011. Riot Police made a police line and refused to allow anyone to cross. The coffin carrying protest group 50 meters from reaching the door of parliament. Some leaders managed to cross the police line with the red cards and box of petitions but the Coffin ‘pall bearers’  were stopped by the police officers who then ‘arrested’ the coffins.

A Riot Police officer was overheard making a call to his superior from his mobile phone.  Obviously speaking to a secretary, he said – “Tell the boss I have WOZA here what should I do. Its urgent, the first group has arrived and there are many. “Getting no immediate solace, he had to keep insisting on the urgency and eventually was given some response and hung up the phone putting it his pocket and just moving to stand with others. A plain clothed intelligence agent was then heard calling his superior and confirming the orders ‘leave them alone and let them do what they want.”  A 30 minute stand-off ensued whilst the activists used alternative routes to deliver the petitions.

During this time a huge group of passers-by gathered to read the flyers; watch the drama unfolding, and to comment on the Electricity issue.  Members sang Shona language songs, calling for removal al of the ZESA monopoly.  When the riot police became aggressive, they switched to song, Udzvanyiriri ndiwo unei (so what is this oppression all about) and ‘munu wese ane kodzero’ (everyone has rights, even police officers). Various members took the opportunity to address the gathering and bemoaned the challenges of continual power cuts and the need to spend money on alternative means light and fuel to cook food.

A police van approached driving at speed towards the procession causing the peaceful activists to scatter. The police officers then took the change to push their line with reinforcements and order the members to disperse.

Members had mandated their leaders to deliver the petitions calling for the Electricity monopoly to end.  This is part of the WOZA anti Abuse of power campaign which has so far involved delivery of ‘yellow cards’ and now ‘red cards’ to suburban and central officers of the power utility. WOZA are pressurising the parliamentary committee as they have already conducted many public hearings but are yet to take action. ZESA has also recently threatened to raise rates. Member with a fixed system of Electricity which works on fixed amps, are given a fixed charge which does not cater for the power cuts. Members also feel that they could be better off with prepaid meters than paying a full bill for a part service.

These 101 000 petition signature sheets were what remained after police raided the WOZA office on after the 10 June raid and removed sheets of signatures. An initial count with was in progress when they raided revealed that at least one million signatures had been received.

On Monday 22 August 13 members were indiscriminately arrested in Bulawayo but released within a few hours. Police officers in Harare did not disturb the peace but violated our right to reach our parliament and to hand over our petitions.

Officials from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Holdings have since called WOZA National Coordinator Jenni Williams to arrange a meeting to discuss members concerns.

At 2:15pm 25 Aug 2011, 30 members went to the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (Jomic) offices in Avondale Harare to hand over a second further letter of complaint. Jomic is responsible for the monitoring and implementation of the Global Political Agreement. WOZA have complained of police harassment and the visit yesterday was to pressure Jomic to respond to previous letters of complaint about the 10 June 2011 raid of WOZA offices by Zimbabwe Republic Police. The members,  found that the receptionist and serious officials were still away on the lunch break and had to hand over their letter to a junior officer. The spent 15 minutes singing and awaiting senior officers to no avail. WOZA Leaders, Williams and Mahlangu threatened to come back with a larger group if Jomic did not correspond and take their complaints seriously.

Stand up for your child in 2008

2008 has started with huge increases in school fees. When schools closed last year, there were very few teachers, almost no books and many children had already dropped out because they could not pay the fees. This year is no better. The country is a disaster; even if you have money, you cannot get cash or easily find something to buy. There is nothing to celebrate and very little that people can smile about. But you will always find children smiling and laughing – they are happy that someone loves them and will stand up for them. Many parents sacrifice for their child to be educated. In some countries, parents are even sent to jail if they do not send their children to school. But in Zimbabwe, parents cannot provide their children with this basic right to an education.

Our government, which is a government of ‘parents’ and so-called liberation war veterans, knows that the war was fought with the promise of FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION. Blood was spilt for this promise to have been fulfilled. Instead of enjoying the fruits of liberation, after school fees went up by 1,000% last year, school fees are again being increased by millions this year. Government is now also saying that they cannot afford to pay teachers and want the parents to pay them. Is the country bankrupt? If it is then why is there money for the CIO to do whatever they want to do and for the chefs to get new cars? Where are they getting the money from and why can this money not be used to fulfil the promise of free primary education?

Our education system is being allowed to collapse and our children’s future is being sacrificed on the altar of political power by a bunch of corrupt, insensitive, selfish thieves. Can we continue to keep quiet whilst our children are robbed of their future?

Is it a good thing for parents to vote for a politician who has stolen our children’s hopes and dreams? Too many of our children have been forced to become thieves and prostitutes in order to survive or die alone in foreign countries, far away from their loved ones.

Every parent dreams of a better life for their children – that their children will grow strong, be happy, have many children of their own and be successful enough to look after us in our old age. During the liberation war, we were promised free primary education because they wanted all Zimbabweans to be highly educated. To allow the education system to collapse is a crime – for how long must we have to suffer for the crimes of this government? They are stealing our future, which is the same as stealing our lives.

Now is the time to stand strong for your children’s future and for your own.

Remember the proverb taught to us by our ancestors – look after your children because they will look after you when you are old. Chirere chakura chichakurerawo / mondle angakhula uzakondla lawe.

Another African proverb tells us that when spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion. Let us learn from the wisdom of our ancestors – if we come together, we can take back our children’s future.

WOZA urges you to join us in 2008 in standing up for the future of our children.

Over 1,000 members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA/MOZA) took to the streets of Harare today to commemorate the United Nations International Day of Peace. Riot police responded but no arrests have been reported to date but WOZA leaders are still in the process of confirming the safe return of all activists in their areas.

Six simultaneous protests converged on the offices of the United Nations in Kwame Nkurumah Street from different starting points. The peaceful group of men and women sang as they marched ‘Father, send the Holy Spirit to bring peace to Zimbabwe’ and ‘we are united as WOZA, speaking with one voice that we want peace’. At the UNDP offices, a petition asking the UN to help intervene in Zimbabwe to restore the health and education sectors was handed in to officials in the building. The petition (included in the September Woza Moya newsletter) also called on the UN to pressure the inclusive government to stop the harassment of vendors and ordinary Zimbabweans by police.

Placards carried by the demonstrators included: ‘there is no peace in Zimbabwe’, ‘we want peace’ and ‘there is no education – is this what the GPA means?’ Bystanders called their encouragement to the demonstrators, including a uniformed police officer that urged the group to walk faster so that they could reach their target before the riot police arrived.

The theme of the protest was ‘Social Justice will bring Peace of Mind’ and its aim was to carry a message to the inclusive government that Zimbabweans still do not have peace of mind a year after the power-sharing deal was signed. Life for ordinary Zimbabweans remains precarious and human rights activists continue to be beaten and harassed for exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest. Since the power-sharing deal was signed in September 2008, 40 WOZA activists have been arrested on seven separate occasions after peaceful protests, WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu spent three weeks in Mlondolozi Prison and hundreds of peaceful Zimbabweans citizens were brutally beaten by police for merely speaking out about the hardships in their lives.

Through today’s march, WOZA is calling on the government of Zimbabwe to implement all aspects of the Global Political Agreement to ensure that Zimbabweans can have peace of mind and to guarantee the right of ALL Zimbabweans to live in peace. The scars of violence, recent and decades-old, still affect Zimbabweans whilst the daily struggle for survival continues with no respite. Social justice and a meaningful constitutional process needs to be prioritized by the government instead of political games.

The march also marked the International Day of Peace which is commemorated annually on 21st September and which encourages individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace.

Refugee Seven:

The Refugee Seven appeared on 6th January 2010. They were due to hear the magistrate’s ruling on whether they could be removed off remand whilst their case is being heard before the Supreme Court. The ruling was not ready however and so the group was further remanded to 12th January. On the 12th, the magistrate was not available and so the group was again further remanded to 25th January. On the 25th, the magistrate finally gave her ruling, denying the activists the right to be removed off remand. They were further remanded to 25th February 2010.

Williams and Mahlangu:

The duo had appeared in Bulawayo Magistrates Court on 18th December 2009 but Magistrate Msipa was not ready with her ruling on whether the pair could be removed off remand. They were further remanded to 21st December. On the 21st, she refused the request to remove the activists off remand saying that they had brought the delay upon themselves by taking a challenge to the Supreme Court. The pair was further remanded to 24th February 2010.

At the beginning of the year, defense lawyer, Kossam Ncube made an urgent application to the High Court for Magistrate Mspia to be reviewed, claiming that her ruling as being ‘anter-alia grossly unreasonable and irregular‘. A copy of this application can be found in the legal documents folder.

The 10-day waiting period elapsed without the state responding to the application. It was passed unopposed on 28th January 2010 and an order for the activists to be removed off remand was issued.

WOZA is delighted that Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu have finally been removed off remand in a case that has been ongoing since 16 October 2008 but are concerned that the ruling from the Supreme Court has still not been received.