R2K Statement: Freedom Week 2017: Power to the People!
Tomorrow as the nation celebrates freedom day, R2K calls on South Africans to stand together to defend the political space we all need to advance our struggles for social, economic, and environmental justice. Our democracy is at a crossroads and it has become critical that we reclaim the power back to the people.
R2K will mark “Freedom Week” – 27 April (Freedom Day), 1 May (May Day) and 3 May (World Press Freedom Day) by recognising the struggles and victories that people across South Africa are waging to defend and make real the equality, justice and freedom promised by democracy.
Our Freedom Week Programme includes events hosted by activists and organisations in the R2K network to highlight freedom of assembly and association, the free flow of information, and the freedom of expression. Our current political climate has exposed that these freedoms are under attack and it is our duty and responsibility as citizens to continue the fight to protect our democracy.
We continue to witness disturbing scenes where police responds with brutality against protestors or any dissenting groupings. The right to protest is a fundamental human right guaranteed in our Constitution and is critical to ensuring that ordinary citizens are able to voice their dissatisfaction and to hold government and the private sector accountable for their actions and obligations.
It is through protest and other forms of resistance that we manage to triumph over the apartheid system and we will continue to defend the right to protest.
23 years to our democracy, we continue to face increasing repression from state securocrats who are hellbent at clamping down on free flow of information and freedom of expression. From the recent proposal by Minister of State Security David Mahlobo to “regulate” social media through new laws such as the draft Cybercrimes Bill to the looming R1-trillion secret Nuclear Deal, this failing government is showing worrying signs of paranoia. Freedom of expression is a solid foundation of an accountable, transparent and healthy democracy.
Last year, we saw unprecedented protest and public action against SABC censorship, and a Parliamentary inquiry that finally exposed the full extent of state capture of the SABC, and an apparent end to Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s reign. There is a long way to go before the public broadcaster is in full health, but these victories are a reminder that sustained and united action can push back against the interference of state securocrats.
During Freedom Week we will host 37 events in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. See list of events here and support the events in your area, invite others via our Facebook page. Remember to spread the word on social media #FreedomWeek
Thursday 27 April (Freedom Day)
EVENT: WomensNet and GirlsNet online discussion on feminist principles of the internet. @Womensnet_za #ICTWomen #imagineafeministinternet# handsofsocialmedia
DATES: 27 April – 3 May
CONTACT: Elrie Visser 0725244191
EVENT: Vaal Coalition of Grassroots Movements Picket on the Nuclear Deal & Electricity Cut Offs
TIME: 10h00 am
VENUE: ESKOM Gates, Palm Springs Mall, opposite Tharabolloe Secondary School, Gauteng.
CONTACT: Phakamile Khumalo 0797820946, Thandeka Kgokong 0603216788
EVENT: Anti-Evictions Pickets by the Coalition of Soweto Grassroots Movements
TIME 10h00
VENUE: Zone.1 Diepkloof Municipal Offices, Gauteng.
CONTACT: Eunice Manzini 0784822178, Gregory 0784239914
EVENT: Un-Freedom Day Land Occupation Rally
TIME 10h00
VENUE: Freedom Park Primary School, Gauteng.
CONTACT: Thami Hukwe 0623090468
EVENT: Anti Evictions Picket@ Mayors Office
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: Mayors Office, Lillian Ngoyi & Madiba street, Gauteng.
CONTACT: Peter Zulu 0848633777
EVENT: Freedom Week Film Screening: Miners Shot Down
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: From MSEECC Offices then to other sections of Ivory Park, Gauteng.
Contacts: Moeketsi Monaheng 0780417402/0815098272
EVENT: Café: The Freedom Charter – a promise deferred/ The basket of freedoms in the Bill of Rights
TIME: 10H00
VENUE: Community House COSATU boardroom
CONTACTS: Ghalib Galant 0849591912
EVENT: KZN political education/ school
TIME: 19h00
VENUE: Dinver centre, 121 Joe SLovo, Durban
CONTACT: Phezu Ntetha, 0827157010
EVENT: Soundz of the South UnFreedom Day Concert featuring Charles X
TIME: 20h00
VENUE: The Drawing Room, Observatory, Cape Town
CONTACT: Anele Selekwa 0835121003
Friday 28 April
EVENT: Right2Know Feminist Workshop
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: SERI, No.54 Aspern House 6th Floor, Dekorte street, Braamfontein, Gauteng
CONTACT: Ntombi Tshabalala 0785948962
EVENT: Freedom Week Film Screening: The Show
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: From MSEECC Offices then to other sections of Ivory Park, Gauteng.
Contacts: Moeketsi Monaheng 0780417402/0815098272
EVENT: Marikana: Prayer Vigil Teach out
TIME: 10:00 -15:00
VENUE: Marikana community close to Lower Cross Road
CONTACT: Nonkosi 0635037190
EVENT: CTV: Panel Discussion – Holding ourselves to account
TIME: 9:00 – 10:00
VENUE: Cape Town TV studio
CONTACT: Pupa Fumba 0647883997
Saturday 29 April
EVENT: Freedom Week Film Screening: Miners Shot Down
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: From MSEECC Offices then to other sections of Ivory Park, Gauteng.
CONTACT: Moeketsi Monaheng 0780417402/0815098272
EVENT: Soundz of the South Healthy Food and Revolutionary Music in Khayelitsha
TIME: 12h00
VENUE: Isivivana Centre, Khayelitsha, Cape Town
CONTACT: Anele Selekwa 0835121003
Event: Screening: The Unfinished Revolution (Arab Spring); Facilitated Discussion on Protest; Poster-making mini-workshop
TIME: 10h00
VENUE : Isivivana Centre, khayeltsha , Cape Town
CONTACT : Mhlobo Gunguluzi 078 7427719
EVENT: Newcastle orientation and screening in the community
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: TBC
CONTACTS: Phezu Ntetha, 0827157010
EVENT: KZN Women’s Dialogue
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: Shepston Building, UKZN, King George V Ave, Glenwood, Durban
CONTACT: Precious Mazibuko 0724013105
Sunday 30 April
EVENT: Freedom Week Film Screening: The Giant is Falling
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: From MSEECC Offices then to other sections of Ivory Park, Gauteng.
CONTACT: Moeketsi Monaheng 0780417402/0815098272
EVENT: Freedom Week Film Screening: Seeds of Freedom
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: From MSEECC Offices then to other sections of Ivory Park, Gauteng.
CONTACT: Moeketsi Monaheng 0780417402/0815098272
Monday 1 May (May Day)
EVENT: Freedom Week Film Screening: The Giant is Falling
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: From MSEECC Offices then to other sections of Ivory Park, Gauteng.
CONTACT: Moeketsi Monaheng 0780417402/0815098272
Tuesday 2 May
EVENT: #DATA MUST FALL Workshop,
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: SERI Conference/ Boardroom, No. 54 Aspern House 6th floor, Dekorte street, Braamfontein
CONTACT: General Moyo 0715290675
EVENT: Freedom Week Film Screening: The Giant is Falling
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: From MSEECC Offices then to other sections of Ivory Park, Gauteng.
CONTACT: Moeketsi Monaheng 0780417402/0815098272
EVENT Surveillance Self-defence Workshop
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: Tshisimani, 1 Batten Ln & Main Road, Mowbray, Cape Town
CONTACTS: Murray Hunter 0726725468
Wednesday 3 May (Press Freedom Day)
EVENT: Palm Springs Community Association Police Brutality Picket
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: Mafatsane Police Station in Evaton, Gauteng.
Contact: Zaza Ngwabini 0780227576
EVENT: Freedom Week Film Screening: The Show
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: From MSEECC Offices then to other sections of Ivory Park, Gauteng.
Contacts: Moeketsi Monaheng 0780417402/0815098272
EVENT: Soundz of the South Freedom Train Cypha
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: Khayelitsha to Cape Town Train , Grand Parade
CONTACTS: Anele Selekwa 0835121003
EVENT: #DataMustFall March to MTN headquarters
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: Mount Edgecombe
CONTACTS: Thabo Maile 0781194257
EVENT: Feminist Breakfast: Media Freedom
TIME: 10h00
VENUE: Society for the Blind
CONTACT: Vainola Makan 0738937140
EVENT: Freedom of Expression/Hate Speech Workshop & Rap Throw-down
TIME: 13h00
VENUE: Society For the Blind
CONTACT: Biko Mutsaurwa 0788741229
