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The Unemployed Peoples Movement (UPM), in association with the Makana Citizens Front (MCF), the Black Consciousness Movement United (BCMU), the Assembly of the Unemployed, the Zabalaza Movement for Socialism, Cry of the Excluded, Pathways Institute and the Inyanda National Land Movement will host several political activities and initiatives in honour of a fallen, gallant and revolutionary socialist leader, comrade Ayanda Kota who passed away on 21 February 2024, after a short illness.
Comrade Ayanda Kota was the founder of the Unemployed Peoples Movement (UPM), Makana Citizens Front (MCF), Zabalaza Movement for Socialism, and an active member of the Black Consciousness Movement United (BCMU). He devoted most of his time, energy, and resources to fighting, exposing, and challenging the system of neo-colonialism, patriarchy, global capitalism, and imperialism. These have been responsible for the creation of massive unemployment, massive poverty, massive inequalities, massive crime, massive disease, and devastation of the environment as well as massive corruption.
Comrade Ayanda Kota detested and abhorred all forms of economic exploitation, political oppression, and social degradation as well as injustice and its manifestations including Afrophobia, racism, Tribalism Zionism, Gender Based Violence, and Femicide.
Comrade Ayanda Kota was a brave, fearless thinker. He was a courageous and organic revolutionary leader, a freedom fighter, and an advocate of scientific socialism who forged and built strategic and principal partnerships with radical social movements, progressive organs of civil society, and alternative popular movements.
He worked in order to expose, challenge, and fight the neocolonialist and neoliberal capitalist government in our country and similar governments across the globe by waging a relentless working class and community struggle. He led campaigns for decent jobs, quality healthcare, water, education, housing, electricity, and infrastructure, for a just transition and the restoration of the dignity and humanity of the majority of the population.
The Unemployed Peoples Movement (UPM) in association with the Makana Citizens Front (MCF) and the Black Consciousness Movement United (BCMU) will be hosting the following mobilizations and consciousness-building events as stated below in honour of the political life of comrade Ayanda Kota.
- A Memorial Service on Wednesday, 28 February 2024 at the Ethiopian church in Makhanda at 14h00.
Representatives from political parties and social movements, the Makana Local Football Association (LFA), and his team will deliver revolutionary messages of solidarity and support. Amongst other political parties invited include the Pan Africanist Congress of Azanian, Economic Freedom Fighters, Azanian Peoples Organisation, Black Consciousness Movement
United, as well as social movements such as Pathways Institute, Inyanda National Land Movement, Isikhalo Womxns Movement, and the Independent Komani Residents Association.
- A candlelight protest action on Thursday, 29 February 2024 at Soccer City at 14h00
This will enable the citizens of Makana to submit a memorandum of demands to the Makana Municipality for effective delivery of essential public services, improved infrastructure development, and promotion of good governance and ethical leadership that priorities the cardinal interests and needs of the poor. The citizens of Makana will assemble at Soccer City on Raglan Road, Fingo, and march to the Makana Local Muncipality offices to deliver a memorandum at 17h30.
- A Funeral service will be held on Saturday 02 March 2024 at the Indoor Sports Centre in Joza
At 07h00 at Comrade Ayanda’s home in Joza, comrade Ayanda’s body will arrive. At 09h30 the service will start at the Indoor Sports Centre. Speakers to deliver revolutionary messages of solidarity and support will include the Makana Executive Mayor, Yandiswa Vara, Executive Director of Pathways Institute, Mazibuko Jara, Executive Director of the Alternative Information and Development Centre, Brian Ashley, Patron of the Unemployed Peoples’ Movement Lybon Mabasa, President of the Black Consciousness Movement United Hlulani Mabasa, and progressive academics from the University currently known as Rhodes.
We are now calling upon the citizens of Makana to honour and attend these consciousness-building events especially the funeral on the 2nd of March 2024.
We also call upon all radical and progressive social movements, popular movements and left parties, and revolutionary movements to utilize the current political climate in the country and the globe to intensify the politicisation, organizing, and conscientisation of the Unemployed poor and working-class communities for the purposes of exposing challenging and fighting the neo-colonialist, neoliberal capitalist system with a view to strive towards building a new democratic and better world.
For more information: 060 364 0126
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This press statement was released by Lungisa Sixaba Chairperson of the Organization and Co-ordination Committee for the Funeral. on 27 February 2024.
