From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ayanda Kota (b. 1976 d. 2024) was an activist who was the founded the
Unemployed Peoples' Movement in
Grahamstown ,
South Africa in 2009 and became its first chairperson.
[1]
[2]
[3] He was also the President of the Makana Football Association.
[4] His political roots were in the
black consciousness movement
[5] and he was strongly critical of the ruling
African National Congress .
[6]
[7]
[8] He was the organiser for the Unemployed People's Movement.
[9]
Arrest and assault
On 12 January 2012 he was arrested on a charge of theft after failing to return two books that he had borrowed from a local academic. He was subject to police assault while in custody.
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14] A number of organisations issued statements in response to the arrest.
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18] Kota later stated that he had misplaced the books in question and had repeatedly offered to replace them and that this offer had been clearly communicated to the police.
[19]
All charges against Kota were withdrawn a month after the arrest.
[20]
In October 2016 the Minister of Police admitted that the assault had taken place and agreed to pay Kota R 120 000 in compensation.
[21]
Role during 2015 xenophobia crisis
In October 2015 Grahamstown was wracked by serious xenophobic violence. Kota played a key role in grassroots work to oppose xenophobia.
[22]
[23]
Death
Kota died of cancer on 22 February 2024, following which tributes to his work were made by many activists.
[24]
Publications
Some of his published articles are:
SA, we cannot say we are free , Ayanda Kota, Afro-Spear , 2011
Malema does not speak for poor youths , Ayanda Kota, Mail & Guardian , 2011
Secrecy Bill shows ANC's historic mission is over , Ayanda Kota, Mail & Guardian , December 2011
ANC centenary a display of elite power , Ayanda Kota, Links , January 2012
Time for radical action on the unemployment crisis , Ayanda Kota, Pambazuka , 17 May 2012
Apartheid petty and grand, old and new is evil , Ayanda Kota, Pambazuka , 26 April 2012
The Marikana mine workers massacre: a massive escalation in the war on the poor , Ayanda Kota, San Francisco Bay View , 18 August 2012
Biko’s struggle goes on , Ayanda Kota, Grocott's Mail , 12 September 2013
Don’t vote for these messiahs , Ayanda Kota, GroundUp , 2 April 2014
In Memory of Comrade Nkosi Molala - Honorary President of the Black Consciousness Movement , Ayanda Kota, GroundUp , 22 September 2016
References
^
"Occupy South Africa on the Global Occupy Map" . Archived from
the original on 1 December 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2011 .
^
Mixed feelings after Centenary celebrations , South African Broadcasting Corporation , 9 January 2012
^
Kota steps down , Stuart Thembisile Lewis, Student News Grid , 10 May 2012
^
Makana stars shine at soccer awards
Archived 2016-03-04 at the
Wayback Machine , Malibongwe Maxhawulana, Grocott's Mail , 14 March 2011
^
Dissident Voices from South Africa , IndyMedia UK
^
Ayanda Kota: Unapologetic ANC apostate , by Mandy de Waal, The Daily Maverick , 7 February 2012
^
Eastern Cape's so-called health system: In dire need of resuscitation , by Mandy de Waal, The Daily Maverick , June 2012
^
State to get tough on violent protesters
Archived 2013-02-18 at the
Wayback Machine , The Herald , 15 February 2013 Quinton Mtyala
^
Picket sparks City Hall action
Archived 2013-05-06 at the
Wayback Machine , Thembani Onceya. Grocott's Mail , 3 May 2013
^
Outcry over ‘savage assault’
Archived January 17, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine , ADRIENNE CARLISLE and DAVID MACGREGOR, The Daily Dispatch , 14 January 2012
^
Grahamstown activist arrested for book theft
FARANAAZ PARKER, Mail & Guardian , Jan 13 2012
^
UPM leader arrested and allegedly beaten by police
Archived 2012-03-13 at the
Wayback Machine , Desiree Schirlinger & Michael Salzwedel, Grocott's Mail , 13 January 2012
^
Amnesty International Annual Report - South Africa,2013
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Ayanda Kota Assaulted in the Grahamstown Police Station - Under Arrest , Unemployed People's Movement
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Students for Social Justice Statement on the Arrest of Ayanda Kota , Students for Social Justice
^
Ayanda Kota: We are all in the same boat
Archived April 23, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine , The Mandela Park Backyarders
^
Drop Charges Against Ayanda Kota
Archived March 20, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine , Democratic Left Front
^
Release Ayanda Kota Now! , Abahlali baseMjondolo
^
Ayanda Kota's Response to Claudia Martinez-Mullen , January 2012
^
No charges, but cops still want to throw the book at Kota , FARANAAZ PARKER, Mail & Guardian , 2012
^
Activist to get compensated following police assault , David Doochin, GroundUp , 16 October 2016
^
Xenophobia in Grahamstown: 'We are not leaving!' , KJ VAN RENSBURG, F MTHONTI & M ERSKOG, The Daily Maverick , 29 October 2015
^ OHalloran, P. (2016). "Contested Space and Citizenship in Grahamstown, South Africa". Journal of Asian and African Studies . 53 : 20–33.
doi :
10.1177/0021909616664920 .
ISSN
0021-9096 .
S2CID
151789387 .
^
Ayanda Kota, who dedicated his life to fighting for the underdog, has died , Loyiso Dyongman, Ground Up , 23 February 2024