Against Chauvinism, Against Nationalism!
An Introduction by the ZACF

As the media, the politicians and the "experts" rack their brains in search of the cause of the "criminality" and "xenophobia" that has killed 42 people in 10 days and driven 15 000 from their homes, organisations of the working class have come closer to the truth than any of these wise men and women....

In Solidarity with Cosatu and the Workers of the World
ZACF Statement on Zimbabwe, Xenophobia and Food Prices

The Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front (ZACF) recognises that the crisis in Zimbabwe, ongoing xenophobic attacks and rising food prices are of great importance to the working class, both in South Africa and internationally. Resolving these crises in favour of the poor and working poor will require mass direct action and solidarity.

Source: ZACF Statement - 16 May 2008

From Haymarket to Sebokeng: the Struggle Continues

A comrade fighting for water and housing in Sebokeng, south of Johannesburg, was murdered by police on the night of April 30. The ZACF condemns the latest outrage in a long tale of repression of working class movements, and calls on the oppressed to stand firm in struggle.

Source: ZACF Statement - 1 May 2008

May Day 2008

Towards a new international movement of the exploited,
Against neo-liberalism, against war, against hunger and poverty,
For peace, food and housing for all, for safe and secure jobs,
Towards the libertarian alternative!

Source: Joint FdCA/WSM/ZACF Statement - 1 May 2008

The Working Class Takes a Stand: Stop Chinese Arms Shipment to the Zimbabwean Regime!

We welcome and support the decision by the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union for their workers neither to unload nor transport the shipment of Chinese-made armaments destined for Zimbabwe. This is a very encouraging sign of working class solidarity and internationalism, and we hope that such actions will indeed prevent this weapons consignment from reaching its destination - the Zimbabwean Defence Force.

Source: ZACF Statement - 18 April 2008

ZACF Statement on the Murder of Pudemo Deputy President Dr. Gabriel Thandokuhle Mkhumane

The Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front was saddened and concerned to learn of the murder of Pudemo Deputy President Dr. Gabriel Thandokuhle Mkhumane.

Source: ZACF Statement - April 2008

ZACF Statement of Solidarity with APF/CAWP Activists and Against Police Violence

The Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front declares its support for the Anti-Privatisation Forum and Coalition Against Water Privatisation activists who have recently been victims of police intimidation and violence.

Source: ZabFront Statement - April 2008

Real Human Freedom Not Fake Human Rights
ZACF Human Rights Day Statement

South Africa is said to have one of the most progressive constitutions in the world. It enshrines the rights of every person, of every background, from workers and immigrants to women and homosexuals. As such you would think that, especially for people from oppressed groups, South Africa would be a safe haven.

Source: ZabFront Statement - 26 March 2008

ZACF Statement on Violence and Harassment Against Women

All too often across South Africa women are assaulted and abused at the hands of sexist and chauvinist men. If a woman wears long pants, she may be stripped and humiliated; if she wears a mini-skirt she may be assaulted; if she loves another woman she may be raped and/ or murdered; or all of the above just for being a woman. In this country, in which everyone is so proud of their so-called progressive constitution, a woman is not free to be herself unless the image of herself conforms to that narrow-minded image of how a woman should act and behave held by so many bigoted men.

Source: ZabFront Statement - 8 March 2008

A Reply to the Opportunistic Slanders of Trevor Ngwane

In response to Trevor Ngwane's comment (on Anarkismo.net, see full article here), we must acknowledge that our article "Collective Bargaining by Riot" contained errors and misleading statements. We regret any statement or suggestion that Ngwane was a candidate either for the Johannesburg metro council in 2006, or for any position as an office-bearer of the Anti-Privatisation Forum at the time of the election of Bricks Mokolo as chairperson. We know of nothing in APF policy that denied Ngwane and his comrades the right to stand in the local elections via the Operation Khanyisa movement, nor would we have denied them that right, although we have consistently rejected electoral politics as an authoritarian method that can only undermine the struggles of the oppressed classes. Let them stand if they want, but we will neither vote for them nor in any way support them...

Source: ZabFront Statement - February 2008

ZACF Statement on WITS Protests

It is clear that what is happening at Wits - the fee increases, privatisation of residence etc – is part of the ANC government's plan for the general neo-liberal restructuring of the universities in order to turn them into "market universities" orientated first and foremost towards generating profit. This is a hard fact which both the ANCYL and Sasco students leading the protests have tried studiously to avoid admitting.

Source: ZabFed Release

ZACF Statement of Solidarity with Sebokeng Community Struggle

On Tuesday morning, 14th of August, over 1000 community members from Sebokeng's "informal settlement" attempted to blockade the Golden Highway between Sebokeng and Johannesburg in protest at the ANC government's inadequate service delivery since its election in 1994.

Source: ZabFed Release

Anarchism in South Africa - An interview with Michael Schmidt of the ZACF by Alternative Libertaire

The ZACF is one of the most active libertarian formations in the southern part of the African continent. In order to better understand its history, its intervention in southern African society and the fights which it impels and supports, we interviewed one of its militants, Michael Schmidt - Alternative Libertaire, July 2007

Original French version here

Will the Workers and the Poor Benefit from the 2010 World Cup?

Text based on a Red and Black Forum workshop given by the ZACF, held on 5th May at Khanya College in Johannesburg, about the relevance and impact of the 2010 Soccer World Cup for the poor and working poor in South Africa.

Source: ZabFed Release

ZACF Statement of Support for Public Sector Strike

The Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation (southern Africa) supports the public sector strikers, not just in their demand for a wage increase of 12%, which has now been reduced to 10%, but also in their struggle to improve the standard of all public sector services.

Source: ZabFed Release

Xenophobia, Solidarity and the Struggle for Zimbabwe

Speech made by a ZACF member at the "Freedom in our Lifetime" resistance festival in Newtown, Johannesburg, 10 December 2006

Source: ZabFed Speech

SWAZILAND: ZACF Statement on Alleged Armed Struggle Tendency

Recent reports in The Star (25/11/06) allege that the development of the “armed struggle” tendency within a section of the pro-democracy movement in Swaziland could be accelerating. Given that the pro-democracy movement has set itself the goal of liberation in 2008, it is understandable that frustration has led some comrades in this direction.

Source: ZabFed Release

ZACF Member Arrested By "White" Swazi Dictatorship

"MK", a member of the ZACF's underground structures in Swaziland was among eight Swaziland youth congress (SWAYOCO) members arrested by police following a SWAYOCO demonstration in the city of Manzini on Saturday, October 1st.

Source: ZabFed Release

Southern African Anarchists condemn apparent Terrorist blasts in London

ZabFed Statement released on July 8 2005 following the bombings in London on July 7 that year.

Solidarity Message from Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation (ZACF) of southern Africa to FWCUI Conference in Baghdad on 2 April 2005

Revolutionary syndicalist greetings to the FWUCI from the Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation (ZACF) of southern Africa. ["Zabalaza"  means "Struggle" in Zulu & Xhosa].

Source: ZabFront Statement - 25 March 2005

Southern African Activists on the Terrorist Attacks in Madrid of March 11 2004

ZabFed Statement released following the bombings in Madrid.

In Spanish

Bikisha statement on Anti-Privatisation - Bikisha media collective

Evict the bosses and politicians - Stop Privatisation Now

Against the WCAR fraud - Bikisha media & the Anarchist Union statement

The UN World conference against Racism (WCAR) was held in August 2001 in Durban, South Africa. This critique was Produced by the Anarchist Union and Bikisha Media Collective - 2 South African Anarchist groups

South African anarchists interviewed by Black Flag

An interview done by the British anarchist magazine Black Flag (issue 224).

This interview was done collectively by 2 Durban and 2 Johannesburg members of the ZACF over December '03/January '04

NEFAC Interviews the BMC

Interview that appeared in the Spring/Summer 2003 issue of the Northeastern Anarchist (#6), the journal of the Northeastern Federation of Anarcho-Communists, under the title "The Global Influence of Platformism Today".

Towards a History of Anarchist Anti-Imperialism

Published in the first issue of Against War and Terrorism in October 2001, which was compiled by an international group of anarchists just after the September 11th 2001 attack on the World Trade Centre

Read the full pamphlet here and the second edition here

Revolutionary Anarchism and the Anti-Globalisation Movement

Published in Red & Black Revolution #5, May 2001 (Ireland)

Race, Class and Organisation

Published in Black Flag, 1998 (Britain)

Racism: Where it comes from, How we should fight it?

Published in Red & Black Revolution, 1998 (Ireland)

South Africa after Apartheid

Published in Le Monde Libertaire, 1997 (France)

After Apartheid: Anarchism and the 'new' South Africa

Published in Red & Black Revolution, 1997 (Ireland)