BLF mourns the passing of Advocate Simelane

Posted on July 9, 2020July 9, 2020 by Black First Land First

Black First Land First (BLF) is shattered by the passing on of Advocate Victor Mdelwa Simelane, a long time friend of our movement. We received the news of his passing on the day of his funeral. As a revolutionary movement committed to black liberation, we had a trusted friend in Advocate Simelane in his quiet manner. Many black professionals promise to assist our movement, very few actually do step up when the need arises. Advocate Simelane was one of those few who did step up when we were in need the most.

It was Advocate Simelane who took over the case of the BLF26 who were arrested as a consequence of the then Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, choosing to shield the corruption of the likes of Johann Rupert. The state had used the case against the BLF 26 to harass them. It was through his legal acumen and commitment to justice that the case was in fact thrown out of court. He attended to our case for over two years, doing it pro bono and being there at every hearing. BLF had a tower of strength, a shoulder to cry on in Advocate Simelane.

We shall always remember our friends at the hour of need. We can only repay such loyalty with an unwavering committment to the liberation of our people.

Hamba kahle Comrade Simelane, the people’s lawyer!

Issued by Black First Land First, National Coordinating Committee of (BLF NCC)

9 July 2020

Contact Details

Black First Land First Mail: [email protected]

Zanele Lwana
(BLF Deputy President)
Cell: +27 79 986 7225

#BLF26 in Tshwane Magistrate’s Court tomorrow for violating apartheid law

Posted on February 6, 2020February 6, 2020 by Black First Land First

26 Black First Land First (BLF) members were arrested on 18 July 2016 and subsequently imprisoned for 8 days on false charges of public violence, intimidation, trespassing, and kidnapping.

This followed a protest undertaken by the BLF26 at the office of the former Public Protector (PP), Thuli Madonsela, regarding her failure to investigate and report on the complaint of the theft of R26billion from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) by white monopoly capital (WMC). The PP’s conduct was unacceptable given that the R26billion was recoverable immediately.

A further issue of protest was the PP’s delay in addressing BLF’s complaint of state capture by WMC.

After two years of being dragged through the courts, the charges were withdrawn against the BLF26 due to a lack of evidence. 16 months later, the #BLF26 were summoned to court on 26 November 2019 by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on new charges (based on the same protest) of allegedly violating the apartheid era ‘Control of Access to Public Premises and Vehicles Act 53/85.’ On appearance the State was not in a position to even set a trial date and the matter was postponed to the new year.

The BLF26 will accordingly be back in court under the following details:

Date: 7 February 2020
Court: Tshwane Magistrate’s Court in Pretoria, Court 8
Time: 8:30

#HandsOffBLF26

Issued by Black First Land First, National Coordinating Committee of (BLF NCC)

6 February 2020

Contact Details

Black First Land First Mail: [email protected]

Zanele Lwana
(BLF Deputy President)
Cell: +27 79 986 7225

#BLF26 back in court for violating apartheid era law

Posted on November 22, 2019November 22, 2019 by Black First Land First

On 18 July 2016 Black First Land First (BLF) engaged in protest action at the office of the former Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, that resulted in 26 BLF members being arrested and subsequently imprisoned for 8 days on bogus charges of public violence, trespassing, kidnapping and intimidation.

The protest related to Madonsela‘s delay in investigating and reporting on the complaint of the theft of R26billion from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), as indicated in the CIEX report. Madonsela did nothing about the matter despite the fact that the R26billion was recoverable immediately.

The R26billion constitutes a small portion of the R563billion stolen by white capitalists as indicated in the “preliminary report on apartheid era corruption and other economic crimes” compiled by BLF in September 2015.

The #BLF26 further protested Madonsela’s delay in investigating and reporting on BLF’s complaint of state capture by white monopoly capital.

After two years, the charges were thrown out of court for lack of evidence.

Now 16 months later, the #BLF26 are being hauled again before court by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration on new charges for allegedly violating an apartheid era anti black law, the Control of Access to Public Premises and Vehicles Act 53/85. This relates to the same protest by BLF against the incompetence of Madonsela in finalizing her reports regarding white corruption.

If convicted each of the #BLF26 face a penalty of a fine of up to R2000 or a term of imprisonment of up to 2 years – or to both such fine and imprisonment.

The court appearance will take place under the following details:

Date: 26 November 2019

Court: Tshwane Magistrate’s Court in Pretoria, Court 8

Time: 8:30

#HandsOffBLF26

Issued by Black First Land First, National Coordinating Committee of (BLF NCC)

22 November 2019

Contact Details

Black First Land First Mail: [email protected]

Zanele Lwana
(BLF Deputy President)
Cell: +27 79 986 7225

#BLF26 back in Pretoria Regional Court tomorrow on bogus charges

Posted on April 8, 2018April 9, 2018 by Black First Land First

Public violence, trespassing, assault, and kidnapping are the serious false charges that twenty six Black First Land First members (also known as the #BLF26) are still facing 21 months after their arrest on Mandela Day in 2016. BLF has repeatedly reported that it is shocking that the state, that evidently doesn’t have a shred of evidence on any of the charges, persists in proceeding nonetheless.

The charges suggest a serious dispute as to what really happened on 18 July 2016 when the #BLF26 protested against the conduct of the former Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, in that she was deliberately not paying attention to white corruption. To this end she did not finalize her reports on the two major matters that BLF had referred to her namely: a complaint regarding R26 billion stolen by apartheid era white capitalists which has been on her table since 2011; and another complaint of state capture by white monopoly capital involving Johann Rupert and eight other apartheid era white capitalists and politicians. Johann Rupert has since Madonsela’s departure from the Public Protectors Office, given her a prominent position under him at the University of Stellenbosch – just for protecting white interests and not bringing him to book.

While there can be no revolutionary justice via the colonial courts, the #BLF26 maintains that the complete lack of evidence on the part of the state would make it very difficult for the this court to convict them.

The #BLF26 will appear tomorrow, 09 April 2018 at 09h00 in the Pretoria Regional Court which is at the corner of Francis Baard & Sophie De Bruyn Streets in Pretoria.

Issued by Black First Land First, National Coordinating Committee (BLF NCC)

08 April 2018

Black First Land First Email:[email protected]
Facebook: Black First Land First
Twitter: @black1stland1st
Website: www.blf.org.za

Zanele Lwana
(Deputy President)
Cell: +27799867225

Lindsay Maasdorp
(National Spokesperson)
Cell: +27 79 915 2957

Brian Tloubatla
(Head of Media & Communications)
Cell: +27 82 216 7664