South African Unemployed Peoples' Movement
Encyclopedia
The South African Unemployed Peoples' Movement (SAUPM) is a social movement
Social movement
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out, resisting or undoing a social change....

 with branches in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...

, Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...

 and the Northern Province
Northern Province
Northern Province or North Province may refer to:*North Province *Far North Province, Cameroon*North Kazakhstan Province*Northern Province, Rwanda*North Province, New Caledonia*Northern Province, Papua New Guinea...

in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

. It is often referred to as the Unemployed People's Movement or UPM.

Appropriation of Food in Durban

On Wednesday 15 July 2009 the movement announced that it would begin appropriating food from supermarkets in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...

 if the state did not agree to consult with it on its demand for a basic income grant of R1 500 per month for all unemployed people.

On Wednesday 22 July the movement occupied Checkers in Dr Pixley KaSeme and Pick n Pay at The Workshop and began to eat food off the shelves without paying. Police said they arrested 44 people at Checkers and 50 people at Pick n Pay. Nozipho Mteshana, the chairwoman of the movement, said that the appropriation of food in supermarkets would continue despite the arrests. She was placed under house arrest for 18 months following the protest.

Activities in Grahamstown

There is also a branch of the Unemployed People's Movement in Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...

 in the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...

.

It argues for a bottom up system of democracy The demand for toilets has emerged as a key issue in Grahamstown.

It's current chairperson is Ayanda Kota.

The movement works closely with radical students.

It has close relationships with other social movements in South Africa, has supported the global 'Occupy' movement and the struggle against state censorship in South Africa.

Further Reading


See also

  • Abahlali baseMjondolo
    Abahlali baseMjondolo
    Abahlali baseMjondolo , also known as AbM or the red shirts is a shack-dwellers' movement in South Africa which is well known for its campaigning for public housing. The movement grew out of a road blockade organized from the Kennedy Road shack settlement in the city of Durban in early 2005 and now...

  • The Landless Peoples Movement
    Landless Peoples Movement
    The Landless People's Movement is an independent social movement in South Africa. It represents rural people and people living in shack settlements in cities. The LPM boycotts parliamentary elections and has a history of conflict with the African National Congress...

  • The Mandela Park Backyarders
    Mandela Park Backyarders
    The Mandela Park Backyarders or just Backyarders is an unfunded Khayelitsha-based South African social movement made up of poor and marginalised residents of Mandela Park that is working for housing rights and against evictions....

  • The Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign
    Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign
    The Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign is a non-racial popular movement made up of poor and oppressed communities in Cape Town, South Africa...

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