Black First Land First movement in Soweto
Former Economic Freedom Fighters MP, Andile Mngxitama launched the Black First Land First movement in Soweto on May 14. The movement seeks to prioritize Black people and their liberation within the political framework of the country. Mbali Phala was at the launch.
Over 300 people from different parts of South Africa filled Uncle Tom’s community hall in Orlando West, Soweto, on May 14 for the launch of the Black First Land First movement. The movement, according to Mngxitama, is Black consciousness and Pan-Africanism inspired by a Sankarist way of governance, and he believes the movement will overthrow the current system of white supremacy.
The launch comes nine months after Mngxitama first announced the pro-Black movement following his dismissal from the EFF. Although the movement will enter political spaces, Mngxitama stressed that it was not a political party but rather a movement using politics to end politics.
Great emphasis has been placed on the fact that the movement is for Black people only, referring to Black consciousness leader Steve Biko’s inclusion of people of African descent, colored and Indian people under the definition of Black.
During his “Black agenda address,” Mngxitama said the agenda for Black liberation was a direct response to the anti-Black racist, capitalist and patriarchal society that maintains Black people’s pain and white privilege. He summarized a 50-page proposal during his address about challenges faced by Black people and resolutions, including service delivery and minimum wages. One of BLF’s proposals is that people living in suburban homes with unused rooms would be taxed for source money for housing those who don’t have any houses. An alternative to the taxing, is the subdivision of these houses with vacant rooms to enable those without houses to move in.
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