Black First! – Land First! A revolutionary Call
“For a colonized people the most essential value, because the most concrete, is first and foremost the land: the land which will bring them bread and, above all, dignity.”- Frantz Fanon
Twenty years after democracy black people are still at the bottom of society. We, the black majority, are last instead of being the first. Now we have decided to put black people first! Its only when black people are seen and treated as the rightful owners of this country shall we be really liberated. The first step to black liberation - to achieve dignity and an end to white arrogance and racism - is LAND FIRST! It is land that shall put BLACKS FIRST! Without LAND we are nothing! With LAND we are everything we want to be and more!
Black people are last in all areas of life because we are, in the first place, last when it comes to owning land. Out of 54 million people in South Africa only 35000 white families and white businesses own more than 80% of the land. Since 1994, the ANC government has bought 8% of the land at the cost of about R50 billion! The ANC is using our money to buy stolen property. Since 1994 more than 1 million black people have been forcibly removed on farms! Farm workers are slaves. The restitution claiming communities who are victims of apartheid land removals remain landless after 20 years of ANC rule! In urban areas black people have no housing because they are landless. The housing prices are out of reach for blacks, and to this end even to most black professionals, because of the landlessness.
It will take more than 100 years to buy back only 30% of the land with current land policies. Black people are last when it comes to employment! About 45% of black people are unemployed compared to only 5% of white people!
Black people are last when it comes to income! White families earn six times more than what black familes earn! (give amount)
Only 5% of blacks complete their university or tertiary education within the designated periods. Most black university students face exclusions due to financial constraints.
Black people are also at the bottom of the ownership of the economy. To this end, inter alia, blacks only own about 3% of the listed JSE companies.
Enough is enough! We have decided to fight for Black First through ensuring Land First!
All the political parties and social movements in South Africa are currently not for Black First and Land First! The ruling party and the opposition parties do not put black people first. The politicians are apologetic when it comes to the demands of blacks and in particular the resolution of the land question.
We invite you to hold hands with us to build a revolutionary movement based on three non-negotiable principles:
1. BLACK FIRST!
Black people are the first people on earth! We blacks gave the white world life and civilisation. But slavery, colonialism and apartheid have put blacks last. We are now correcting this injustice by calling for Black First. By black we mean all those who are oppressed and dispossessed by colonialism and apartheid. The system of divide and rule has been sustained by creating misunderstanding amongst the oppressed. In this context the elites from within the black community have further fuelled tribal animosities. Black First seeks to end all divisions and contradictions amongst the people so as to consolidate them into a united strong block against white racism and dispossession. Black First follows the liberating truth that “the last shall be first”. We have been overlooked for far too long! Putting Black First means ending suffering, poverty, landlessness and all the other ills of white supremacy that characterize the black condition. Black First is a call for blacks to love themselves, to care for each other and to fight for their liberation and dignity.
2. Land First!
Without land there is no freedom or dignity. We want land first because it is the basis of our freedom, our identity, our spiritual wellbeing, our economic development and culture. The land of Africans was stolen and thereby rendered us landless in our own land. We want all the land with all of its endowments on its surface together with all the fortunes underground as well as the sky. All of it belongs to us! We are a people crying for our stolen land! Now we have decided to get it back by any means necessary!
3. Black Consciousness and Pan Africanism
Our guiding philosophical outlook is both the Black Consciousness of Steve Bantu Biko and the Pan Africanism of Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe. Our leadership style and practice is Sankarist following and honoring the revolutionary legacy of Thomas Sankara. For the movement to succeed, it needs a servant leadership that shall put the people first!
We invite you to come and build a revolutionary movement with us so as to fight for the following ideals:
1. Land first! We won’t buy back our stolen land!
2. Black First! The black majority must be prioritised!
3. Mineral rights belong to the people! Let the people own and benefit directly!
4. Quality Jobs Now! R12 500 minimum wage is non negotiable!
5. Basic income for all Now! No one should go to bed on an empty stomach!
6. Housing is a right! End all squatter camps in five years!
7. Healthcare is a right! Build hospitals and train doctors!
8. Anti Racism. Declare anti black racism a crime!
9. Anti sexism. Declare Oppression of women a crime!
10. Socialism! Only fair distribution of wealth can bring about real economic freedom!
11. Pro-people Industrialization. Develop ecologically friendly industrialization!
12. African dignity and unity! Africa is one and her liberation paramount!
13. Mental liberation! The biggest disease killing Africa is ignorance and colonial mind-sets.
14. All MPs and public servants must use public services!
15. The Thomas Sankara Oath and the People’s Manifesto are our eyes to guide us to total liberation for real.
16. Youth Advancement, because the future belongs to the youth!
Politicians and political parties have shown their hands. They do not believe in what they say. They are too quick to sell black people out. No political party currently believes in Land First. But we must not lose hope! We must build a new revolutionary movement that aims to overthrow this anti-black racist, capitalist rule that started in 1652 and did not end in 1994. Unorganized, we cannot win the battle for a Free Azania. The time for Black First, Land First is now! Let’s turn this dream into reality.
Issued by: Andile Mngxitama and the interim committee of #BlackFirst! LandFirst!
For more information contact BlackFirst! LandFirst! via the following email address: admin.bflf@gmail.com
31 August 2015
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