6. Data description
6.4.2 Responsibility and commitment
To a large number of members interviewed, responsibility and commitment are two important aspects affecting their sense of agency. Members described that it is important to take part in all AbM activities, even when there might be competing
249 In his own words: “to recognize people strength, capabilities […] I think it is important. […] I always think that [a message from him] could have a serious impact, positive, things that people are capable of must be supported. I know my position means a lot, to encourage and promote certain values, the fact that it comes from me, I know, it may add value to what a person might not have” (AbM member 12, 2010).
personal priorities, which could prevent their participation.250 AbM youth members also described a sense of responsibility towards the future of the organisation.251
Aspects of AbM’s structure reinforce this feeling of responsibility upon some members, more than others. For instance, AbM executive meetings – where discussions happen at the organisational level, instead of local level – are not accessible to all members.
For this reason, representative members from each AbM branch have the duty to attend, be informed, pass on to their communities information or decisions made, and/or represent the interests of these communities within those meetings.252
The sense of responsibility was an obvious feature during meetings, even when some members could not attend, “apologies” for absence were given. Members who were absent without an apology, unless there were good reasons for the absence, were not entitled to contest decisions made during that meeting.253
250 One self-‐employed member, who supports a family of six, stated: “I never missed any activities, I’d rather take the day off work to participate, because this is our cause, it is what we are fighting for. Even after I left Kennedy road I go to the activities” (AbM member 22, 2010). One member from a rural area explained that people believed in him and that he felt he has to visit them. Although travel between villages in the rural areas is difficult, time consuming, and expensive, he thinks that he needs to be constantly in touch with the people from these different villages. He explained that he had not visited some villages for a few weeks, and he thinks this is a problem. “I’m planning to come and visit some communities now, even the far away ones. Because I feel there is a gap now between me and the communities. I know that if they don’t see a leader, they became demotivated” (AbM member 30, 2010).
251 A youth member explained: “we all have responsibilities, specially us the young ones, we need to always be there. We know that someday [AbM member 12] or [AbM member 3] won’t be there but the movement will be there; it will need us to represent it. You are the future of the organisation, that is a big responsibility you carry” (AbM member 21, 2010).
252 One member explained that it is her responsibility to go to the AbM office meetings, to update other members on what she is doing, and what is the situation at the community. She also explained that when there is a meeting at the office, with “committee members” only, and a proposal or a decision is taken, she has to go back to her community and present the proposal or discuss the decision. She thinks that committee members have to represent the communities’ wishes, when taking part in those decisions. “The leader still have to bring it back and ask what the community thinks about it, do they approve it? That’s why is important for the community to voice their opinion. We need to know what you need, what is inside you" (AbM member 1, 2010).
253 As one member described: “if you are not taking part in meetings, it is your fault, and you cannot complain that things were decided without your knowledge. You have to be present!” (AbM member 15, 2010).
Beyond the pressure exerted by AbM’s structure, some members frequently described a sense of gratitude towards AbM.254 This gratitude was often associated with feelings of solidarity. Solidarity, quite often was associated with a sense of responsibility. These members often referred to themselves as “leaders with responsibilities” to help
members, neighbours, and the community. The experience acquired through
engagement with AbM changed these members’ perception of what a leadership role means:
“Inside Abahlali we have a different experience, […before being a leader] I was thinking just that you are leading people – everyone here – have to hear from you.
But I experienced that no, to be a leader is just a name, is the people leading you, you know. It is just a name, you are a leader, the people – like our vice-‐President, used to say that: how you can say thank you when people are electing you? Those people are saying they are giving you the responsibility to do that, you are not working for money, you are working for the community. They are your bosses, but they won’t pay you. Everyone will be paid when we get our houses” (AbM member 14, 2010).
A few of these members described that their sense of responsibility came from being responsible for a number of activities within AbM. One member from Kennedy described that at the beginning, just after the creation of AbM and even before she held any position, she was very active in meetings, participating, and giving her views.
The more she became engaged, the more tasks she led and got involved in (AbM member 15, 2010).
Many members described that the more they got involved in AbM, and created bonds within the organisation and its members, the more they felt obliged to lead and support AbM activities. One member described that once she became responsible for speaking for AbM, and had her mobile number published on press releases, she had to deal with a huge demand of calls on her mobile phone:
254 One member, elaborated: “Because Abahlali has shown me directions so I have to show some responsibility, so that’s why I used to go very promptly to all the meetings. I used to sit there and used to hear what was happening in other communities. I used to know, and get more involved with it” (AbM member 1, 2010).
“Because my number was there, and there was a demand, I felt an urge to know more, to be more involved. Basically being there at Abahlali website, made a very big difference. People in South Africa, people outside of South Africa started calling me, to know more, asking me questions, and that’s when I felt: No, I have a
responsibility” (AbM member 1, 2010).
Members’ commitment to AbM inspired the need to familiarise themselves with some computer and internet tools, in order to support AbM’s activities and keep links with AbM’s network of supporters.255
Beyond various degrees of involvement in activities and the acquisition of skills, some members expressed their perceived responsibility in preserving and protecting AbM’s image. One member explained that, unlike before, now as part of AbM she feels that she has to find ways to help someone in need, whether she likes them or not:
“You are also not thinking just about yourself but about the image of the
organisation. A person won’t say, [AbM member 15] has failed me, he/she will say Abahlali has failed me. When a person comes to me, he or she is going to Abahlali. I am a representative of Abahlali” (AbM member 15, 2010).
Some members described events and situations in which they have taken personal risks to stand up for what they believe in. These AbM members saw themselves as part of social movement, a collective. There are a number of aspects reinforcing some members’ commitment to the “struggle”, including a perception of great injustices;
solidarity with others; and the dynamics of working together.256
255 This closely resembles the experience of Chiapan NGOs after the Zapatista uprising. Based on interviews for my master thesis, most local NGOs in Chiapas, Mexico, started to demand and acquire access to the internet to support the Zapatista network with information, to expose human rights abuses perpetrated by the Mexican Government and paramilitary groups in Chiapas (Copello, 2006).
256 A member explained that before he joined AbM, he would never argue or disagree with the police.
But since he joined AbM he often confronts the police, and gets harassed and brutalized. When inquired about why he now stands up to the police, he stated:
“Because now I’m on the spot, I’m on the field, I’m fighting and defending the rights of myself and my community. I live it, its in my vein, Before I didn’t care much, I cared about myself, but now in most brutality and confrontation it happens by wanting to defend the dignity and the rights of my own people”
(AbM member 7, 2010).
Yet, responsibility and commitment comes at a cost. For AbM members, the added financial burden to participate might include cost of transportation and
communication. Their sense of agency can be constrained by their resources.257
For some members, the level of commitment and responsibility towards AbM and its members often goes beyond their own personal resources as well as emotional strength. Some interviewees found their responsibilities could become overwhelming.
Yet, they often perceived it as their duty:
“I don’t feel that people demand more from me, because if they appointed me is because they trust me, and I have also committed myself to help whenever I can”
(AbM member 25, 2010).