Stop the murders and intimidation of whistleblowers, demand activists

Activists and supporters from across the country gathered at the Union Buildings in Pretoria to demand an end to the intimidation and killings of human rights activists and whistleblowers. Photos: Ihsaan Haffejee

Hundreds of activists and their supporters from across the country gathered outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Tuesday to demand an end to the intimidation and killings of human rights activists and whistleblowers.

The group represented a coalition of approximately 80 NGOs and community organizations. Protesters said the government was failing to protect activists.

“We want the government to recognize the important role human rights defenders play in our communities, provide them with protection and speak out against the intimidation and killing of people fighting for their constitutionally guaranteed rights “, said Robby Mokgalaka. from GroundWork.

Hundreds of people marched to the Union Buildings on Tuesday.

“We also want the police to form a special team to deal with cases of killing and intimidation against human rights defenders,” he said.

The group chose October 22 to meet, exactly four years after the murder of environmental activist Fikile Ntshangase on October 22, 2020 at her home in Ephondweni, KwaZulu-Natal.

Four armed men forced their way into Ntshangase’s house while she was preparing dinner for her family and shot her six times. So far, no arrests have been made.

Ntshangase was one of the main players in the fight against the expansion of a coal mine near Somkhele.

Buyile Xakaza, the nephew of murdered activist Fikile Ntshangase, collapsed as he tried to address the crowd. He was inside the house when the gunmen opened fire. He was 13 at the time.

Ntshangase’s daughter, Malungelo Xakaza, said police told her documents relating to the case had been damaged in a flood.

“It is extremely painful because we see trials on television and other people get justice. But for us activists, people die year after year and nothing is done,” Xakaza said.

Amnesty International South Africa campaigner Cassandra Dorasamy said: “We recognize that the killings of activists are not isolated incidents. We are here to express our solidarity and call for more legislation to strengthen protections for human rights defenders and for the President to publicly condemn the attacks.

Protesters say the government and relevant authorities have failed to protect activists.

Activists cited other cases. Bazooka Hadebe, an activist opposed to the creation of a titanium mine in Xolobeni, in the Eastern Cape province, who was shot eight times. The ongoing case of Babita Deokaran, who was murdered outside her own home for exposing corruption within the Gauteng health department. And that of Jomo Keromeng, who was shot 16 times in his own home in front of his mother and child, while he was fighting for the rights of the people of the village of Sefikile, in the North-West.

The group’s memorandum was handed over to representatives of the presidency.

“It is important that the government recognizes that human rights defenders are agents of justice – they sacrifice their lives for the well-being of members of their community, while shouldering a responsibility that should fall to the government – ​​which has a constitutional obligation to protect human rights defenders. the rights of its citizens,” the memorandum reads.

People carried posters demanding answers over the killings of activists and whistleblowers.

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