Nokuthula Mabaso, (1981/1982 – 5 May, 2022) was a prominent leader in Abahlali baseMjondolo[1][2][3] and one of the leaders of its women's league. She was a leader in the eKhenana Commune.[4][5] She was assassinated on 5 May 2022.[6][7]

Activism

She was instrumental in developing the Commune's food sovereignty project.[8]

In April 2020 she successfully interdicted the eThekwini Municipality against carrying out illegal evictions against the residents of eKhenana.[9]

Mabaso opposed the commodification of land and explained that in eKhenana "We made a collective decision that we would not sell or lease any piece of land here in eKhenana."[10]

Arrest

On 8 October 2021 she was arrested along with Thozama Mazwi and Sindiswa Ngcobo, all members of the eKhenana branch of Abahlali baseMjondolo.[11] The arrests were part of a spate of arrests of about a dozen movement members and were widely seen as politically motivated. All charges were later dropped.[12][13][14]

Assassination

Mabaso was assassinated in the presence of her children in her home at the eKhenana Commune, in Cato Manor, Durban, South Africa on 5 May 2022 .[15][16][17] She left behind a husband and four children.[18][19] She was shot seven times.[20]

Two months before she was murdered she had witnessed the assassination by five gunmen of Ayanda Ngila, also a leader in the eKhenana Commune. The movement Abahlali baseMjondolo claims that she was murdered because of her activism and specifically after she decided to become a state witness fingering Khaya Ngubane as one of the perpetrators.[21] She was laid to rest at her family home at Esidumbini near Tongaat.[22][23][24] After Mabaso was killed, Khaya Ngubane was denied bail in the Ngila case.[25]

On the 26 July 2022, a pastor named Samson Ngubane (who leads a Zionist church in Mayville) as well as his brother Mhlanganyelwa Ngubane, who are also the father and uncle of Khaya Ngubane, were arrested for their involvement in Mabaso's assassination. On 6 September 2022, both accused were denied bail.[26][27][28][29]

Responses to the assassination

Following the assassination of Mabaso and two other activists in eKhenana - Ayanda Ngila and Lindokuhle Mnguni - the killings were condemned in a letter from over 130 civil society organisations.[30] The assassination of Abahlali baseMjondolo activists was also discussed at the 51st sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2022.[31]

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Abahlali BaseMjondolo: Living Politics, Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa, September 2022
  2. ↑ More than twenty activists killed in eThekwini battle for land, Paddy Harper, Mail & Guardian, 13 October 2022
  3. ↑ Urge for action on land reform, Bulelwa Mabasa, Mail & Guardian, 30 September 2022
  4. ↑ Slain eKhenana activist Nokuthula Mabaso remembered, Nomfundo Xolo, New Frame, 13 May 2022
  5. ↑ Leaders of Abahlali baseMjondolo in KZN live in fear, SABC News, 10 May 2022
  6. ↑ Slain eKhenana activist Nokuthula Mabaso remembered, Nomfundo Xolo, New Frame, 13 May 2022
  7. ↑ eKhenana bloodbath – state has a duty to protect human rights defenders, Nomfundo Xolo, 24 November 2022
  8. ↑ eKhenana bloodbath – state has a duty to protect human rights defenders, Nomfundo Xolo, 24 November 2022
  9. ↑ Ethekwini Municipality v Nokuthula Mabaso and Others ('Mabaso'), Socio-Economic Research Institute
  10. ↑ Slain eKhenana activist Nokuthula Mabaso remembered, Nomfundo Xolo, New Frame, 13 May 2022
  11. ↑ Slain eKhenana activist Nokuthula Mabaso remembered, Nomfundo Xolo, New Frame, 13 May 2022
  12. ↑ Abahlali activist is killed at home in eKhenana, Nomfundo Xolo, New Frame, 6 May 2022
  13. ↑ Murder charges dropped against activists after six months in prison, Nokulunga Majola , News24, 29 September 2021
  14. ↑ Trouble in the promised land, Chris Makhaye , NewFrame, 8 November 2021
  15. ↑ Another Abahlali baseMjondolo leader murdered, shot four times in the back, Zukiswa Pikoli, Daily Maverick, 6 May 2022
  16. ↑ Slain Durban activist knew she was in danger, Nokulunga Majola, GroundUp, 9 May 2022
  17. ↑ Killing of Women Human Rights Defender Nokuthula Mabaso, Frontline Defenders, 7 June200
  18. ↑ Abahlali’s Nokuthula Mabaso was murdered because she believed in the power of the communal garden, Jordan Buser, Daily Maverick, 1 June 2022
  19. ↑ Where is the outrage over the murder of Nokuthula Mabaso — another Abahlali killing with impunity?, Raymond Suttner, Daily Maverick, 17 May 2022
  20. ↑ Abahlali activist is killed at home in eKhenana, Zukiswa Pikoli, Daily Maverick, 12 May 2022
  21. ↑ Abahlali activist is killed at home in eKhenana, Nomfundo Xolo, New Frame, 6 May 2022
  22. ↑ Memorial service for Nokuthula Mabasa, murdered Shack Dwellers’ Movement activist. ‘Her name will live on in our struggle’, Lethu Nxumalo, Sunday Tribune, 12 May 2022
  23. ↑ ‘We will die here’ – fearful eKhenana residents resolute on eve of funeral for slain Abahlali land activist, Chris Makhaye, Daily Maverick, 13 May 2022
  24. ↑ Abahlali baseMjondolo leader shot dead in front of her children, Overport Rising Sun, 16 May 2022
  25. ↑ Sigh of relief from community as man allegedly behind ABM leader’s killing is denied bail, Lwazi Hlangu, Herald Live, 19 May 2022
  26. ↑ Mfundisi arrested for activist’s murder, Daily Sun, 07 August 2022
  27. ↑ Kuboshwe umfundisi ngokufa komholi waBahlali baseMjondolo, Isolezwe, 02 August 2022
  28. ↑ Residents demand justice for murder of community leader, Newzroom Africa, 12 August 2022
  29. ↑ Pastor and brother denied bail for murder of Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, The Sowetan, 6 September 2022
  30. ↑ Civil Society organisations condemn the South African government for allowing the targeting of Abahlali baseMjondolo human rights defenders., SERI, 9 September 2022
  31. ↑ General Debate under Item 8 of the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council (12 September – 7 October 2022)

See also

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