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Nokuthula Mabaso

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Assassinated resident of Cato Manor, South Africa

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

Activism

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

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

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."

Arrest

On 8 October 2021 she was arrested along with Thozama Mazwi and Sindiswa Ngcobo, all members of the eKhenana branch of Abahlali baseMjondolo. 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.

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 . She left behind a husband and four children. She was shot seven times.

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. She was laid to rest at her family home at Esidumbini near Tongaat. After Mabaso was killed, Khaya Ngubane was denied bail in the Ngila case.

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.

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. The assassination of Abahlali baseMjondolo activists was also discussed at the 51st sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2022.

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 June 2022
  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)

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