Johannesburg – The Assembly of the Unemployed (AoU) have called on Police Minister Bheki Cele and Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola to urgently address the “senseless” killings of Abahlali baseMjondolo leaders.
This follows the murder of Lindokuhle Mnguni, who was the chairperson of the eKhenana Commune, two weeks ago.
The organisation said Mnguni was a witness to the murder of another Abahlali leader, Ayanda Ngila, who was allegedly murdered in March.
“28-year-old Mnguni is the third Abahlali leader to be killed this year. We have been witnessing the relentless onslaught and attempts to destroy the movement through infiltrations, assassinations, and brutalisation of AbM activists for more than 10 years,” AoU said.
The AoU said enough is enough and the organisation won’t stand aside and watch attacks on organised communities and grassroots organisations.
It called on the government to prioritise these murder cases and ensure that justice is served and the murderers are brought to book.
“South Africans must be vigilant. These targeted assassinations of Abahlali activists is also an attack on the struggle for land and dignity. We know that these threats and arrests are not faced by Abahlali alone. Across the country, those fighting state and corporate abuses are being intimidated, threatened, arrested, and even killed,” the AoU said.
The organisation said the justice system has failed Abahlali activists, giving legitimacy to the notion that black lives don’t matter.
“As AoU we refuse to remain silent while brutality against innocent human right defenders continues unchallenged. Black lives do matter and it’s time to convict the perpetrators.
“As AoU we believe that these unabated attacks are a threat to our collective freedom and a threat to our democracy,” the AoU said.
The Star