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Ayanda Ngila

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Ngila speaking at a meeting

Ayanda Ngila (1992–2022), was a land activist, a prominent leader in the shack dweller's movement Abahlali baseMjondolo[1][2] and deputy chairperson of its eKhenana Commune.[3][4][5][6][7] He was assassinated on 8 March 2022.[8]

Arrest

The eKhenana Commune, a well known branch of the social movement Abahlali baseMjondolo, has been the target of repression for many years.[9] In March 2021, Ngila along with three other leaders of the movement, Lindokuhle Mnguni, Landu Shazi and Maphiwe Gasela, were arrested and charged with murder.[10] They were held without bail for six months. While in prison Ngila participated in a reading group that read work by thinkers like Paulo Freire and Frantz Fanon.[11]

The state withdrew charges against all four leaders on 1 October 2021 after admitting that it had no evidence against any of them. The arrests were part of a string of arrests of other Abahlali baseMjondolo leaders including Nokuthula Mabaso and Mqapheli Bonono, which have widely been referred to as politically motivated.[12][13][14][15][16]

Retired Anglican bishop for KwaZulu-Natal, Rubin Phillip, reacted with concern at what he deemed to be another instance of false arrest of Abahlali baseMjondolo members. The Socio-Economic Rights Institute criticised the National Prosecuting Authority for not ensuring that Ngila and his co-accused received their constitutional right to a speedy bail application process. University of Johannesburg professor Jane Duncan noted the way the criminal justice system was being abused to break the community.[17]

Assassination

Ngila was assassinated on 8 March 2022 by four attackers, while on his way to fix a water pipe at the eKhenana Commune, in Cato Manor, Durban, South Africa.[18][19][20] His murder, which also targeted the settlement's chairperson, Lindokuhle Mnguni, is said to have been carried out by hit-men linked to the local taxi industry and local political leaders in the African National Congress.[21][22][23][24]

Khaya Ngubane, the son of a local ANC politician, was later arrested for Ngila's murder. Nokuthula Mabaso, a state witness in Ngila's assassination was herself shot and killed on 5 May 2022.[25][26] After Mabaso was killed, Ngubane was denied bail.[27] On 20 August 2022 the second key witness in Ngila's murder, Lindokuhle Mnguni was also assassinated.[28][29]

Reaction

The assassination was widely condemned by South African and internationally including in a widely publicised letter from over 130 civil society organisations.[30] Prominent public interest law firm, the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI), called on the Minister of Police and the South African Human Rights Commission to investigate his assassination.[31][32]

The international human rights organisations that issued statements of concern included the Kairos Center in New York,[33] the Habitat International Coalition,[34] the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights[35] and Frontline Defenders.[36]

The assassination of Abahlali baseMjondolo activists, including Ngila, was discussed at the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2022.[37]

The assassination was also condemned by a host of popular organisations across Africa including the eSwatini republican movement PUDEMO[38] whose leader attended Ngila's funeral, the Socialist Movement of Ghana,[39] the South African Federation of Trade Unions as well as the largest trade union in the country, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa.[40][41][42]

Conviction of the assassin

On 17 July 2023, Khayalihle Gwabuzela (known as Khaya Ngubane), was found guilty of the murder of Ngila in the Durban High Court.[43] He was handed down a sentence of fifteen years imprisonment.[44] Ngubane is the son of an ANC politician.[45]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ More than twenty activists killed in eThekwini battle for land, Paddy Harper, Mail & Guardian, 13 October 2022
  2. ^ Urge for action on land reform, Bulelwa Mabasa, Mail & Guardian, 30 September 2022
  3. ^ Abahlali BaseMjondolo: Living Politics, Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa, September 2022
  4. ^ "The murder of Abahlali's Ayanda Ngila is an injury to us all". Daily Maverick. 15 March 2022.
  5. ^ The Human Cost of Political Violence, Imraan Buccus, News24, 19 March 2021
  6. ^ Housing activist murdered in Durban, Nokulunga Majola, GroundUp, 9 March 2021
  7. ^ [ https://www.702.co.za/podcasts/126/the-midday-report-with-mandy-wiener/606787/land-activist-ayanda-ngila-gunned-down-abahlali-basemjondolo-blame-the-anc-for-his-killing Land activist, Ayanda Ngila gunned down Abahlali baseMjondolo blame the ANC for his killing.], Mandy Wiener, Radio 702: The Midday Report, 9 March 2022
  8. ^ eKhenana bloodbath – state has a duty to protect human rights defenders, Nomfundo Xolo, 24 November 2022
  9. ^ The Abahlali baseMjondolo experience exposes South Africa’s shrinking democratic space,Thato Masiangoako, Daily Maverick, 18 October 2022
  10. ^ Abahlali BaseMjondolo: Living Politics, Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa, September 2022
  11. ^ The slow Marikana, New Frame, 11 March 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 , New Frame, 8 November 2021
  15. ^ Murder of Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Ayanda Ngila, condemned, Willem Phungula, DailyNews, 10 March 2022
  16. ^ Abahlali Basemjondolo trio acquitted of murder charges, Thabiso Goba, The Citizen, 30 September 2021
  17. ^ Shack dwellers hitting back at repression, Anna Majavu, New Frame, 24 November 2021
  18. ^ Abahlali activist murdered , Xolile Nkosi, Daily Sun, 10 March 2022
  19. ^ Abahlali activist is killed at home in eKhenana, Nomfundo Xolo, New Frame, 6 May 2022
  20. ^ Abahlali baseMjondolo activist murdered in Cato Crest, Sibahle Anthony Siqathule, Rising Sun Overport, 16 March 2022
  21. ^ A prominent land activist Ayanda Ngila gunned down in KZN — Abahlali points finger at ANC, Chris Makhaye, Daily Maverick, 8 March 2022
  22. ^ "The murder of Abahlali's Ayanda Ngila is an injury to us all". Daily Maverick. 15 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Killing of land rights defender Ayanda Ngila and targeting of Abahlali baseMjondolo". 25 March 2022.
  24. ^ Murder of Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Ayanda Ngila, condemned, Willem Phungula, Daily News, 10 March 2022
  25. ^ ‘We will die here’ – fearful eKhenana residents resolute on eve of funeral for slain Abahlali land activist, Chris Makhaye, Daily Maverick, 13 May 2022
  26. ^ Abahlali baseMjondolo leader shot dead in front of her children, Overport Rising Sun, 16 May 2022
  27. ^ Sigh of relief from community as man allegedly behind ABM leader's killing is denied bail, Lwazi Hlangu, Herald Live, 19 May 2022
  28. ^ Assassinated Abahlali baseMjondolo leader 'knew he would be killed', Zukiswa Pikoli, Daily Maverick, 26 August 2022
  29. ^ Abahlali leader – Murder of Lindokuhle Mnguni ‘the end of our constitutional democracy’, Lwazi Hlangu and Nqubeko Mbhele, TimesLive, 26 August 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. ^ Housing activist murdered in Durban, Nokulunga Majola, GroundUp, 9 March 2022
  32. ^ Murder of Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Ayanda Ngila, condemned, Willem Phungula, Daily News, 10 March 2022
  33. ^ And He Shall Inherit the Earth: Kairos Center statement on the murder of Ayanda Ngila, Kairos Center, 9 March 2022
  34. ^ HIC-HLRN call for urgent action on the murder of land defender Ayanda Ngila, Habitat International Coalition 16 March 2022
  35. ^ Global solidarity and outrage at killing of young Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Ayanda Ngila, International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 10 March 2022
  36. ^ Killing of Land Rights Defender Ayanda Ngila, March 2022
  37. ^ General Debate under Item 8 of the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council (12 September – 7 October 2022)
  38. ^ Dludlu, Wandile (9 March 2022). "PUDEMO Mourns the Passing Away of Land Activist CDE Ayanda Ngila". Abahlali baseMjondolo. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  39. ^ A statement of solidarity from the Socialist Movement of Ghana following the assassination of Ayanda Ngila, 10 March 2022
  40. ^ "SAFTU Condemns the Killing of Ayanda Ngila and Demand Justice for his Death: Harassment of Ekhanana Commune Must Stop". South African Federation of Trade Unions. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  41. ^ Abahlali baseMjondolo activist murdered in Cato Crest, Sibahle Anthony Siqathule, Rising Sun Overport, 16 March 2022
  42. ^ Murder of Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Ayanda Ngila, condemned, Willem Phungula, Daily News, 10 March 2022
  43. ^ Durban Magistrate's Court reaches guilty verdict in Ayanda Ngila's murder trial (19 July 2023), Socio-Economic Rights Institute, 19 July 2023
  44. ^ Abahlali baseMjondolo vows to continue struggle for justice following sentencing of Ayanda Ngila's killer, Tanupriya Singh, Peoples Dispatch, 24 July 2023
  45. ^ Abahlali baseMjondolo activist's killer handed a 15-year jail term, Nkosikohona Duma, 24 July 2023

See also


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