|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The undersigned organisations condemn the recent vicious attacks on environmental justice activists in South Africa.
In one case, we are outraged at the reported murder on 11 July 2018 of Mr D Mpanza, an activist who had opposed a relocation of the community in KwaDube in KwaZulu Natal. KZN violence monitor Mary de Haas has reported that people living on this land have been informed by various authorities that they must be relocated to accommodate onshore mining operations between Mthunzini and Richards Bay. According to De Haas, Mr Mpanza was shot dead, execution-style, on 11 July when travelling home from Esikhawini. Of the companions he was travelling with he alone was targeted.
In another case, we note an escalating campaign of social media attacks by those associated with an Mpumalanga mining project, on a number of South African environmental rights organisations.[1] The campaign is led by the senior vice president of Indian-owned mining company Atha-Africa Ventures Pty Ltd, which is facing multiple legal challenges from these organisations to its applications to mine coal in a strategic water source area and protected environment in Mpumalanga[2].
This campaign is made up of various accusations and threats on social media which are designed to intimidate, silence and discourage activists who are lawfully opposing a coal mine in a strategic water source area and protected environment. He has publicly accused these organisations of “treason” and an “anti-national agenda”. These unfounded attacks are intolerable in our constitutional democracy.
The South African Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression, freedom of the press, the right to access to justice, and the right to just administrative action. South Africa also has a long tradition of activism and civil society mobilisation to uphold our Constitution and defend constitutional values.
More than two years have passed since Cde Bazooka Rhadebe, an anti-mining activist in Xolobeni, was assassinated on the Wild Coast in 2016. To date nobody has been brought to book for his murder. Across the world, corporations have employed intimidation and violence when their commercial interests are challenged by activists, especially activists defending natural resources and environmental rights. The murder and assault of environmental activists are already common occurrences in many parts of the world.[3]
We strongly condemn both physical and verbal attacks on civil society organisations and activists.
In the case of Mr Mpanza, we call for the speedy arrest and successful prosecution of his killers, and immediate protection for other residents who oppose the relocation in KwaDube. Furthermore we call for the authorities to give full information and participation to the community on this proposed relocation, and respect the voices of those who oppose it.
In the case of Atha-Africa, we call on the Minerals Council of South Africa (formerly the Chamber of Mines) to state publicly that it will revoke the membership of any company whose employees engage in this type of conduct. The mining authorities cannot remain silent when companies operating in South Africa unlawfully intimidate and threaten activists exercising their constitutional rights.
CORRECTION: an earlier version of this statement gave an incorrect name for Mr Nkwanyana. The Mail&Guardian has subsequently reported that another opponent to the KwaDube move, Ntuthuko Dladla, has also been killed in the area.
Endorsed by:
- Abahlali Basemjondolo
- African Centre for Biodiversity
- AIDS Foundation of South Africa
- Amnesty International SA (Durban Chapter)
- Asonet
- Association for Progressive Communications (International)
- Bench Marks Foundation
- Biowatch SA
- BirdLife South Africa
- Body Corporate of King Shaka Estate
- Centre for Applied Legal Studies
- Centre for Constitutional Rights
- Centre for Environmental Rights
- Children’s Radio Foundation (International)
- Corruption Watch
- Door To Door foundation
- Earthjustice (International)
- Earthlife Africa Durban
- Earthlife Africa Joburg
- EarthLore Foundation
- EDO NSW (International)
- Ekogaia Foundation
- Ekurhuleni Environmental Organisation
- Endangered Wildlife Trust
- Environmental Justice Australia (International)
- Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (International)
- Environmental Monitoring Group
- Federation for a Sustainable Environment
- Fireflies Memorial (International)
- GenderCC Southern Africa – Women for Climate Justice
- Global Environmental Trust
- Greenpeace Durban Local Group
- groundWork
- Heinrich Boell Stiftung Southern Africa (International)
- Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (International)
- International Labour Research and Information Group (ILRIG)
- Izingwenya Youth Development
- Just Share
- KRC
- KZN Monitor
- Land and Accountability Research Centre, University of Cape Town
- Lawyers for Human Rights
- Lihlithemba Community Organisation
- Market Users Committee
- Mayine Community Movement
- MCEJO
- Media Monitoring Africa
- Mfolozi Community Environmental Justice Organisation
- Mining and Environmental Justice Communities Network of South Africa (MEJCON-SA)
- MSF (KZN)
- MUC
- My Vote Counts
- No Nukes Asia Forum Japan (International)
- Noordhoek Environmental Action Group
- Open Democracy Advice Centre
- Parliamentary Monitoring Group
- PHA Food & Farming Campaign
- Popular Education Programme
- Reid Incorporated Attorneys
- Right2Know Campaign
- SAVE UNIZULU
- Schoeman and Associates
- Schubart Park community
- SCLC
- Sekhukhune Environmental Justice Network
- SHINE
- Simunye Workers Forum
- Sisonke Environmental Justice Network
- Social and Environmental Justice in Action
- Social Justice Coalition
- South African Youth Climate Change Coalition
- South Durban Community Environmental Alliance
- Sustaining the Wild Coast
- TAC (KZN)
- Teens And Youth Health C.N
- The Gaia Foundation (International)
- ToadNUTs
- Ubukhosi bezandla NPC
- Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance
- Vaaloewer Ratepayers Association
- Voices of the Poor Concerned Residents (VPCR)
- Vukani Environmental Movement (VEM)
- Waterberg Environmental Justice Forum (WEJF)
- Waterberg Women Advocacy Organization
- Well Worn Theatre Company
- Western Cape Water Caucus
- Wilderness Foundation Africa
- Women and Democracy Initiative, Dullah Omar Institute
- Women Revolution
- WoMin African Alliance (International)
- WPCN
- Youens Attorneys
For media comments contact:
Biko Mutsaurwa R2K NWG Member: 079 915 5220
Ngazini Ngidi R2K NWG Member: 071 105 2507
ONLINE VERSION: https://bit.ly/2mqhmYC
[1] These organisations include Centre for Environmental Rights, the Mining and Environmental Justice Community Network of South Africa, groundWork, Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, BirdLife South Africa, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the Federation for a Sustainable Environment, the Association for Water and Rural Development (AWARD), the Bench Marks Foundation and WWF South Africa.
[2] https://cer.org.za/news/new-proceedings-launched-to-protect-mpumalanga-strategic-water-source-area-from-coal-mining
[3] https://www.globalwitness.org/en-gb/blog/new-data-reveals-197-land-and-environmental-defenders-murdered-2017/
