Ayanda Ngila

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Ayanda 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 the eKhenana Commune. He was a leader in a food sovereignty project organised at the eKhenena Commune.[3][4][5][6][7] He publicly opposed government budget cuts which he said disproportionately affect the poor.[8]

Arrest

eKhenana, a well known branch of the social movement Abahlali baseMjondolo, has been the target of repression for many years. In March 2021, Ayanda Ngila along with three other leaders of the movement, Lindokuhle Mnguni, Landu Shazi and Maphiwe Gasela, were arrested and charged with murder. In March 2021, Ayanda Ngila along with two other leaders of the movement, Lindokuhle Mnguni and Landu Shazi, were arrested and charged with murder.[9] They were held without bail for six months before charges were eventually withdrawn by the state for lack of evidence on 1 October 2021. 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.[10][11][12][13][14]

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.[15]

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.[16][17][18] 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.[19][20][21][22]

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.[23][24] After Mabaso was killed, Ngubane was denied bail.[25] On 20 August 2022 the second key witness in Ngila's murder, Lindokuhle Mnguni was also assassinated.[26][27]

Reaction

The assassination was widely condemned by South African and international human rights organisations. 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.[28][29]

The international human rights organisations that issued statements of concern included the Kairos Center in New York,[30] the Habitat International Coalition,[31] the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights[32] and Frontline Defenders. [33]

The assassination of Abahlali baseMjondolo activists, including Ngila, was discussed at the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2022.[34]

The assassination was also condemned by a host of popular organisations across Africa including the eSwatini republican movement PUDEMO[35] whose leader attended Ngila's funeral, the Socialist Movement of Ghana[36] 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.[37][38][39]

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. ^ Austerity has devastating impact on the poor, working class, Ayanda Ngila, The Star / IOL, 29 October 2022
  9. ^ Abahlali BaseMjondolo: Living Politics, Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa, September 2022
  10. ^ Abahlali activist is killed at home in eKhenana, Nomfundo Xolo, New Frame, 6 May 2022
  11. ^ Murder charges dropped against activists after six months in prison, Nokulunga Majola , News24, 29 September 2021
  12. ^ Trouble in the promised land, Chris Makhaye , NewFrame, 8 November 2021
  13. ^ Murder of Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Ayanda Ngila, condemned, Willem Phungula, DailyNews, 10 March 2022
  14. ^ Abahlali Basemjondolo trio acquitted of murder charges, Thabiso Goba, The Citizen, 30 September 2021
  15. ^ Shack dwellers hitting back at repression, Anna Majavu, New Frame, 24 November 2021
  16. ^ Abahlali activist murdered , Xolile Nkosi, Daily Sun, 10 March 2022
  17. ^ Abahlali activist is killed at home in eKhenana, Nomfundo Xolo, New Frame, 6 May 2022
  18. ^ Abahlali baseMjondolo activist murdered in Cato Crest, Sibahle Anthony Siqathule, Rising Sun Overport, 16 March 2022
  19. ^ Prominent land activist Ayanda Ngila gunned down in KZN — Abahlali points finger at ANC, Chris Makhaye, Daily Maverick, 8 March 2022
  20. ^ "The murder of Abahlali's Ayanda Ngila is an injury to us all". Daily Maverick. 15 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Killing of land rights defender Ayanda Ngila and targeting of Abahlali baseMjondolo".
  22. ^ Murder of Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Ayanda Ngila, condemned, Willem Phungula, DailyNews, 10 March 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. ^ Assassinated Abahlali baseMjondolo leader 'knew he would be killed', Zukiswa Pikoli, Daily Maverick, 26 August 2022
  27. ^ Abahlali leader – Murder of Lindokuhle Mnguni ‘the end of our constitutional democracy’, Lwazi Hlangu and Nqubeko Mbhele, TimesLive, 26 August 2022
  28. ^ Housing activist murdered in Durban, Nokulunga Majola, GroundUp, 9 March 2022
  29. ^ Murder of Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Ayanda Ngila, condemned, Willem Phungula, Daily News, 10 March 2022
  30. ^ And He Shall Inherit the Earth: Kairos Center statement on the murder of Ayanda Ngila, Kairos Center, 9 March 2022
  31. ^ HIC-HLRN call for urgent action on the murder of land defender Ayanda Ngila, Habitat International Coalition 16 March 2022
  32. ^ Global solidarity and outrage at killing of young Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Ayanda Ngila, International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 10 March 2022
  33. ^ Killing of Land Rights Defender Ayanda Ngila, March 2022
  34. ^ General Debate under Item 8 of the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council (12 September – 7 October 2022)
  35. ^ PUDEMO MOURNS THE PASSING AWAY OF LAND ACTIVIST CDE AYANDA NGILA, PUDEMO< 9 March 2022
  36. ^ A statement of solidarity from the Socialist Movement of Ghana following the assassination of Ayanda Ngila, 10 March 2022
  37. ^ SAFTU CONDEMNS THE KILLING OF AYANDA NGILA AND DEMAND JUSTICE FOR HIS DEATH HARRASMENT [sic] OF EKHANANA COMMUNE MUST STOP, SAFTU, 10 March 2022
  38. ^ Abahlali baseMjondolo activist murdered in Cato Crest, Sibahle Anthony Siqathule, Rising Sun Overport, 16 March 2022
  39. ^ Murder of Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Ayanda Ngila, condemned, Willem Phungula, Daily News, 10 March 2022

See also

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