South Africa :: Justice for rights defenders
Organizations from 75 countries pressure the South African government to investigate the murder of an activist and apprehend the killers
In order to ensure justice for the murder of the South African activist Sikhosiphi Rhadebe, which took place on March 22 in South Africa, 196 international organizations are pressuring the government of the country to investigate the crime and apprehend his killers. Rhadebe was 49 years old and president of the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC), an organization known for working on campaigns against mining in local communities of the Eastern Cape province.
According to the ACC, the environmentalist was killed outside his house in the Lurholweni township, Mbizana, by two armed men who claimed to be police officers. “He was shot eight times in the head and died in front of his wife and two teenage children,” said the organization in an official statement.
The ACC also revealed that, before his murder, Rhadebe had warned his colleagues about the existence of a “hit list” with his name on. Since 2005, the activist had been working to protect local communities from the harmful effects of open-cast titanium mining in Xolobeni, on the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape, which is being planned by the companies Transworld Energy and Minerals and Xolco, subsidiaries of the Australian mining company Mineral Commodities.
In response to the delay and the lack of commitment by the authorities to investigate the crime, 55 South African organizations and another 143 groups from 74 countries have submitted a letter to the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, calling for a thorough and independent investigation into Rhadebe’s murder and for the protection of the other members of the ACC and the local community that opposes titanium mining activities in the region. In support, Conectas signed the document and hopes the South African government will fully implement civil society’s recommendations to ensure that human rights defenders can work safely.
- Click here to read the letter in full.
