5 July 2022
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

The pain of living with the bullet that killed Nokuthula Mabaso

Today it is exactly two months since Comrade Nokuthula Mabaso was murdered in the evening in the eKhenana Commune. Nokuthula was attending a community meeting in a community hall just a few meters away from her house when she was shot and killed.

Nokuthula was a state witness to the killing of Ayanda Nglia who was murdered in broad daylight on the 8 March. The following day Khaya Ngubane the alleged killer was due to appear in court and fight for his bail application after he had been arrested for an attack on a resident of the commune. On 11 March Siyabonga Manqele was shot and killed by the police in the nearby eNkanini settlement, during a police raid.

The police refused to come to eKhenana when Nokuthula’s body was lying on the ground, despite confessing that the they had heard a gunshot. Comrade Bonono had to drive and physically fetch the police. As they did not bother to thoroughly examine the crime scene one bullet remained on the crime scene and was picked up by a community member the following morning. The bullet was brought into Abahlali offices so that it could be safely handed over to the Investigating Officer. It is very concerning that since the day of the murder the police have not investigated this murder. Up until today there is no Investigating Officer allocated to this case. Up until today there is no case number for that matter. Our attorney has been told that the police are taking leave and up until then there can be no investigation of this matter. This is the price of being a poor black woman in this country. Your life does not count to the state.

We continue to mourn Nokuthula, Manqele, Ngila and the lives of many more comrades who have fallen in struggle. Each time we see the bullet that killed Nokuthula in our midst we are reminded of how we are taught violence and how we are governed with violence. Since the murder of Nokuthula the gunmen have continued to threaten the community because they still enjoy the support of the police and that of the local warlord Mr NS Ngubane.

Over the years in that area of uMkhumbane several Abahlali activists have been shot and killed. These activists include Nkululeko Gwala, Thembinkosi Qumbela, Nqobile Nzuza (who was 17 years old), Nkosinathi Mngomezulu and others. Last month an ANC Councillor, Mzimunye Ngiba, who is a known warlord was arrested and charged with a murder of an ANC Candidate for Councillor during the local government election late last year. Ngiba has been a primary suspect to all the above murders except for Nqobile Nzuza who was shot from the back by the Cato Manor police. Constable Ndlovu was later sentenced to ten years in prison by Durban regional court. It is unfortunate that the ANC has kept and protected such a well-known warlord until he allegedly killed one of their own.

We call upon the Minister of Police, Mr Cele to come and fetch the bullet that killed Nokuthula Mabaso himself. We call upon the Minister to appoint an Investigating Officer from the Provincial level himself to avoid the appointment of officers that take instruction from Mr NS Ngubane. If Investigating Officer in the Ayanda Ngila matter is an Officer that works with Mr NS Ngubane justice will never be served.

Contact:

S’bu Zikode 083 5470 474
Thapelo Mohapi: 084 576 5117