The living nightmare of activists
Hundreds of activists are murdered every year around the world as they fight for land, access to clean water and against climate change — simply for the right to live peacefully in their communities. Last week Fikile Ntshangase was gunned down as organise
Terrified women and children flee their homes every night as fears of being assassinated grip Somkhele in Kwazulu-natal. This terror follows last Thursday’s gunning down of Fikile Ntshangase, 63, who was shot six times and killed inside her home in Ophondweni Village while her 13-year-old grandson played outside with two of his friends, metres away from the gruesome death.
There is also an alleged hit list, with the names of staunch anti-mining activists.
Ntshangase was the deputy chairperson of the Mfolozi Community Environmental Justice Organisation (Mcejo) and was described as a fierce opponent of the expansion of operations by Tendele Coal Mining — the owner of Somkhele mine in the area.
Jan du Preez, the chief executive of Petmin, which owns Tendele, has been accused of having “blood on his hands” after an ominous message he sent last month as motivation for 19 families to vacate their land and make way for the mine’s expansion.
Du Preez has denied the claims that he has blood on his hands.
Nineteen families, as well as Mcejo activists, stand between the expansion of Tendele, which has an annual revenue of $129.76-million (or about R2.1-billion) and a licence that covers more than 22 000 hectares.
Ominous messages
Du Preez’s message, which the Mail & Guardian has seen, warns of possible violence should the 19 families
Khaya Koko
and Mcejo activists continue objecting to Tendele’s operations. “The key thing is that the [department of mineral resources] minister [Gwede Mantashe] and the [Kwazulu-natal] premier [Sihle Zikalala] and everyone realises that they cannot allow the mine to die. Unheard of! Everyone, including the Zulu king, is working together to try and save the mine,” Du Preez wrote last month. “It is obvious that 19 families and the Mcejo organisation [are] probably less than 100 members out of a community of 220 000. Obviously, we [Tendele] and the task team are inviting everyone to try and find a solution to save the mine and to avoid violence.”
The recipients of the message asked to remain anonymous.
The aforementioned task team — consisting of Tendele and the national department of mineral resources as well as the royal council in KwazuluNatal — said in a joint statement sent to the M&G that its members were “saddened and concerned” about Ntshangase’s death, adding that they hoped “the perpetrators of this terrible crime will be brought to book”. The task team’s statement goes on to say that, through mediation, they hope to mine won’t close and that 1 600 jobs won’t be lost.
However, Ntshangase’s death was not the first act of violence. In April this year, 19 shots were fired at the home of Tholakele Mthethwa, another anti-mining activist, who was forced to take cover with her two-year-old granddaughter amid a hail of bullets raining down on them. No one was harmed. There have been no police leads regarding that attempted killing either. In his response regarding the message warning of violence, Du Preez emphasised that he had been warning about it since September 2018.
“I was worried that if the mine closes, there will be violence. I have been warning about violence, in every letter to the community and our own employees,” Du Preez said.
“If the mine closes, 40 000 people will lose [either] a job, a contract, a training opportunity or food. I have been begging everyone involved to meet and mediate, as it is obvious that violence is a big risk.”
Du Preez added that the message he sent last month was not clandestine, and was in line with his open letters since September
2018. “There is zero proof as to the cause of the sad [and] senseless death. We are working with and assisting the police investigation. The mine and its people have not committed the crime,” he charged.
Hit-list fears
This spate of violence has elicited fears in the area, with the M&G being reliably informed about an alleged hit list targeting activists — spreading angst and panic throughout the serene and picturesque region, resplendent in its green rolling hills.
A petrified mother said she was aware that she and her son were on the kill list because of their vehement opposition to mining in the region.
The visibly shaken woman, who cried throughout her interview with the M&G, said the string of violent shootings in the area had forced her to rethink her obstinate opposition to the mining expansion.
“It is better for me to leave my home rather than die like Mrs Ntshangase. Had it not been for her death, as well as Mrs Mthethwa’s attempted murder, I would still be resolute and stay on my land.
“But now I fear for my life, which
is in grave danger. Before nightfall, I have to leave with my children and grandchildren and seek refuge at neighbours’ homes because I know that I’m also on the hit list,” the woman said. “Mrs Ntshangase was killed while living with her grandchild. A hail of bullets flooded Mrs Mthethwa’s home with her two-yearold granddaughter in the house. None of us is safe.”
This was echoed by another family, whose members said they also had to seek protection elsewhere when night falls because, even though they didn’t know whether they would be next, the violence in the area against those opposed to mining necessitated precaution.
Kwazulu-natal police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele only confirmed that Ntshangase “sustained multiple gunshot wounds” on October 22 and that a murder investigation was underway. Mbele did not respond to questions about how police would stem the violence and protect known anti-mining activists.
Kwazulu- Natal premier Sihle Zikalala said he was “deeply concerned” by Ntshangase’s death, and sent condolences to the family.
“We have instructed community safety MEC Bheki Ntuli to appoint investigators, who will leave no stone unturned in probing this murder. If, indeed, this was a planned hit, those who are responsible must be caught so that they can reveal their motive for this evil act, as well as who sent them, so that all the parties involved must face the music,” Zikalala said.
In response to questions from the M&G, the department of mineral resources and energy said that it condemned any act of violence: “We believe no investment is worth the loss of lives. We trust that the law enforcement agencies will investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators to book.”
Bribery allegations
At least four families, who are known to the M&G, allegedly received what they have termed as “bribes” of R100 000 each from representatives of Tendele in December 2018 to entice them and their neighbours to vacate their homes for mining purposes. However, none of the families had left the community.
“The plan was for the families to receive the money [R100 000] so that others could see that the mine was willing to pay big money for us to leave the area. The balance would be paid after the valuations were completed. But none of the families has left Ophondweni, even after they received their big payouts,” said a family representative who allegedly received the money.