Stakeholders march in Pretoria CBD against whistleblower killings
The killings are related to protests against mining developments in various communities nationwide.
#DefendOurDefenders (DOD) held a march on Monday through CBD streets against the killings of Human Rights Defenders.
The march saw the Defenders alongside 81 supporting organisations march to the Union Buildings, demanding more protection for those strong enough to speak out against injustice.
DOD have previously handed over a memorandum of demands to the SAPS headquarters in Tshwane. They, however, were not satisfied with the response from the police, describing it as “vague”.
They handed over a memorandum to the Office of the Presidency at the Union Buildings.
The latest memorandum makes references to numerous killings of whistleblowers that the government, according to the defenders, failed to protect.
The memorandum also refers to the UN’s Declaration on Human Rights Defenders of 1998 as well as The Draft Declaration on Human Rights Defenders by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. This declaration implores the government to ensure that human rights defenders’ rights and lives are protected.
The key demands listed in the memorandum include:
– Development of legislation to protect human rights defenders.
– Public condemnation of the killing of the defenders.
– Urgent arrest of the killers.
Thambi Nkosi from the Centre of Human Rights, which form part of the Life After Coal campaign, alleged that too many residents living in mining-affected communities only receive gunshots and death threats from these communities.
“When mining companies prospect for mining rights in communities, they don’t consult communities. By law, they are required to do that. When you think about Section 24 of the Constitution, about the NEMA Act, all these different types of legislation… [They] are meant to consult with the community to figure out how they can benefit from that mine and perhaps see how the mine can develop the surrounding community,” said Nkosi.
Nkosi alleged that mining companies typically use influential figures in communities to segregate them from the rest and cause inner conflict.
“We want to influence the conversations between the portfolio committees of police and justice in parliament to start having these discussions. We understand that legislation doesn’t take two weeks but we want to say that we are here to engage with you and we want to engage in a process that will ensure this legislation is passed,” Nkosi said.
Ben Mothupi, president of the Arise Africa Arise Independent Congress, said that the country has lost far too many defenders in recent times.
“These defenders are defending our democracy but by doing that, they find themselves exposed to hitmen who happen to be planning their deaths. The hitmen that are carrying out all these killings across the country are not being dealt with by the government. The government is doing absulutely nothing. We are here to say: ‘Enough is enough’,” Mothupi said.
Mothupi reiterated Nkosi’s sentiments calling for adequate legislation that protects whistleblowers. He added that private and governmental entities must collaborate to create similar policies to further protect whistleblowers when their lives are threatened.
DOD and supporting organisations are requesting that the President, minister of police and minister of justice respond to their request within 30 working days.
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