A group of independent UN experts on Wednesday denounced the murder of human rights activist Zweli “Khabazela” Mkhize and called on South Africa to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The ExpertsThe so-called “Special Procedure Rules of the Human Rights Council” states:
We urge South Africa to ensure a prompt, effective, impartial and thorough investigation into the murder and to take all necessary measures to hold those responsible to account… Such heinous acts of violence constitute a direct attack on fundamental freedoms.
Civil society organizations, including the South African Human Rights Commission and the South African Socio-Economic Rights InstituteHe supported the UN demands.
Mkhize was a local leader and treasurer of The residents of Mjondolo (AbM), a movement of “over 180,000 shack dwellers” founded in 2005 that advocates for land, housing and dignity for people living in poverty. On February 12, Mkhize was shot dead in the eNkanini settlement in Allandale, Gauteng province. He had previously received Death threatsincluding a ransom and a warning to stop his activism against the illegal sale of local land or be killed.
AbM said This was the fifth murder in eNkanini in a year, but “there were no arrests and the local police showed no interest in the murders.” The organization has been reporting threats since 2009 and said it threatened 26 of its members following Mkhize’s death killed as a result of activism. However, so far there have only been two related cases Beliefs.
