Independent experts from the United Nations have condemned the killing of human rights activist Zweli “Khabazela” Mkhize, urging South African authorities to pursue justice rigorously. The appeal came from the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, which emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation to hold those responsible accountable. These acts, they noted, challenge the fundamental principles of freedom and human rights. For further details, visit the JURIST report.
Mkhize, a committed advocate for the rights of impoverished communities, was a key figure in Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM), an organization representing over 180,000 shack dwellers. Operating since 2005, AbM has pressed for land and housing rights in South Africa. On February 12, Mkhize succumbed to gunfire in the eNkanini settlement, Gauteng, after receiving threats related to his activism against the illegal land trade.
Backing the UN’s demand for justice, South African civil society groups like the South African Human Rights Commission and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa have voiced their concerns. Despite the violence in eNkanini, which has seen five similar incidents in the past year alone, the local police have reportedly shown little interest, resulting in a troubling lack of arrests. Abahlali baseMjondolo highlighted that since 2009, 26 of its activists have been killed. To date, only two convictions have been achieved, raising serious concerns about the prevailing culture of impunity.
The brutal reality faced by activists in South Africa calls for a prioritization of human rights protections and an international spotlight on the systemic failures within local law enforcement. As the world watches, questions about the protective mechanisms for those defending fundamental rights in volatile environments remain pressing.