Political repression in post-apartheid South Africa

Political repression in post-apartheid South Africa
The Constitution of South Africa protects all basic political freedoms. However, there have been many incidents of political repression, and activists have alleged arrests on trumped up charges and assaults at the hands of the police. For instance it was reported that Ashraf Cassiem from the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign was assaulted by the police in 2000 while resisting an eviction and that S'bu Zikode and Philani Zungu from Abahlali baseMjondolo were arrested and assaulted while on the way to a radio interview in 2006. In September 2010 four residents of Hangberg, in Hout Bay, near Cape Town were shot in the face at close range by police with rubber bullets leading to the loss of their eyes. In February 2011 two protesters were killed by the police and a number subject to torture in Ermelo. In January 2012 it was reported that Ayanda Kota was assaulted in the Grahamstown police station. In August and September 2012 strikers and community activists in Marikana were subject to sustained police harassment, including a large number of fatalities. In October 2012 activists in Makause, on the East Rand, reported death threats from the police. In December 2012 it was reported that in Wesselton, Mpumalanga, police were engaged in sustained collective harassment, some of it violent, of a local community.
Police torture of activists
There has been general concern about police torture in South Africa, which has been described as "occurring en masse" and "spiralling out of control". In 1996 Kevin Kunene, founding chairman of the KwaMbonambi Environmental Group, was tortured by the police. Organisations such as the Landless People's Movement have documented cases in which activists and protesters have been tortured. There were media reports of police torture of activists in Wessleton, Ermelo, in 2011 and in Marikana in 2012.
People Killed by the Police During Protests
The worst instance of lethal police violence in response to protest since the end of the apartheid era in South Africa is the shootings of 34 striking miners at Marikanan near Rustenburg, which have come to be known as 'The Marikana Massacre', during the Marikana miner strike on 16 August 2012.
The ICD has reported a rise in police violence against protesters since 2010 and a number of unarmed protesters have been killed by the South African Police Service since 2000. Four people were killed by the police during protests between 2000 and 2004, two in 2006, one in 2008, two in 2009, three in 2010 and eleven in 2011. The media have reported at least 27 police killings of protesters and bystanders (not including the 34 people killed in the Marikana Massacre) and a number of killings by private security guards since 2000.
People killed by police during protests
Yusuf Jacobs (22) Cape Town, 8 January 1999
Michael Makhabane (23) Durban, 16 May 2000
Abel Phetla (17) Alexandria, Johannesburg, 30 May 2000
Dennis Mathibithi (17) and Nhlanhla Masuku (15), Kathlehong, 16 February 2004
Tebogo Mkhonza (17), Harrismith, 30 August 2004
Monica Ngcobo, (19) Durban, 2 March 2006
Jan Matshobe, (27) Sebokeng, Johannesburg, 1 May 2008
Mthokozisi Nkwanyana, (24) Durban, 2008
Unnamed girl, KwaZakhele, KwaZulu-Natal, 1 July 2009
Unnamed person, Mashishing, Mpumalanga, 5 June 2009
Priscilla Sukai (46) eTwatwa, Daveyton, 2010
Unnamed man, Siyazenzela, Mpumalanga, 5 April 2010
Anna Nokele (19), Welkom, September 2010
Two unnamed children, Boipelo, Gauteng, 15 February 2011
Solomon Madonsela and Bongani Mathebula, 19 February 2011
Dimakatso Kgaswane and unnamed person, Tlokweng, North West, 31 May 2011
Andries Tatane (33), Ficksburg, 13 April 2011
Nhlanhla Ngcobo (19) and two unnamed people in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal, 6 June 2011
Mxolisi Buthelezi (14), Folweni Reserve, Durban, KwaZulu Natal, 2 July 2012
Unnamed person (27), Mahikeng, North West, 4 July 2012
Paulina Masuhlo, Marikana, North West, 19 September 2012
Michael Daniels (28), Wolsely, Western Cape, 14 November 2012
Service Nkadimeng (33), Primrose, Germiston, Gauteng, 18 November 2012
Letsekang Tokhwane (25), De Doorns, 14 January 2013 (Note: Some media reports indicate that a third, unnamed protestor was also killed in the Western Cape Farm Workers' Strike)
Six unnamed people, Sasolburg, Free State, 22 January 2013 (Note: One report indicates that one, also unnamed man, was reported to have been shot dead by a passing motorist)
Nkosiyethu Wele Mgoq (15), Sterksrpuit, Eastern Cape, 15 February 2013
Nqobile Nzuza (17), Durban, 30 September 2013
Themba Khumalo (20), Bekkersdal, Gauteng, 23 October 2013
Jan Rivombo, Pretoria, 8 January 2014
Mike Tshele, Osia Rahube, Lerato Seema and Enock Seimela, Brits, 13 January 2014
Tshepo Mabuseng (28), Roodepoort, Gauteng 23 January 2014
Mozere Molele and Mohale "Lighty" Selo, Tzaneen, 29 January 2014
Unnamed man, Soweto, 19 February 2014
Unnamed three-month-old baby, Majakaneng, North West, March 2014
Unnamed school child and 47-year-old man, Thembelihle, 25/26 February 2015
Lucas Lebyane (15), Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, 27 February 2015
Unnamed, Mopani, Limpopo 8 May 2015
Unnamed male (23), Bedford, Eastern Cape 12 May 2015
Unnamed, Burgersfort, Limpopo 13 May 2015
Karabo Khumalo (11), Bela Bela, Limpopo, 7 February 2017,
Unnamed 16-year-old boy, Standerton, Mpumalanga, May 2017
Jayden Khoza, 2-week-old baby boy, Durban, May 2017
Songezo Ndude (30), Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, July 2017.
Steven Kau (23), East Rand, Johannesburg, January 2018
Two unnamed people, Caledon, Western Cape, April 2019
Two unnamed people, a seven-year-old girl and a 33-year-old man, Philippi East, Cape Town, 16 June 2020
Leo Williams (9), Laingville, August 2020
Zamekile Shangase (32), Lamontville, Durban
Karabo Chaka (16), Johannesburg, 31 July 2023
People killed by private security guards during protests
Christopher Jele (21), Piet Retief, 2009
Ntombiyenkosi Mabika (24), Shaka's Kraal, June 2011
Bongile Ndleni (40), Ceres, 18 November 2012
Alfred Mzikayifani Mdiyako and Sanele Mthethwa, at the Magdalena and Aviemore mines in Dannhauser near Dundee, on 31 October 2012
Malizo Fakaza and Nhlanhla Mkhize, Reservoir Hills, Durban, 19 October 2013 (Seven others were shot and injured)
Unnamed person, Newclare, 6 October 2014
Samuel Hloele (29), Durban, 13 June 2017
Mlungisi Madonsela, Durban, 5 February 2019
Boshelo Petja, Limpopo, 18 July 2019
Activists killed by vigilantes
Terrance Mbuleo (33), Soweto, 2010
Lerato Victor Rabolila (26), Sebokeng, 2014
People killed during protests by attackers whose details have not been clearly reported
Unnamed Man, Bekkersdal, 2013
Repression from forces other than the police
Harassment of activists by intelligence structures
The Right2Know Campaign has documented several instances in which activists have been harassed by intelligence structures.
Party political violence against activists
Organisations such as the Landless People's Movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo and the Unemployed People's Movement have been subject to armed political violence by groups claiming to represent the ruling ANC. The Makause Community Development Forum have also claimed to have been subject to state sanctioned violence by an ANC aligned 'mob'. There have also been cases where ANC supporters have disrupted protests organised by independent groups. One example of this was the attempt to disrupt a protest by the Moretele Concerned Communities Association in May 2012. It has been argued that the violence associated with the Marikana miners' strike in August 2012 began after officials of the National Union of Mineworkers murdered two strikers.
Death threats against activists
Grassroots activists have been reporting fears that they may be killed since at least 2002. There have been reports of death threats against activists in Ermelo (2011), in Grahamstown (2011), in eTwatwa on the East Rand (2010), and in Durban (2006, 2009, 2012).
Unsolved murders of activists claimed to be political assassinations
Sinethemba Myeni, 12 April 2006, Umlazi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (former SACP member supporting independent candidate in local government elections)
Mazwi 'Komi' Zulu, 3 May 2006, Umlazi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (former SACP member supporting independent candidate in local government elections)
Scorpion Dimane, anti-mining activist, Mbizana, 2008
Mbongeleni Zondi, traditional leader with close ties to Jacob Zuma and the ANC, Durban, 2009
Mthunzi Nkonki, MV veteran, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, 2010
Bomber 'Radioman' Ntshangase, SACP leader, Mpumalanga, 2012
Kevin Kunene, environmental rights activist, KwaMbonambi, 2012
Dalivuyo Bongo, National Union of Mineworkers, Rustenburg, North West, 2012
Thembinkosi Qumbelo, Local activist and ANC leader, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2013
Two unnamed members of Abahlali baseMjondolo, KwaNdengezi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2013
Steve Khululekile, AMCU regional organiser, Rustenburg, North West, 2013
Nkululeko Gwala, Abahlali baseMjondolo activist, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2013
Thuli Ndlovu, Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, KwaNdengezi, Durban, 2014
Sthembiso Biyela & Buyisile Malusi, (Biyela was reported to have left the IFP to join the ANC) Durban, 2014
Njabulo Ndebele, Sibonelo "John-John" Ntuli and Ntobeko Maphumulo, NUMSA leaders, Isithebe, KwaZulu-Natal, August 2014
Charles Khanku, SANCO leader, Cape Town
Mobeni Khwela, Local SACP activist, KwaNdengezi, Durban, 2014
Mbuyiselo Phajana Mnguni, Free State regional chairperson of the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union, 2014
Chris Nkosi, Gauteng secretary of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, Germiston, 2015
Philip Dlamini & another unnamed man, SACP members, Durban, 2015
Sikhosiphi Bazooka Rhadebe, chairperson of the chairman of the Amadiba Crisis Committee, Mbizana, Eastern Cape, 2016
Nontsikelelo Blose, SACP activist, KwaZulu-Natal, 2016
Mthunzi 'Ras' Zuma, Cape Town, 2017
S'bonelo Mpeku, Chairperson of an Abahlali baseMjondolo branch in Lamontville, Durban, November 2017
Soyiso Nkqayini, Youth League organisers for Abahlali baseMjondolo in Cato Manor, Durban, December 2017
S'fiso Ngcobo, Chairperson of an Abahlali baseMjondolo branch in Marianhill, Durban, May 2018
Bongani Cola, Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of SA, Port Elizabeth, 2019
Malibongwe Mdazo, National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, in Rustenburg, North West Province, 18 August 2021
Ayanda Ngila, Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Durban, 8 March 2022
Nokuthula Mabaso, Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Durban, 7 May 2022
Lindokuhle Mnguni, Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Durban, 20 August 2022
Convictions for political assassinations
In May 2016 two ANC councillors were convicted of murder following the assassination of Thuli Ndlovu, a local leader in Abahlali baseMjondolo, an autonomous shack dwellers' movement in Durban.
Political violence & intimidation by MK veterans
In July 2012 Alpheus Moseri (68) collapsed and died following an assault by MK Veterans at a lecture given by Jacob Zuma. In October 2012 COSATU President Sidumo Dlamini called for MK veterans to use "their guerrilla military skills to work with us on the ground to defend this movement and our revolution as a whole" In November 2012 it was reported that MK veterans had made threats against Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe. In November 2012 it was reported that armed men claiming to be MK veterans stormed into an ANC branch meeting on the East Rand and threatened to shoot members of the branch if they did not nominate Zuma for re-election.
According to Barney Pityana "we are beginning to see the emergence of party (or presidential) militia in the guise of the Umkhonto weSizwe Veterans, who are the new Gestapo with a fascist agenda."
Breakdown in the rule of law
In Durban in 2013 the shack dwellers' movement Abahlali baseMjondolo secured five High Court injunctions against evictions which were "systemically ignored by state actors who have repeatedly torn down the shacks of local residents".
Ruling party attitudes to independent organisations
According to Zwelinzima Vavi, COSATU Secretary General, "The [ruling] party unfortunately has adopted in our view an unnecessarily hostile posture to some progressive civil organisations and coalitions, painted a number of organisations with the same brush and has tended to take the view that they are the product of external agendas."
See also
Political Assassinations in Post-Apartheid South Africa
Protest in South Africa
References
Further reading
Housing battles in post-Apartheid South Africa: The Case of Mandela Park, Khayelitsha, by Martin Legassick, South African Labour Bulletin, 2003
, Freedom of Expression Institute, 2003
Arresting Dissent: State Repression and Post-Apartheid Social Movements, Dale McKinley & Ahmed Veriava, Centre for the Study of Violence & Reconciliation, 2005
, Simon Delaney, Freedom of Expression Institute, May 2007
Independent Report into Political Violence Against the Landless People's Movement, Jared Sacks, International Alliance of Inhabitants, 2010
The 'Gatvol' Factor, Jane Duncan, SACSIS, January 2011
Political tolerance on the wane in South Africa, Imraan Buccus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, SA Reconciliation Barometer, 2011
The Work of violence: a timeline of armed attacks at Kennedy Road, Kerry Chance School of Development Studies Research Report, 83, University of KwaZulu-Natal, July 2010.
Police brutality and service delivery protests, by Mphutlane wa Bofelo, Pambazuka News, 21 April 2011
Dissent Under Thabo Mbeki, Jane Duncan, May 2011, Professor Jane Duncan, Rhodes University, May 2011
State Violence, Richard Pithouse, SACSIS, May 2011
Amnesty International South Africa Report 2011
ICD: Rise in police abuse at service delivery protests, Emsie Ferreira, Mail & Guardian, 14 June 2011
ANC ratchets up its anti-media campaign in provinces, Mandy de Waal, The Daily Maverick, 6 July 2011
If They Come for You, Who Will Speak Out?, by Jane Duncan, 7 July 2011
No Easy Path Through the Embers: resistance and repression in South Africa's shack settlements, Counterfire, Richard Pithouse, August 2011
Police Brutally Suppress Protesters in Cape Town, by Christopher McMichael, Think Africa Press, February 2012
The Reign of Thugs, by Pedro Tabensky, January 2012
Notes on a Crushed Protest, by Ben Fogel, February 2012
The Struggle for Street Politics, Jane Duncan, February, 2012
With Enough Bullets, Christopher McMichael, March, 2012
ANC: A party under violent, criminal siege, Paul Trewhela, Mail & Guardian, 4 August 2012
Zuma: Why we're not laughing any more, Hennie van Vuuren, Mail & Guardian, 17 August 2012
Media underplaying police, state brutality, Jane Duncan, Sunday Independent, 26 August 2012
Marikana massacre – a turning point?, by Martin Legassick, 27 August 2012
Marikana: We should be incandescent with rage, by Julie Reid, The Daily Maverick, 28 August 2012
The Road to Marikana: Abuses of Force During Public Order Policing Operations, by David Bruce, SACSIS, 12 October 2012
Zuma and the "enemy within", Paul Trewhela, Politics Web, 16 October 2012
Uganda Transit Camp, Durban: A report from the frontlines of the struggle for democracy, Jared Sacks, Daily Maverick, 13 February 2013
The Criminal Injustice System, by Jane Duncan, SACSIS, 18 Feb 2013
No end in sight for police brutality in South Africa, Justice Malala, The Guardian, 21 February 2013
SA cannot flourish in violent culture, Imraan Buccus, The Mercury, 2013
External links
Amnesty International South Africa
Right to Know Campaign
Housing in South Africa
Human rights abuses in South Africa
Political history of South Africa
Politics of South Africa
South Africa