Death of Nqobile Nzuza
Nqobile Nzuza was a resident in the Marikana Land Occupation in Cato Crest, Durban, South Africa. She was a member of the shackdwellers' social movement Abahlali baseMjondolo. Death. On 30 September 2013, at the age of 17 years, Ms. Nzuza was shot dead in the back of her head during an anti-eviction protest organised by Marikana residents. Police admitted to shooting Nzuza, and another resident who was wounded, but claimed they were acting in self-defence. Representatives of Abahlali baseMjondolo said it was the fault of the police. Aftermath. The death caused significant controversy. When  Bandile Mdlalose visited Nzuza's family, she was arrested. There were a range of letters and statements on the matter by well-known US based academics such as Noam Chomsky and Anglican Bishop Rubin Phillip. Chomsky wrote a letter to the "Mail & Guardian" newspaper in Johannesburg along with other signatories, which included Slavoj Zizek, Judith Butler and John Holloway. They urged Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa and James Nxumalo, the local Mayor to put an end to the violent attacks on activists and their homes. Conviction. A Cato Manor police officer, Phumlani Ndlovu, was convicted of murder and was  sentenced in 2018 to ten years in prison. The trial lasted 5 years. Nzuza's family declared themselves unhappy with the verdict.