At the recent 4. 5 day course on the political economy of land, mining and rural democracy we ran a session on the Xolobeni mining struggle and screened the award winning documentary Shore break. Just a month later we received the shocking news that that the Chairperson of the Amadiba Crisis Committee had been murdered.
On the 23rd March the Alliance for Rural Democracy (ARD) wrote to the Minister of Mineral Resources, his Deputy and the Acting Director General of the Department demanding urgent intervention at Xolobeni following the brutal assassination of Sikhosiphi Bazooka Rhadebe.
With this letter the ARD joins forces with more than 100 organisations in civil society to condemn the assassination of this brave activist in the strongest terms and demands that the forces hiding behind by the perpetrators are exposed and prosecuted. This investigation needs to address the series of attacks and violent harassment of members of the Crisis Committee including the shootings in Mdatya Village on 3rd may 2015.
The ARD dismisses these attempts to intimidate members of the Amadiba Crisis Committee and the people of Xolobeni . The ARD stands with all those who organise to protect their land rights, livelihoods and the environment against unscrupulous mining deals, whose constitutional rights have been met with unconstitutional force and who will not be silenced.
Letters in solidarity
The full text of the ARD letter to the Minister can be accessed from the link below together with other letters in solidarity.
In depth reports
Circle of blue report: Murder on Wild Coasts escalates conflict over land, water and mining
Frontline Defenders case history: Sikhosiphi Rhadebe
GroundUp: Wild Coast battle to save land from mining
AmaBhungane: Xolobeni – We will die for our land
Mbhekiseni Mavuso and Brendan Boyle
ARD and its partnes(LRC,LAMOSA,MACUA,WAMUA,LARC,PHUHLISANI etc) are all in attendance showing solidarity to the struggle of land and working together with all rural communities in fighting their right and justice. Thank you cdes
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As the Alliance for Rural Democracy.. a cross section of rural communities and their organisations in the 5 provinces of Kwazulu, Northwest Limpopo and Mpumalanga sends our heartfelt condolences to Comrade Bazooka’s family, Amadiba Crisis Committee, the community of Xolobeni and to our dearest comrades who fight tirelessly to defend their land and natural resources.
We are behind you all the way – from Mapela Community in Limpopo to Bapong, Bakgatla, Bafokeng and all others – your struggle is our struggle. Your strength is our inspiration. Qinani maqabani…. long live the spirit of Sikhosiphi Rhadebe Long Live!!!!
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