Celani Sikhakhane
About 23 Abahlali baseMjondolo activists have been killed in gruesome murders since 2009 and the residents of the informal settlement are angry at the ANC for it.
Last week the Abahlali baseMjondolo Women’s League leader Nokuthula Mabaso was killed in front of her children at her home in eKhanana area.
Daily Maverick reports that she was a key witness in the murder of another leader Ayanda Ngila who was killed in Cato Manor in March.
Scrolla.Africa understands that the relationship between Abahlali baseMjondolo and the ANC has turned deadly due to the accusation of housing and land corruption.
Some businessmen are also accused of assassinating leaders of Abahlali baseMjondolo which have forced Secretary General S’bu Zikode to go into hiding.
Zikode said there were certain ANC individuals and powerful businessmen who wanted to sell the land for property development.
Speaking to Scrolla.Africa from a hiding place, Zikode said the land in question was at EKhanana.
“They have even tried to use government institutions to evict people but we defeated them in court and now they are killing us,” said Zikode.
A former KZN MEC who has now been deployed as Deputy Minister was once accused of being behind the killing of the movement leaders.
In 2016 the then eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede tried to create a relationship between Abahlali BaseMjondolo Movement and her organisation.
They even threw their vote behind the ANC in eThekwini at that time.
Zikode revealed that since 2009 about 23 people have been killed.
ANC provincial spokesperson Nhlakanipho Ntombela questioned the allegations by Abahlali baseMjondolo and asked why they are not laying criminal charges if they know that they are being killed by ANC leaders.
“Our councillor in Cato Manor has a healthy relationship with Abahlali BaseMjondolo, therefore we really don’t know who is behind the killings. If they have evidence they should go to the police,” said Ntombela.
He says if they don’t trust police they should go to structures such as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate or to the political task team that was formed by Minister Bheki Cele or the Public Protector.
Police spokesperson Lt Colonel Nqobile Gwala said that the matter is still under investigation.
“Detectives are working tireless and follow all possible leads regarding the suspects who are linked in the murder,” said Gwala
