The Alliance for Rural Democracy (ARD), together with partner organisations, condemns the senseless killing of Sbusiso Hlongwane, a resident of Matshansundu village, over the weekend. The ARD has learnt that Mr Hlongwane, a vocal land rights activist, is the latest victim in the increased violence in the area. Mr Hlongwane was gunned down in what appears to be an assassination-style killing on Sunday, not far from the main road into the village. Mr Hlongwane had been opposed to mining in his community, like many others who feel that their rights as customary landowners cannot be bought or sold for profit.
The people of Entembeni, comprising several villages, are currently at odds regarding the application from the Jindal Iron Ore Project that encompasses up to 26 000 hectares of communal land belonging to traditional communities, land under claim, and commercial farms forming part of the newest mining rights application launched in July 2024. Residents of this area are torn between accepting mining, which will result in the relocation of several homesteads, job losses and environmental damage and opposing mining, which is met with increasing violence of late. Mining, by its nature, is a destructive activity that yields benefits for very few at great cost to the people who live beside mines, and the community of Entembeni is no different.
Local farmers have been battling wildfires for days now, and the destruction could result in loss of income and/or jobs. Some of these fires are suspected to be arson attacks on members of a collective of farmers who also oppose mining. Rural residents have also been affected by the fires, and some have lost their homes, livestock and property as a result of these uncontrolled fires in the last week.
Given the serious implications of mining, we call for calm in the area, and we strongly oppose any loss of life, including the killings of residents, destruction of land or loss of income. Though communities may be divided in how they respond to mining applications, as civil society, we maintain that any person/s are entitled to their own views and resorting to violence is an attack on the principles of participatory decision-making.
We also call on the police to thoroughly investigate both the killing of Mr Hlongwane and the suspected arson, as these attacks are but the latest in a string of increasing violence and conflict. Not long ago, rural residents were forced to cower in the nearby fields and bush to escape gunmen who entered the area in another attack. Right now, community members are fearful that recent events are a sign of more troubles to come, especially now that Jindal has launched a new mining rights application. Until the rights of all residents can be protected and the property is respected, nobody is safe.
Alliance for Rural Democracy (ARD)
Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC)
Right to Say No Campaign (R2SN)
BenchMarks Foundation (BMF)
Land Access Movement of South Africa (LAMOSA)
StopTheBantustans Campaign (STB)
For media comments, contact:
Tshepo Fokane on 010 021 0572 or fokanet@ardt.org.za
Matthews Hlabane on 082 707 9860 or mnyeva@gmail.com
Eric Mokuoa on 083 371 2947 or eric@bench-marks.org.za
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