In the heart of South Africa’s struggle for equality and dignity, grassroots human rights activists like members of Abahlali baseMjondolo and Nonhle Mbuthuma from Amadiba Crisis Committee, have become powerful symbols of resistance. These courageous individuals and movements are fighting for the basic human rights of marginalized communities, yet their battles are marked by intense backlash from powerful interests seeking to silence them.
This backlash is not just an attack on individuals but on the very principles of justice, equity, and democracy. It highlights the urgent need for all of us to stand in solidarity with these human rights defenders, ensuring that their voices are amplified and their sacrifices are not in vain.
Abahlali baseMjondolo, a grassroots movement founded in 2005, has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of shack dwellers in South Africa. Their demands are simple but profound: access to land, housing, and basic services for the poor. These demands, however, have provoked violent backlash from those who benefit from the status quo.
Members of Abahlali have faced harassment, arrests, and assassinations. Leaders like Thuli Ndlovu, Nqobile Nzuza, and Ayanda Ngila paid the ultimate price for their activism, brutally murdered for daring to challenge power. Despite this, the movement continues to grow, embodying resilience in the face of relentless attacks.
As Abahlali’s President, S’bu Zikode, once said: “The life of a poor person is very cheap. We are killed like dogs because we are poor.” This stark truth underscores the dangerous intersection of poverty, inequality, and systemic violence in South Africa.
Nonhle Mbuthuma, a leader of the Amadiba Crisis Committee, is another human rights defender who has faced relentless opposition. She has been at the forefront of resisting mining activities on communal land in the Eastern Cape’s Xolobeni region, a fight deeply rooted in protecting the environment, preserving culture, and securing land rights for rural communities.
The mining companies, backed by influential political and economic interests, see the land as a resource to exploit. Mbuthuma and her community see it as their heritage, their livelihood, and their future. This clash has led to threats, intimidation, and even murder—most notably, the assassination of her colleague Bazooka Rhadebe in 2016.
The struggles faced by Abahlali baseMjondolo and Nonhle Mbuthuma are emblematic of a global trend: the suppression of human rights defenders who challenge entrenched power structures. This backlash takes many forms, from legal harassment and smear campaigns to outright violence and assassination.
In South Africa, where inequality remains stark and power is often concentrated in the hands of a few, activists who speak truth to power are labeled as troublemakers, anarchists, or even enemies of the state. Their work is criminalized, and their communities are punished for daring to demand justice.
For human rights defenders, the physical threats are compounded by mental and emotional strain. Constant surveillance, fear for personal safety, and witnessing the suffering of others can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression.
Nonhle Mbuthuma has spoken openly about the emotional toll of her work, stating that the loss of her colleague, Bazooka Rhadebe, was not just a personal tragedy but a heavy burden for the entire movement. Similarly, members of Abahlali often work under the constant shadow of violence, knowing that any meeting, protest, or interview could put them in harm’s way.
The backlash against human rights defenders is not new. Activists like Steve Biko, Victoria Mxenge, and Chris Hani faced similar repression during the anti-apartheid struggle. Their sacrifices remind us that the fight for justice has always been fraught with danger but that progress is possible when people stand together.
Steve Biko, whose Black Consciousness Movement empowered marginalized communities, famously said: “It is better to die for an idea that will live than to live for an idea that will die.” These words resonate deeply with today’s activists, who continue to risk their lives for the promise of a more just and equitable world.
The backlash against human rights defenders is a call to all of us to take a stand. Activists like those in Abahlali baseMjondolo and leaders like Nonhle Mbuthuma cannot fight alone. They need our solidarity, our voices, and our action.
Here’s what I think we can do as a collective. Let's start with actively amplfying their voices by sharing their stories, attending their events, and making use of social media to spread awareness of their struggles. For those who can, please contribute to organizations and movements that provide resources, legal support, and protection for activists.
As the people we must continue to demand that governments and corporations respect human rights and protect those who defend them, and while we are at it, we must advocate for better mental health resources for activists, ensuring we have the care we need to sustain our work on the defence line.
The bravery of activists like Nonhle Mbuthuma and the members of Abahlali baseMjondolo reminds us that the fight for human rights is far from over. It is a battle for dignity, equality, and justice—values that should unite us all.
As we honor their courage, let us commit to standing with them, not just in moments of crisis but in the daily struggle for a better world. Their fight is our fight, and their victory will be a victory for all of humanity.
Let us not be silent. Let us not be complicit. Let us join the fight against the backlash and ensure that justice prevails.
