South Africa: Human rights defenders silenced through the barrel of a gun

On 5 May 2022, Nokuthula Mabaso from the eKhenana informal settlement in eThekwini was shot and killed in front of her children while tending to a pot of rice. Two months before this, on 8 March 2022, she had witnessed the murder of another community member, Ayanda Ngila, and was due to submit an affidavit of what she witnessed.

Just three months later, on 20 August 2022, a third resident, Lindokuhle Mnguni, was shot in his home while sleeping next to his partner. Also a target the day…