The Federation for a Sustainable Environment and its directors extend deepest sympathy to the dear family of Bazooka Radebe. This is indeed a great and irreparable loss not only to his family but also to fellow activists.
He will be deeply mourned by all of us and his courageous protagonism and integrity will be ever remembered.
The Wild Coast anti-mining activist Mr Sikhosiphi “Bazooka” Rhadebe was assisinated at his home in Xolobeni on South Africa’s Wild Coast on Tuesday 22 March 2016.
The Financial Mail reports “Rhadebe was shot eight times in the head in front of his son, who told investigators the killers had posed as police.
“Less than two hours before his death, Rhadebe called fellow committee member Nonhle Mbuthuma to check on her safety, telling her there was a “hit list” that included both of them and Dlamini.”
For a background on mining of the Wild Coast, view the documentary by The Shore Break
The general public can assist Mr Rhadebe’s family as well as continuing the battle against a mining company who refuse to take ‘no’ for an answer. This is a compilation of suggestions from various organisations including Right 2 Know, AIDC, Sustaining the Wild Coast (SWC) and UKZN’s Centre for Civil Society:
1. You can sign the petition targeting the mining company’s investors and shareholders in Australia: http://www.avaaz.org/WildCoast
2. You can Contribute to the Solidarity Fund: The affected community’s Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC) urgently requires funds to assist Bazooka’s family, for transport, and for continuing the struggle and protecting activists in this dangerous moment. You can make donations to the following bank account. Please include the reference as ‘Bazooka Cause’. Please also forward this request for financial assistance on to your networks as well as funding agencies that may be willing to support the ACC.
Sustaining the Wild Coast
First National Bank
Randburg
Acc no: 62157997639
Code: 254005
Swift: FIRNZAJJ
Physical address: cnr Main Ave/Republic Rd, Randburg
3. You can attend a Solidarity Meeting in Cape Town next Wednesday to discuss a wider strategy. Details below:
Amadiba Film Screening & Solidarity Meeting
Wednesday 30 March 18:00 – 20:30
AIDC Solidarity Center
129 Rochester Rd
Observatory Cape Town
RSVP 0214475770
4. You can contact the highest offices of the Department of Mineral Resources and inundate them with demands to intervene to stop the mining right application process and to protect the anti-mining activists and communities. Here are the contact details:
Minister of Mineral Resources: Mr Mosebenzi Zwane
Tel: 012 444 3999
Fax: 012 444 3145
Email: Queen.Poolo@dmr.gov.za (PA)
Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources: Mr Godfrey Oliphant
Tel: 012 444 3956
Fax: 012 341 2228
Email: Kefilwe.Chibogo@dmr.gov.za (PA)
Acting Director-General: Department of Mineral Resources: Mr David Msiza
Tel: 012 444 3000
Fax: 012 341 2228
Email: david.msiza@dmr.gov.za / Nwabisa.Qwanyashe@dmr.gov.za (PA) / Khayalethu.Matrose@dmr.gov.za (Director: Office of the DG)
5. You can sign a petition targeting the Minister of Mineral Resources:
6. You can email the Australian embassy at consular.pretoria@dfat.gov.au to express your concern/outrage/disgust with what is happening in Xolobeni. Their twitter handle is @AuHCSouthAfrica.
7. If you have media or civil society contacts in Australia you can ask them to get involved.