Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has called for an incident at Xolobeni on the Wild Coast on Sunday, in which opponents of a mining venture were forcibly removed from a meeting, to be investigated.
Amnesty International SA executive director Shenilla Mohamed said witness testimonies, video footage and photographs indicated police had used teargas, stun grenades and death threats to disperse a peaceful protest.
“It is unacceptable that the SAPS resorted to violence and threats to disperse peaceful protesters. The police must remember that community members have the right to peaceful assembly.
“We must not forget the tragedy that happened in Marikana in 2012, and the repercussions it has had for that community and beyond.”
Organised by the mineral resources department, the meeting was billed as an opportunity for mining minister Gwede Mantashe to engage with the community on the conflict over the Xolobeni titanium mining venture proposed by Australian firm Transworld Energy and Minerand al Resources. The community, however, did not feature on the meeting programme.
A large group opposed to the venture was initially barred.
Community leader Nonhle Mbuthuma said they had eventually been shepherded inside but when it became clear that they were not on the programme they had started singing and this was when the police turned on them.
Mohamed said the video footage was alarming.
“It appears to show the SAPS using excessive force to disperse community members prevent them from attending a meeting called by the department of mineral resources.
“As this meeting was called specifically to hear community views regarding the proposed mine, the fact that community members opposed to the mine were prevented from joining harmed their right to participation in public affairs, as well as their right to defend their ancestral lands threatened by the mining project.
“What happened at Xolobeni must be investigated and those responsible for human rights violations should be brought to justice.”
Amnesty had also noted that lawyer Richard Spoor who was representing the community, had been arrested at the scene and charged with incitement to commit an offence.
“We call on the SAPS to drop all charges against Spoor immediately,” Mohamed said.
Spoor appeared in the Bizana Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday but the case was postponed to October 25 for further investigation and to allow him to review the charge.
Mbuthuma, who was at the court to support Spoor with other Xolobeni residents, said on Wednesday their eyes were on the legal process.
Besides waiting for the postponement date at Bizana, they were also waiting for the Pretoria high court judgment on their April application for the community directly affected by the mining “to be granted the right to say no”.
Police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said she could not comment as the matter was before court.
When asked why the meeting had been organised with the high court judgment pending, mineral resources department spokesperson Ayanda Shezi said this legal process was separate.
Although “a small group was instigated to disrupt discussions” the meeting had proceeded as planned, she said.