Right2Know Eastern Cape convener assaulted by police
The Right2Know Campaign is alarmed by the police brutality meted out against Ayanda Kota, convener and spokesperson for Right2Know Campaign in the Eastern Cape and Chairperson of the Grahamstown-based Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM).
Yesterday Constable Zulu and other members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) assaulted Kota at the Grahamstown police station in front of several witnesses including Kota’s 6-year old son. Kota was called to the police station to answer charges of theft laid against him by an academic from Rhodes University after he failed to return a book he had borrowed from her.
Kota is a tireless campaigner for democracy and social justice. Many will see the police attack on Kota as further evidence of a rise in state repression – increased militarisation and centralisation of power in an increasingly unaccountable security cluster of the state. This growing authoritarianism encompasses attacks on the judiciary, media, and social justice movements.
The Right2Know Campaign adds its voice to the call for an investigation of, and action against those SAPS members responsible for yesterday’s assault on Kota. We are confident that Kota’s experience of violence and intimidation at the hands of the SAPS will only serve to strengthen his commitment to building a popular democracy.
Together we will double our efforts to build the Right2Know Campaign as a vehicle that defends the right to access information and promotes a free and diverse media that can serve the information needs of all living in South Africa. For more information on the assault against Ayanda Kota, see the UPM’s press statement.
The Right2Know campaign is a coalition of over 400 civil society organisations. In addition to mobilising opposition to draconian provisions of the Protection of State Information Bill (the “Secrecy” Bill), R2K tackles access to information for community struggles, and campaigns for media freedom for all. Connect with us on Facebook, find us on Twitter (@r2kcampaign), and join the campaign by SMSing ‘TRUTH’ and your full name to 31332.
