R2K Whistleblowers 2014: Nkululeko Gwala

“If we get killed, let it be known what we stood up for” – AbM’s tribute to Nkululeko Gwala

Housing activist Nkululeko Gwala was assassinated on 26 June 2013, allegedly after uncovering evidence of political corruption and police intimidation in the housing projects in Cato Crest.

Nkululeko Gwala was a well-known activist, and respected member of Abahlali baseMjondolo, a social movement whose campaigns against illegal evictions and political corruption in Cato Crest made headlines in the past year.

It is said that in meetings with the council, Nkululeko Gwala spoke for his community and questioned the corruption that he saw in the housing sector. Gwala had reportedly been collecting evidence of intimidation and political corruption and had planned to meet with S’bu Zikode, an Abahlali BaseMjondolo leader, to present it.

However on the evening of the 26th of June, the night before his meeting with Abahlali BaseMjondolo was meant to take place, Nkululeko Gwala was gunned down by four men while making his way home from watching a soccer match at a friend’s house.

Another Cato Crest community leader, Thembinkosi Qumbelo, had been assassinated under similar circumstances a few months earlier.

To date no suspects have been named and no arrests made for either murder. Since then, Cato Crest has continued to be a site of struggle and violence, including the death of 17-year-old Nqobile Nzuza when police fired on protesters in October.

What is certain is that Abahlali’s struggles will continue in 2014.

Keep reading: Abahlali baseMjondolo’s tribute to Nkululeko Gwala

Nkululeko Gwala is featured in R2K’s 2014 Whistleblower Calendar. Find out more.