R2K Champions 2019: Thabiso Zulu, Les Stuta, Vanessa Burger

Exposed corrupt networks behind political killing in KZN, including the murder of anti-corruption Councillor Sindiso Magaqa and killings in Glebelands Hostel.

The Moerane Commission of Inquiry into political killings in KZN has been heavily criticised for failing to find any person to be responsible for the killings. The Commission’s report was released in September 2018.

However, several independent voices have been lauded for their courage in going public on the corrupt networks driving political killings: these include ANC members Thabiso Zulu and Les Stuta, and independent community activist Vanessa Burger.

Thabiso Zulu and Les Stuta first spoke publicly on this issue in 2017 at the funeral of their slain friend, Umzimkhulu PR councillor Sindiso Magaqa, who they say was killed for opposing looting of public funds in Umzimkhulu municipality and may well have been killed by people within the ANC. Afterwards, both Zulu and Stuta had to leave their homes and faced threats on their lives. Zulu later appeared before the Moerane Commission and testified that Magaqa’s killing was linked to looting of millions of funds meant for renovation of a municipal hall. Stuta also publicly challenged the Moerane Commission to go to Umzimkhulu and investigate the killings of councillors there. In August 2018, the Public Protector made a finding that, in light of credible threats on Zulu and Stuta’s lives, the minister of police had been grossly negligent in failing to provide adequate security for Zulu and Stuta, in light of credible threats on their lives.

Vanessa Burger as an independent community activist gave testimony to the Commission on the killings in Glebelands Hostel (where hitmen are alleged to have killed over 100 residents in the past three years), alleged that police and local political operators were complicit in the killings. Furthermore Burger highlighted how IPID was dysfunctional as a police watchdog. Burger has played a crucial role in ensuring that the voices of ordinary people, including hostel-dwellers, were not silenced during the Commission.

Read more here and here.

Thabiso, Les and Vanessa are featured on the 2019 Champions for the Right to Know Calendar.