Protests held in Cape Town over Israel's siege on Gaza

Peaceful Assembly

Gaza ceasefire protests held in Cape Town

On 11th November 2023, tens of thousands marched through Cape Town in a protest organised by civil society groups and political parties to call for a ceasefire in the Gaza strip, following the 7th October 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas and the retaliatory attacks by Israel that followed, leading to unprecedented deaths, injuries and destruction. The following day, on 12th November 2023, an additional protest was held by pro-Israeli demonstrators at the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town but was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters. Despite a heavy police presence separating the groups, clashes began when a pro-Palestine protester attempted to remove an Israeli flag from a pro-Israel protester. Stun grenades and water cannon were used by the police to disperse the crowd, resulting in four arrests.

Protests escalate in South African mining sector amidst investigator’s murder

On 7th December 2023, at least 447 miners held a sit-in protest at the Springs Gold One Mine near Johannesburg. The protest was linked to the murder of a 55-year-old Gold Mine investigator Elliot Daniso who was shot dead by unknown suspects while travelling with his family two days earlier, with one bystander sustaining injuries. Elliot was investigating the instigators behind the allegedly forced sit-in, ahead of disciplinary hearings for the October 2023 protest which led to the dismissal of 50 employees. In October 2023, hundreds of miners refused to come above ground for nearly three days, in a sit-in protest against the company’s failure to recognise the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).

Neighbours known to newspaper Daily Sun said, “we suspect people who shot him were either sent to destroy the evidence he has so far gathered”.

The police are investigating a case of murder and attempted murder.

Association

Proposed amendments to the General Intelligence laws raise concern

The General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill (GILAB), a new bill amending the powers and mandate of South Africa’s state intelligence services was approved by the Cabinet in May 2023, and a slightly revised version was tabled in Parliament on 17th November 2023. The National Assembly has created an ad hoc committee to consider the Bill and issue a call for public comments; it is due to conclude its work by 1st March 2024.

While there is an urgent need to reform the laws governing South Africa’s intelligence services, the Bill has sparked serious concerns about its potential impact on civic participation, lack of protections from mass surveillance, and lack of provisions for improved oversight and accountability of the intelligence services.

Community Policing Forum (CPF) official fatally shot.

On 10th December 2023, 56-year-old Lulama Guffy Dinginto, who was the Gugulethu Community Policing Forum’s deputy chairperson, was gunned down in her home by unknown man in Cape Town. She was known for her no-nonsense approach to dealing with crime in Gugulethu as it is one of Cape Town’s mass shooting hotspots. It is also home to notorious gangs involved in extortion, drugs and murder. According to reports, Dinginto had received death threats before she was killed. On 17th December 2023, a suspect was arrested in the Eastern Cape in relation to the murder.

Expression

Journalists assaulted while covering housing protests

On 30th October 2023, approximately seven unidentified individuals assaulted two journalists from local broadcaster Mpuma Kapa TV (MPKTV) in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape province. The journalists, Sbu Maingo and Jessica Bobo, were covering protests related to the alleged hijacking of government housing. While interviewing residents, a protestor initially charged at Maingo, who defended himself. Subsequently, six others joined in, beating Maingo with fists, sticks and wooden planks, causing injuries to his face, ribs and neck. Bobo, seeking help for Maingo, was also hit with sticks. Other community members eventually intervened, preventing further harm. Although Bobo was unharmed, Maingo sustained severe tissue damage, leading to a week-long recovery period at home on doctor's orders. Despite the incident, Maingo chose not to file a police report, and a police spokesperson was unaware of the assault.

The South African Editors Forum condemned the incident and called upon law enforcement to investigate the assault and bring the suspected culprits to book.

Parliament repeals the common law crime of criminal defamation

On 6th December 2023 Deputy Minister of Justice John Jeffery announced in a Tweet saying, “this afternoon, Parliament repealed the common law crime of criminal defamation which is something media practitioners have been asking for, for some time. This was when the NCOP passed the Judicial Matters Amendment Bill”.

Clause 35(2) of the Judicial Matters Amendment Bill acknowledges that the UN and other international bodies have expressed concerns about the negative impact of criminal defamation laws on journalists and have advocated for their abolition. The bill awaits presidential assent. South Africa joins other countries in the region like Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya and Lesotho that have repealed criminal defamation laws. This aligns with international and regional standards on the protection of freedom of expression and media.