To Kill a Poor Man
bySamora Chapman and CaelinRoodt / 27.12.2013
Originally published on 05 November 2013.
Now is the time for the whole world to turn their gaze upon the
atrocities occurring in the townships of Durban, South Africa. These are real
stories from recent clashes between Durban shack dwellers and the powers that
be.
On Monday 7 October NyatiGcinithemba was shot in the chest at the
entrance to the uMlazi Courts. He was unarmed, leading a chorus of voices,
singing songs of freedom. Nyati and 30 other members of Abahlali base-Mjondolo
(a shack dwellers movement) were calling for the release of three fellow
activists who had been held by police all weekend for attending protests in
uMlazi.
Nyati refused to stop singing, even after being shot, beaten and
handcuffed.
Earlier that day, two policemen, Mbongwa and Ndwandwe, had a
conversation that was clearly overheard by members of the protest. According to
the protesters, these cops discussed a plan to kill two people,
NyatiGcinithemba and Khayalihle Majola… “to teach those rats a lesson.”
