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Just a few weeks ago, we released a statement where we condemned the passing of well-known activist sister Fikile Ntshangase, who was murdered in her home, and who at the time of her murder, was involved in a legal battle with a coal mine. Somkhele coal mine wanted to expand the mine in sis Fikile\’s community, which extended into the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi natural reserve, one of the oldest reserves in Africa.

Now the life of sis Nonhle Mbuthuma- another black, women, environmental and anti-mining activist; is being threatened. On Sunday 15 November sis Nonhle received a SMS from an unknown number at 10:40pm threatening her life along with other anti-mining activists from the Umgungundlovu area. 

Sis Nonhle has been opposing a mine who seeks to strip her ancestral land in Sigidi where she grew up, for titanium. As a farmer, sis Nonhle lives and sustains herself and her family off this land and mining it is not an option. And this is why she faces real danger. As the Rural Women’s Assembly we take these threats on sis Nonhle\’s life with the urgency and seriousness  because there is no telling when these henchmen will  strike. 

The Rural Women\’s Assembly South Africa  and those sisters in Southern Africa call for the State to protect sis Nonhle Mbuthuma and other anti-mining activists and to bring the culprits to book. 

The South African government is not doing enough to protect the women of South Africa, much less rural women who act to protect the common – that which belongs to us and the future generations. We are watching, we stand in solidarity with the Amadiba Crisis Committee and the community of Sigidi who we have the Right to Say No to development that does not benefit the poor, and where nature is destroyed. 

We call on  Government\’s protection to her and all other activists. It is clear with every news report, that opposing capitalist mines proves to be fatal in South Africa for activists, especially for rural, black, women, anti-mining activists.