A DURBAN priest is behind bars after being linked to the murder of Nokuthula Mabaso.
The 40-year-old Abahlali BaseMjondolo activist was assassinated at eKhenana squatter camp in Cato Manor, Durban in May while returning from a meeting.
Her assassination came shortly after another activist, Ayanda Ngiba, was shot and killed in the same squatter camp.
The movement’s deputy president Mqapheli Bonono said they are happy there is finally a breakthrough in Mabaso’s case.
He said they welcomed the arrest of a priest who has allegedly been the leading force behind the violent attempts to destroy the eKhenana squatter camp.
Bonono said the arrested priest is also a businessman whose interest is in the use of land in eKhenana for profit.
“Initially, the priest and his political friends wanted to use that piece of land to build flats that were going to be sold for private profit,” he said.
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“The leadership in eKhenana has been facing constant repression from the local ANC since the land was first occupied,” said Bonono.
“There has been a gang organised by the political mafia to sell houses that are meant for the poorest of the poor.” Bonono said they are being killed for organising outside the ruling party.
KZN police spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said a man in his 60s was arrested for murder.
On Friday, 5 August the suspect was supposed to apply for bail at the Durban Magistrates Court but the matter did not get underway because the prosecutor on the matter is on leave.
The case was postponed to 12 August.
