- Lawyers for Human Rights condemn the assassination as a political act rooted in state failure.
- Civil society demands urgent investigation, regulation, and protection for artisanal miners.
- Mining communities pledge to continue Lethoko’s struggle for justice and reform.
The murder of Tebogo Shawn “Paps” Lethoko, chairperson of the National Association of Artisanal Miners (NAAM), has exposed the deadly intersection of criminal gangs, government inaction, and the struggle for justice in South Africa’s informal mining sector.
Lethoko was shot outside his home in Margaret Village, Stilfontein, which had become both his refuge and his battleground.
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) described the killing as a calculated act, not a random occurrence or a robbery. “This was not a robbery, not a random act, not a moment of chaos,” LHR said in a statement. “It was a calculated strike against a man who dared to lead South Africa’s informal miners toward legitimacy, protection, and reform.”
LHR said as NAAM’s chairperson, Lethoko had become a threat to criminal gangs that profit from unregulated mining and a challenge to government inaction that has left tens of thousands of miners without legal protection or recognition. His murder, LHR said, “is a political act. It is a message. It is a line drawn in blood.”
The organisation described him as “a respected and courageous leader who worked tirelessly to expose criminal gangs and advocate for the legitimisation and regulation of artisanal mining.” His death, it added, “is a direct result of the failure of the state to formalise the artisanal mining sector.”
LHR and its partners expressed solidarity with Lethoko’s family, colleagues, and the broader community of artisanal miners, vowing that his fight for justice and reform would not die with him.
Civil society’s urgent call to action
In the statement, LHR demanded an immediate and credible investigation, the regulation of artisanal mining, and improved safety conditions for miners.
“An urgent, credible, and transparent investigation must be launched,” the statement read. “We call on the South African Police Service to investigate the incident thoroughly and ensure justice and the rule of law. Those involved in planning and carrying out the assassination must be apprehended and prosecuted without delay.”
The organisation said Lethoko’s death highlights the dangers faced by artisanal miners due to ongoing government failure. “We call for regulation and support for artisanal miners and reiterate our demand for immediate regularisation of the sector,” it said.
The statement also urged the government to provide safety training and equipment to reduce the number of fatal incidents in informal mining operations. It further argued that without formal recognition and regulation, artisanal miners remain vulnerable not only to exploitation and violence but also to criminalisation by the very state that should protect them.
MACUA and WAMUA pay tribute to a fallen leader
Among those mourning were Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) and Women Affected by Mining United in Action (WAMUA), who released a joint statement describing Lethoko’s death as a devastating loss for the movement.
“It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Lethoko, a husband, father, artisanal miner, and tireless advocate for justice,” the statement read. “Paps was gunned down on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, leaving behind his wife and two beloved daughters, the centre of his life and the source of his strength.”
They described him as a leader who dedicated his life to the struggle for the rights and recognition of artisanal miners across South Africa. “Hamba kahle, Comrade Paps. Rest well, Leader, we will continue the struggle,” the statement concluded.
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