Amnesty International South Africa is staging a silent demonstration outside the GCIS Ronnie Mamoepa Media Centre in Pretoria on Friday to demand immediate domestic legislation that protects human rights defenders.

The protest coincides with the release of quarterly crime statistics to be announced by Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia.

The organisation wants a recognised legal and policy framework to safeguard individuals who fight corruption and defend human rights.

It pointed to the killings of shack dwellers' movement Abahlali baseMjondolo’s Zweli “Khabazela” Mkhize and, more recently, crime activist Thato Molosankwe.

Amnesty International said systemic corruption severely undermined fundamental human rights.

“Billions of rands that should be dedicated to housing, water, and healthcare are diverted through mismanagement and outright theft, leaving millions in absolute poverty. Brave individuals and movements who expose these shadowy dealings are subsequently left vulnerable without state protection,” it said.

The organisation wants government to provide actionable, protective measures for whistleblowers, through urgent legal safeguards, criticising authorities for “ongoing failure” to protect them.

Amnesty International said it had repeatedly written to the police ministry, to warn about the general vulnerability of human rights defenders.

A primary concern has been the targeting of Abahlali baseMjondolo. Over the years, the movement has lost 26 of its activists to targeted killings, yet authorities have secured a shockingly low rate of only two convictions.

The organisation said it received a response from authorities stating that an investigation into the killing of Abahlali baseMjondolo activist Mkhize is officially underway.

Building on this development, the organisation wants the police and the relevant departments to provide a transparent, comprehensive update on the investigation into his death, as well as on the unsolved murders of many other human rights defenders.

“Amnesty International firmly believes that the State has a fundamental duty to guarantee the safety of these individuals. To prevent further bloodshed and the erosion of basic rights, the organisation continues to advocate for decisive action, systemic policy changes, and urgent legal safeguards to protect those on the frontlines of social justice,” it said.