Lawyers for human rights condemns the cold bloded murder of Tebogo Shawn "Paps" Lethoko

Lawyers For Human Rights (LHR) 17 October 2025

Lawyers For Human Rights (LHR) condemns in the strongest possible terms the brutal and targeted assassination of Tebogo Shawn ‘Paps’ Lethoko, a respected and courageous leader of the National Association of Artisanal Miners(NAAM). We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire artisanal mining community.

Comrade Lethoko was shot and killed in cold blood at his home in Margaret Village, Stilfontein on Tuesday morning. This was not a random act of violence, but a calculated and targeted killing intended to silence a powerful voice for justice and reform in the artisanal mining sector.

As a leading figure in NAAM, Comrade Lethoko dedicated his life to the legitimate and critical struggle for the formalisation and regularisation of artisanal mining and confronting organised criminal syndicates that ruthlessly exploit miners, terrorise their families, and mining communities.

His murder bears all the hallmarks of an attempt to intimidate and halt this vital work.

We therefore call for the following immediate actions:

⁠An Urgent, Credible and Transparent Investigation: We call upon the South African Police Service to urgently and thoroughly investigate this heinous crime. There must be no impunity for those who use violence to subvert justice and the rule of law. We insist on the immediate apprehension and prosecution of all those involved in planning and carrying out this assassination.

Concrete Steps to Formalise the Artisanal Mining Sector: The death of Comrade Lethoko is a direct consequence of the perilous vacuum created by the state’s failure to regulate and support for artisanal miners. We reiterate the call for the urgent regularisation of the artisanal mining sector. This must include:

– The provision of safety training and equipment to prevent further loss of life in mines.
– Access to machinery and resources to improve working conditions and productivity.
– The establishment of a state-supported buyer to create a legal and secure market for minerals, stripping power from criminal entities.

The death of this martyr for mining justice must not be in vain. Comrade Lethoko’s legacy is one of courage and an unyielding commitment to the rights and dignity of artisanal miners. We honour his memory by reaffirming our commitment to the cause for which he so bravely fought. In solidarity with NAAM, we pledge our full support to ensure that those responsible for his death are brought to justice, and that the systemic injustices he courageously exposed are addressed with the urgency and seriousness they demand.
End.

About Lawyers for Human Rights:
Lawyers for Human Rights is a non-profit organisation with a 45-year history of protecting and promoting human rights in South Africa. LHR provides free legal services to marginalized and vulnerable communities through strategic litigation and advocacy to advance human rights, strengthen accountability and deepen democracy.

For further information, please contact:
Mpho Makhubela : mpho@lhr.org.za
Sebei Mametlwe: sebei@lhr.org.za

https://www.lhr.org.za/lhr-news/public-statement-lawyers-for-human-rights-condemns-the-cold-blooded-murder-of-tebogo-shawn-paps-lethoko/

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