Write for Rights: The justice system must not fail Unecebo Mboteni

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) must urgently examine the docket handed over by the South African Police Service into three-year-old Unecebo Mboteni’s death and publicly announce whether it will go ahead with prosecution, Amnesty International South Africa said today.

More than a year has passed since Unecebo died after falling into a pit toilet at his pre-school, yet his parents are still waiting for justice and for those responsible to be held accountable.

Amnesty International South Africa is advocating for justice for Unecebo as part of the organisation’s record-breaking Write for Rights campaign, which mobilises hundreds of thousands of people around the world to change the lives of individuals at risk through taking action.

When Amnesty International South Africa started its campaign in September 2025 the family had said that earlier this year police told them it would take three to four years  to finalise the investigation into Unecebo’s death.  In November the family was informed that the police had finalised their investigation and handed over the matter to the NPA to decide on prosecution. 

“Time will tell whether the police investigation was thorough enough for the NPA to proceed and finally ensure accountability,” said Amnesty International South Africa’s Executive Director, Shenilla Mohamed.

“We cannot allow the criminal justice system to fail Unecebo and his family, who deserve truth and justice. To this day, no one — including the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Little Champions Day Care Centre — has taken meaningful responsibility for this tragedy. Unecebo’s parents still do not even know whether the pit toilet in which he was found has been removed.”

In 2022, the oversight of early childhood development (ECD) centres was moved to the DBE. As part of its new role, the department committed to developing infrastructure and resource norms and standards for ECD centres. Amnesty International South Africa is calling on the department to ensure the eradication of pit toilets at all ECD centres, including committing to not registering new centres which use pit toilets.  

The launch of this annual global Write for Rights campaign on International Human Rights Day, comes against the backdrop of the spread of authoritarian practices, climate collapse and the erosion of international law. 

This year’s campaign brings people together from around the world to fight for justice, dignity and a shared future, supporting those who are paying the price for defending human rights and speaking truth to power. 

“Despite the stark challenges facing humanity, every year Amnesty witnesses countless people from all over the world coming together to demonstrate the importance of activism and the life-changing power of solidarity. Amongst others, this year’s Write for Rights campaign features people on the frontlines of the climate crisis, fighting to protect their communities from droughts, gas flares, development projects and pollution, who urgently need our collective support,” said Shenilla Mohamed.

“We have a choice to make at this critical moment in history: continue to let authoritarian practices erode our freedoms or resist together and stand up for human rights. By taking just a few minutes to write a letter, post on social media or sign a petition, anyone can help change the world and even save a life. Together we will prove that, even in the most adverse of circumstances, humanity can, must and will win out.” 

Background

Since Write for Rights started in 2001, millions of people have changed the lives of those whose human rights had been stripped from them. Over 100 people featured in the campaign have seen a positive outcome to their case.

Other cases featured in this year’s campaign include: 

• Damisoa, from Madagascar, who is fighting for climate-displaced people in his country.
• Unecebo Mboteni, a three-year-old boy who died after falling into a pit toilet at his pre-school in South Africa.
• Juan López, from Honduras, shot dead after fighting to protect local rivers and a national park from mining and energy projects.
• Members from Mother Nature Cambodia, jailed for defending Cambodia’s environment from exploitation.
• Photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike, arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labour for reporting on the aftermath of a cyclone in Myanmar. 
• Ellinor Guttorm Utsi, fighting to ensure Sámi voices in Norway are heard and their rights are respected. 
• Sonia, a Tunisian lawyer who has dedicated her life to defending human rights and is now imprisoned.
• The Guerreras por la Amazonía, from Ecuador, who are protecting their communities from gas flares which are causing toxic fumes and environmental degradation in the Ecuadorian Amazon.