murder
Anger follows alleged gang rape and murder of lesbian campaigner
David Smith in Johannesburg
Wednesday May 4 2011
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/03/south-africa-homophobic-attacks
Human rights campaigners have warned of an "epidemic" of brutal
homophobic attacks in South Africa after the murder and alleged gang
rape of a lesbian activist.
Noxolo Nogwaza was killed last month after what appeared to be a so-
called "corrective rape" [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/
mar/12/south-africa-corrective-rape" title="corrective
rape">"corrective rape], an increasingly common crime in which men
rape lesbians to "turn" them straight or "cure" them of their sexual
orientation.
The 24-year-old's face and head were disfigured by stoning, she was
stabbed several times with broken glass and evidence suggested she was
raped. A beer bottle, a big rock and used condoms were found on and
near her body.
Human Rights Watch noted that no arrests have been made and claimed
homophobic violence is continuing unchecked in South Africa's
townships.
Dipika Nath, a researcher in the group's lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender rights programme, said: "Nogwaza's death is the latest in
a long series of sadistic crimes against lesbians, gay men and
transgender people in South Africa. The vicious nature of the assault
is a potent reminder that these attacks are premeditated, planned and
often committed with impunity."
Nogwaza was an active member of the Ekurhuleni Pride Organising
Committee, which has organised pride marches for Kwa-Thema and nearby
townships in Gauteng province since 2009. Members have faced
harassment and attacks because of their visibility.
More than 2,000 people attended Nogwaza's funeral last weekend. A
group sang that they would use razor blades to cut off the genitals of
the suspects if the police did not arrest them, the New Age [http://
www.thenewage.co.za" title="New Age]newspaper reported. Some carried
posters that read: "Love me or hate me I will continue to be a
lesbian," and "Raping me won't change me."
Nogwaza's death came three years after that of another activist,
international footballer Eudy Simelane [http://www.guardian.co.uk/
world/2009/sep/22/eudy-simelane-gangrape-and-murder" title="Eudy
Simelane], also in Kwa-Thema. Both were "out" as lesbians in the
community, both were apparently tortured and sexually assaulted before
being killed, and the bodies of both were dumped in public places.
Campaigners say that 31 lesbians have been murdered because of their
sexuality in the past decade and more than 10 lesbians a week are
raped or gang raped in Cape Town alone.
Nath added: "Like sexual assaults of women in general, rapes and other
violence against lesbians and gender non-conforming people have
reached epidemic proportions in South Africa. If the South African
government is committed to protecting the rights of all people
equally, leaders must address the specific motives targeting the LGBT
community in these crimes."
In March the government agreed to set up a national working group to
address "corrective rape" to meet the demands of an online petition
with 170,000 signatures from 163 countries ? a record number for a
campaign on the social change [http://www.change.org" title="social
change] website Change.org.
The petition [http://www.change.org/petitions/south-africa-take-action-
to-stop-corrective-rape" title="The petition] to the justice ministry
stated: "The South African government and the justice system is
failing these victims of corrective rape by letting the perpetrators
out on ridiculously low bail, and taking literally years to bring the
court cases to a conclusion. In the meantime the victims have to live
with seeing their rapists every day, being taunted and threatened by
them, as are those who help the victims."
guardian.co.uk Copyright (c) Guardian News and Media Limited. 2011
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