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eudy simelane
International footballer Eudy Simelane was apparently sexually assaulted and tortured before being killed three years ago.
International footballer Eudy Simelane was apparently sexually assaulted and tortured before being killed three years ago.

South Africa gay rights activists warn of homophobic attacks after murder

This article is more than 12 years old
Anger follows alleged gang rape and murder of lesbian campaigner

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", 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 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, 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 website Change.org.

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."

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