The U.S.- based Human Rights Watch (HRW) sent a letter to South African President Thabo Mbeki during the national celebration of Women’s Day, requesting that he take actions to commit to equality of gay and lesbian rights. Despite the fact that South Africa’s constitution is the most progressive anywhere in the world and has legalized same-sex marriage, a climate of violent homophobia exists amongst the people.
Three women were brutally killed in July. Sizakele Sigasa, a 34-year-old, openly gay, and an activist of people living with HIV/AIDS, was found dead in a field in Meadoland, Soweto along with the body of 24-year-old Salome Masooa. Sigasa was shot 6 times and Masooa once.
Later in the same month, in a case unrelated, the naked body of Thokozane Qwabe, age 23, was found in the field of Ladysmith, KwaZulu-natal. Qwabe has multiple head wound. In an earlier case in March, 19-year old Zoliswa Nkonyana was attacked and killed by a mob.
Local police have refused to speculate the murders were related to sexual orientation.
In September of last year, Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu warned of South Africa’s “moral failing”. Desmond was referring to South Africa’s high murder rate, corruption, rape and the lack of reverence for life.
This past week, South African opposition parties and AIDS activists condemned President Mbeki for the termination of Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge as deputy health minister. Madlala-Routledge raised global support for her means of tackling the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. The move created speculation and criticism regarding the future South Africa, whose has a death rate of 1,000 from AIDS and related disease. The South African government has been accused of dragging its feet on AIDS drug treatment.
For more information please see:
AllAfrica – South Africa: Lesbians Targeted for Murder – 09 August 2007
BBC – SA Lesbians ‘Targeted for Murder’ – 09 August 2007
Reuters – Mbeki Blasted Over Deputy Health Minister Sacking – 09 August 2007
BBC – S Africa is Losing its Way – Tutu – 27 September 2006
