Lesbian raped and murdered in South African township
Noxolo Nogwaza, a 24-year-old lesbian, was found dead inĀ an alley in Kwa-Thema township, South Africa, on Easter Sunday morning. It is believed she was raped and murdered.
Ms Nogwaza was a member of the Ekurhuleni Pride Organising Committee (EPOC), the key LGBTIĀ organisation in Kwa-Thema. TheĀ committee, along withĀ the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) said that Ms Nogwaza’s face was soĀ badlyĀ beaten that she was unrecognisable. Her body had been stabbed all over with glass shards and there was evidence she had been raped.
Victor Mukasa, project coordinator of the Human Rights Defenders Project at CALI, said: “I am so disturbed by this horrific action. It is the responsibilityĀ of the South African Government to protect all its citizens. HateĀ crimes against LGBT people in this country are on the rise and theĀ government should come out openly against these actions.
“Protection ofĀ individuals who are vulnerable because of their sexual orientation andĀ or gender identity is something provided for in the Constitution ofĀ South Africa and should be put in practice. As a regional advocacyĀ organisation, CAL will work with EPOC and others to ensure that theĀ perpetrators are brought to book.ā
In 2008, Eudy Simelaneās body was also found in an open field inĀ Kwa-Thema – she too had been raped and murdered. Last year,Ā a gay man in the same township was attacked by eight men, who allegedlyĀ attempted to rape him.
Ntsupe,Ā Chairperson of EPOC said: “It is very clear that these rapists are on a mission. We will not rest until justice prevails. Eudyās case was not recognized as aĀ hate crime against a lesbian and the same is not done in the cases ofĀ many other people who have been raped and/or murdered on the basis ofĀ their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in SouthĀ Africa.
“EPOC is determined to get to the bottom of the Noxola case andĀ push for justice. It was definitely a hate crime.”
The murder of Ms Nogwaza has been reported to Tsakane Police. She will be buried on Saturday.
