By Natasha Joseph
Human rights groups say that lesbians in Khayelitsha are too frightened to picket and protest outside the trial of nine men who stand accused of beating 19-year-old Zoliswa Nkonyana to death more than two years ago.
The brutal attack on Nkonyana was apparently motivated by the fact that she was living openly as a lesbian. On February 3, 2006, a mob of 20 men beat her to death in Khayelitsha's E section.
Nine of her alleged attackers appeared in the Khayelitsha magistrate's court on Monday, but the case was postponed because one accused's lawyer was not present in court, said the Western Cape Alliance for Campaign 07-07-07.
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The campaign was launched provincially in February, and consists of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisations, as well as groups dealing with HIV/Aids and gender issues.
Campaign spokesperson Marlow Valentine said black lesbians who lived in Khayelitsha were "too scared" to protest outside the court during the men's trial.
"They're too afraid to be visible at court," said Valentine.
Last year Human Rights Watch called on President Thabo Mbeki to do more to protect all women, including lesbians, after the brutal murders of three lesbians in the space of a year.
The bodies of Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa were found in Soweto on July 8 last year.
Sigasa was an open lesbian and an activist for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and people living with HIV/Aids, said Human Rights Watch.
She had been shot six times in the head and neck.
Masooa had been shot once in the head.
The body of Thokozane Qwabe was found in a field in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, on July 22.
She had multiple head wounds and was naked.
In a statement issued earlier this week, Campaign 07-07-07 - named for the date on which Sigasa and Masooa were murdered - said it was seeking a "rigorous, speedy and successful" conclusion to the trial of Nkonyana's alleged killers.
The campaign also called on police to convene a meeting with Khayelitsha's LGBTI community to "hear concerns" relating to the investigation of hate crimes, victimisation of gay men and lesbians, and homophobia.
It also called on police to create a system of recording hate crimes and collecting statistics related to hate crimes.
Keegan Lakay, of the Commission for Gender Equality, said the organisation was "frustrated" by the delays in bringing Nkonyana's alleged killers to trial.
Lakay said the organisation was considering applying to become an amicus curiae - a friend of the court - so that it could provide input if the prosecutor requested it.
The case has been postponed to May 19.
natasha.joseph@inl.co.za
- This article was originally published on page 7 of Cape Times on April 23, 2008
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