Four men were jailed for 18 years each by a Cape Town court on Wednesday for stabbing and stoning 19-year-old lesbian Zoliswa Nkonyana to death in 2006.
Magistrate Raadiyah Wathen sentenced Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sicelo Mase, Luyanda Londzi, and Mbulelo Damba in the Khayelitsha Regional Court to 18 years each. Four years of their sentences were suspended for five years.
A crowd outside the court cheered, sang, raised their fists and danced when news came that the men had been sentenced.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said the sentence sent a strong message that hate crimes would not be tolerated.
“We are happy that the court agreed with us that these gentlemen did not show any remorse and had a slim chance of being rehabilitated,” he said.
Nkonyana's stepfather, Gladwell Mandini, 45, said: “They did not accept responsibility for what they did and we are happy that when we asked for a lengthy jail term, she (the magistrate) agreed to that.”
He said the long court case that saw numerous postponements had been an ordeal for the family.
“It wasn't easy all these times the case was postponed. As the family we have accepted this, but the loss we will not forget.”
Jayne Arnoff, a director of the gay and lesbian organisation Triangle Project, said they were satisfied with the sentencing.
“The magistrate said Zoliswa had a right to live openly as a lesbian because that was her own choice,” she said.
“She sent out a strong message that we are a diverse society and that we must respect each other's diversity.” – Sapa