Protect rights of women: Xingwana

Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities Lulu Xingwana.

Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities Lulu Xingwana.

Published Jul 3, 2013

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Johannesburg - Society should uphold and protect the rights of women, children and homosexuals, Women and Children Minister Lulu Xingwana said on Wednesday.

“It is our duty as a society to uphold and protect the rights of women, children and people with disabilities, including the lesbian and gay community,” she said in a statement.

“South Africa is a democratic state with a constitution that respects the rights of all members of society without any form of discrimination according to sex, creed, and so forth.”

Xingwana was reacting to the murder of lesbian Duduzile Zozo, 26, who was found dead in Tokoza, in Ekurhuleni, on Sunday.

Her mother Thuziwe Zozo reportedly said she suspected her daughter was killed because of her sexuality.

Xingwana condemned any act of harassment or violence against anyone.

“We should not remain silent, because in that way we will be promoting and protecting the perpetrators. We therefore condemn 'corrective' rape and all forms of hate crimes. This government will not condone and tolerate such,” she said

The justice department said it had sent senior officials to Tokoza, where they had held talks with the police about the progress in the investigation.

“The station commander assured officials that the case was being prioritised and that a senior detective officer has been appointed to investigate the case,” spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said in a statement.

“A task team was also established at the Tokoza police station, comprising police officers, community policing forum members as well as members from the community to find perpetrators of this heinous crime.”

Mhaga said the department had started tracking progress made on cases involving crimes committed against gays and lesbians. - Sapa

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