WATCH: Trans women bemoan violence, corrective rape at #TotalShutdown

Members of the LGBTI community at the #TotalShutdown march in Durban bemoan corrective rape and say they want to be treated as women. Picture: Karinda Jagmohan

Members of the LGBTI community at the #TotalShutdown march in Durban bemoan corrective rape and say they want to be treated as women. Picture: Karinda Jagmohan

Published Aug 1, 2018

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Durban - Transgender women in Durban have been raped by men as a form of punishment and ‘correcting’ them.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex (LGBTI) community have joined the #TotalShutdown Women’s march in Durban where hundreds have joined in to tell the world ‘My body is not your crime scene’.

As the march got underway, Prince Dlamini from the Durban Lesbian and Gay Centre said violence was common within the LGBTI society.

“There is violence in our community, more especially with regards to Lesbian and Trans women, because people still don’t understand trans women and they always want to correct you because your gender,” said Dlamini.

“Transgender women are often raped as a form of correction” says Prince Dlamini. #Totalshutdown @SundayTribuneSA pic.twitter.com/0tQqZoKR6W

— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J) August 1, 2018

Rape is often a form of punishment within the society that boasts itself on the values of social acceptance and pride. And reporting this crime is difficult.

Dlamini said the centre has had to approach police to assist them in understanding how to deal with gender-based violence when the victims are members of the LGBTI society.

Said Dlamini: “At those police stations where we have de-sensitized officers we do get proper service. But that is not always the case. It depends on the police officer as an individual.”

At the #TotalShutdown march, Durban spokesperson, Ncumisa Ndelu, reminded the crowd that gender-based violence was not just common assault.

“It’s a hate crime,” she said.

#TotalShutDown in Durban is happening. Members of LGBT 🏳️‍🌈 are here. Ncumisa Ndelu says violence against women is not common assault, it’s a hate crime. @SundayTribuneSA pic.twitter.com/dljWbQU95y

— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J) August 1, 2018

Leticia Sishi, an advocate for the LGBTI community, said she only wanted to be accepted as a woman.

Leticia Sishi IS a woman. Many people in the LGBTI 🏳️‍🌈 community are victims of gender based violence, she says.

Story to follow @SundayTribuneSA @IOL pic.twitter.com/d7N8RF4J0x

— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J) August 1, 2018

“It matters for me to be here, I am woman indeed. I am woman in South Africa, I want to be treated as a woman,” she said.

Later, Dlamini added: “I’m just as much of a human as you are. It’s just that my sexuality is different.”

A woman, who has only identified herself as Herr, takes part in a silent protest at the #TotalShutdown in Durban. Picture: Karinda Jagmohan

Herr's message at #TotalShutdown.

The Durban Lesbian and Gay Centre in Morningside offers support assistance.

Contact them on 0313127402.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE

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Protests