SEDIBENG. – The ANC in Gauteng has said that it recognizes that while some advances have been made in ensuring the protection of these rights, the road to a tolerant society that respects and embraces the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTIQ+) community is still long.
The party said this in recognition of the LGBTIQ+ during their Pride Month, June.
ANC Gauteng Secretary, Thembinkosi ‘TK’ Nciza said that the LGBTIQ+ community in the Gauteng Province has historically endured some of the most unspeakable injustices that South Africa has ever known and that over the years, men, women, and gender non-conforming persons have been victims of physical and sexual violence in our communities.
He asked the party branch members to continue to work with civil society organizations to educate communities about the dangers of intolerance and discrimination against the LGBTQI+ community. Furthermore, he demanded that the South African Police Service (SAPS) dedicate more resources to investigations of the murders of members of the LGBTQI+ community.
“In the spirit of the struggle of memory against forgetting, we dedicate this International Pride Month to the memory of those who have suffered persecution in our province – men, women, and gender non-conforming persons who endured horrors to which no one should ever be condemned. As we commemorate International Pride Month in 2023, we reiterate the slogan of the movement: Pride is for everyone!”
Nciza said that in doing so, the ANC Gauteng insists on remembering their names so that they are not subjected to the erasure that is so common with the lives of individuals in the LGBTIQ+ community.
The names below are of some of those who have lost their lives, and whose stories Nciza said must never be forgotten:
– Madoe Mafubedu: was raped and killed in Soweto in 2007.
– Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa: were raped, tortured, and murdered together in Soweto in
2007.
– Daisy Dube: was shot in Yeoville in 2008.
– Eudy Simelane: was robbed, gang-raped, and murdered in KwaThema in 2008.
– Girlie “S’Gelane” Nkosi: was stabbed to death in a nightclub in KwaThema in 2009.
– Nokuthula Radebe: was strangled to death in Thokoza in 2011.
– Noxolo Nogwaza: was tortured, stoned, and stabbed to death in KwaThema in 2011.
– Sanna Supa: was shot to death in Soweto in 2012.
– Desiree Ntombama Mafu: was tortured and killed in Soweto in 2012.
– Patricia Mashigo: was stoned to death in Daveyton in 2013.
– Duduzile Zozo: was tortured to death in Thokoza in 2013.
– Pascalina Melamu: was tortured and set on fire in Evaton in 2015.
– Lucia Naidoo: was stabbed to death in Katlehong in 2016.
– Lerato “Tambai” Moloi: was stoned and stabbed in Soweto in 2017.
– Bongeka Phungula and Popi Qwabe: were raped and killed in Soweto in 2017.
– Nontokozo Motloung: was tortured and stabbed in Sedibeng in 2022.
– Nomvula Chenene: was killed and buried under the suspect’s shack in Lakeside Vereeniging in 2023.
