To be queer in Africa often comes with punishment that ranges from imprisonment to the death penalty in countries such as Mauritania and Sudan, this is often validated with religion and Homosexuality promoted as ‘un-African.’
South Africa (SA) is one of the few countries in Africa and the first in the world whose constitution protects people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation. It also became the first in Africa to legalise same-sex marriage.
With LGBTI rights enshrined in the constitution, one would expect South Africa to be a queer-friendly and accepting country. This has not been the case ever since homosexuality was legalised in South Africa, as hate murders seemed to be on the rise.
The last couple of weeks saw queer in South Africa fearing for their lives, sparked by continuous hate against the LGBTIQ community. Brutal killings of queer people have been making headlines, begging the question of LGBTI safety in SA. MambaOnline reports that at least 10 brutal murders of queer people have been reported across the country.
Queer bodies and allies took to social media to converse about their safety and against the killings of LGBTI people in SA. The conversation advocating for equality and safety also triggered homophobes who ignored the pleas as attention-seeking.
With the recent spike in violent LGBTI murders in SA, The International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia 2021 has become more important than ever before. This #IDAHOT2021 we commemorate those we have recently lost to hate.
Sphamandla Khoza ( 34)
Khoza was murdered on March,29 in Kwamashu, Durban. He was beaten, stabbed, and had his throat slit.
Bonang Gaelae (29)
Gaelae was stabbed to death on February 12 in Sebokeng. Her partner was also stabbed and survived with stab wounds.
Nonhlanhla Kunene(37)
Kunene’s body was found half-naked in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg on March, 5. She was found lying flat on her face with a wound at the back of her neck, naked from the waist down, and raped.
Nathaniel Mbele
Mbele was found dead in an ally with multiple knife wounds to the chest, after leaving a local tavern in the Vaal.
Andile Lulu Nthuthela (41)
Ntuthela’s body was found burned and mutilated on April, 10 in KwaNobuhle, Kariega.
Lonwabo Jack (22)
Jack was raped and murdered at Mau-Mau in Nyanga East, Cape Town. His body was found on April, 18.
Lucky Kleiboy Motshabi (30)
Motshabi was found in a field in Dennilton, Limpopo on April 24. His body was naked, marked with stab wounds.
Phelokazi Mqathana (24)
Mqathana was stabbed to death on May, 1 in Khayelitsha, Cape Town after she rejected the advances of a man who was trying to pursue her.
Lindokuhle Mapu(23)
Mapu was murdered in Mfuleni, outside of Cape Town, on May, 9.
Khulekani Gomazi (27)
Gomazi was killed on April, 3 in Mpophomeni in KwaZulu-Natal. She was beaten up and her mouth burned with battery acid.
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