South Africa LGBTIQ+ Rights Watch: August 2024

MambaOnline and OUT LGBT Well-being publish a monthly overview of reported LGBTIQ+ rights violations in South Africa, including hate speech. We also look at the status of cases making their way through the criminal justice system. Here is our summary for August 2024.

South African MP Ian Cameron Joined in Gender Bashing of Olympic Boxer

South African MP Ian Cameron joined in spreading misinformation and transphobic attacks against Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, falsely claiming she is a man or a transgender woman. Prominent figures like JK Rowling and Donald Trump amplified these false claims, fueling anti-trans rhetoric. However, Khelif is a cisgender woman. The International Olympic Committee condemned the misinformation and confirmed that Khelif complied with all eligibility regulations. The attacks highlight the extreme views of the anti-gender movement, which increasingly targets women who don’t fit narrow gender norms.

Young Gay Man Murdered in Gqeberha

Xolani Xaka, a 32-year-old gay man from Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, was brutally stabbed to death outside his home in a suspected hate crime. On 18 August, Xaka was attacked by three men after he was called by them to the gate of his home, suffering fatal injuries. His uncle attempted to help but was forced to retreat when the assailants threatened him as well. The motive for the murder remains unclear, though it does not appear to be a robbery. LGBTIQ+ activists, including representatives from OUT LGBT Well-being, condemned the attack and called for swift justice. The organisation offered to provide psychosocial and financial support to Xaka’s family for his funeral.

Details Emerged of Murder of Trans Woman Clement Hadebe

Clement Hadebe, a 22-year-old transgender woman, was tragically murdered in Johannesburg on 10 August 2024. Contrary to initial reports, a friend named Sasha dismissed reports that Clement was killed in a guesthouse by a man she’d met on a night out. These sensationalised and false transphobic claims suggested that Clement was murdered for “deceiving” this man about her gender identity. According to Sasha, she and Clement had been socialising at a pub when Clement left to walk home alone in the early morning hours. Clement was soon after found nearby, shot dead by an unknown attacker along the roadside. The motive did not appear to be a robbery. LGBTIQ+ organisations, including OUT LGBT Well-being and the Embrace Diversity Movement, condemned both the murder and the transphobic victim-blaming that was seen in some media and social media narratives. OUT’s Sibonelo Ncanana criticised the harmful idea that LGBTIQ+ people are deceiving others by simply being themselves, and stressed that violence against anyone for their gender identity is never justified.

Social Media Threats Against Lesbian Women

In KwaZulu-Natal, several alarming social media threats targeting lesbian women were posted on Facebook, with users sharing photos of queer women and threatening to kill them for “acting like men.” The posts also warned lesbians to be cautious of being out in public or they would be attacked, heightening fear within the LGBTIQ+ community. Although it is unclear if these threats led to any direct violence, they have contributed to an increasingly hostile atmosphere for LGBTIQ+ individuals in the province and across South Africa. Activists are planning to take legal action against those responsible for the posts.

Lesbian Couple Murdered in KZN, Allegedly by Ex-Boyfriend

A lesbian couple, Nombulelo Bhixa, 28, and Minenhle Ngcobo, 22, were brutally murdered in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, allegedly by Ngcobo’s ex-boyfriend, who reportedly could not accept her relationship with a woman. The man, with whom Ngcobo shared a child, had been harassing the couple and had a history of violence, leading Ngcobo to file a protection order. On 27 August, he allegedly shot both women in the head during an argument. The Uthingo Network condemned the murders as a reflection of ongoing homophobia and violence against South Africa’s LGBTIQ+ community, particularly in rural areas where such hate crimes are often underreported.

Still No Trial Date in Johannesburg Grindr Gang Case

The trial of seven men accused of kidnapping and severely assaulting a Johannesburg student after luring him via Grindr remained in limbo, with no trial date set after nearly a year of legal and bureaucratic setbacks. On 29 August, the case was postponed again, with a court appearance scheduled for 16 September. Complications included the withdrawal of a defence attorney due to a conflict of interest and concerns about the prosecutor’s handling of the case, following complaints from LGBTIQ+ activists. The men face charges of kidnapping, attempted murder, and extortion after they allegedly demanded a ransom and severely assaulted the student, who required ICU care. 

 

• Have you experienced or witnessed an LGBTIQ+ rights violation such as a hate crime, hate speech or any other kind of LGBTIQ+ discrimination in South Africa? If you’d like to bring it to the attention of the LGBTIQ+ community, email info@mambaonline.com. 
• If you need free support to uphold your LGBTIQ+ rights, please email OUT at report@out.org.za.
• Did you know you can lodge a complaint of unfair discrimination or hate speech (at no cost and without a lawyer), in the Equality Courts, which are located across South Africa? For more information, read OUT’s guide to using the Equality Courts.