ANC Youth League Slammed Over LGBTQIA+ Focus in Abuse Case

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in KwaZulu-Natal has been criticised for drawing attention to the LGBTQIA+ identity of an individual accused of molesting a child.

On 11 March, the ANCYL issued a statement expressing its outrage over the “heinous crime of molestation committed against a 13-year-old child in Mzimkhulu.”

The league asserted that the act was a grave violation of the child’s rights, dignity, and innocence, condemning it in the strongest possible terms.

However, the statement went on to specify: “It has come to our attention that a member of the LGBTQIA+ community has been arrested following allegations of raping the child since 2022.”

“While we recognise the importance of protecting the rights and dignity of all individuals, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community, we must unequivocally condemn this atrocious behaviour wherever it manifests itself.”

The ANCYL added that “as allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, we distance ourselves entirely from such abhorrent acts and reaffirm our commitment to justice and the protection of vulnerable individuals.”

Similarly, the ANC Women’s League in KwaZulu-Natal issued a media statement condemning the assault but also identifying the alleged perpetrator as a lesbian woman.

Uthingo Network Responds

In an open letter responding to the ANCYL’s statement, the KwaZulu-Natal LGBTQIA+ group Uthingo Network shared the league’s deep concern about the crime. The organisation asserted that “crimes of this nature are reprehensible and must be condemned in the strongest terms, with justice pursued vigorously to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.”

However, Uthingo also expressed deep concern over the way the statement singled out and publicised the alleged perpetrator’s sexual orientation.

“Your statement establishes a dangerous precedent,” said Uthingo Network Director, Brian Sibeko-Ngidi. “Historically, statements issued in response to crimes of this nature have never highlighted the sexual orientation of the alleged perpetrators.”

Sibeko-Ngidi argued that this selective emphasis on the accused’s identity as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community “is not only unnecessary but also fuels harmful stereotypes that unjustly associate queer identities with criminality.”

Risks Reinforcing Prejudices

Sibeko-Ngidi noted that this was particularly concerning in a society where LGBTQIA+ individuals already face systemic discrimination, violence, and stigma. He warned that framing the perpetrator’s identity in this way risked reinforcing prejudices that contribute to the marginalisation of LGBTQIA+ people.

“It is crucial to remember that sexual orientation is not a factor in criminal behaviour—rape and sexual violence are committed by individuals across all demographic groups.”

He also pointed out that alleged criminals who are heterosexual are never identified as such in reports. “There is no justification for disproportionately spotlighting LGBTQ+ individuals when they are accused of crimes, while heterosexual perpetrators are not subject to the same treatment,” he insisted.

Sibeko-Ngidi called on the ANCYL in KwaZulu-Natal to act responsibly and exercise fairness in its public communications.

“A truly progressive stance against gender-based violence and child abuse must be rooted in principles of justice, not in singling out a community that already faces disproportionate levels of violence and exclusion,” he added.

Media Ethics and Backlash

Activist, author, and documentary filmmaker Angelo C. Louw also weighed in on the matter via Facebook. “As a journalist, we don’t identify indicators that lead to prejudice… The Youth League’s statement shows that they are not knowledgeable of media practices. This type of statement can (and SHOULD) land them in hot water.”

Also commenting on Facebook, the ANCYL’s Nomusa Phungula defended the league’s statement and accused Uthingo Network of attempting “to divert attention” from the victim and the severity of the crime.

She suggested that Sibeko-Ngidi was “not bothered by the crime” because he doesn’t have younger sisters. Phungula further claimed that the organisation was simply intent on “lambasting the Youth League.”

Activist Sibonelo Ncanana Trower responded to Phungula, pointing out that “I have never read a statement by the league saying ‘a heterosexual man raped a child.'” He challenged the ANCYL, adding, “You can prove me wrong. I’ll wait.”

Activists Call for Accused to be Denied Bail

In a joint statement, the Harry Gwala LGBTI Sector and the KZN LGBTI Sector expressed “great shock and dismay [at] news that a lesbian had been accused of sexually violating a child.”

The groups threw their support behind the victim and vowed to protest at the uMzimkhulu Magistrates Court when the accused appeared, calling for her to be denied bail.

“We call on everyone to stand up against sexual violence and rape. We call on everyone to make sure no woman, man, or child is abused or killed under our watch,” said the groups.

Members of the ANCYL and LGBTQIA+ activists attended the demonstration outside the court on Thursday, with Phungula calling out Uthingo Network for not participating.