Call for societal conversation following jailing of Cape lesbian killers – 3 February 2012

Prominent Cape Town human rights activists Zackie Achmat and Nomfundo Walaza have called for a societal conversation about hate crimes following the sentencing of four Khayelitsha men for murdering a young lesbian.

“Those boys are expressing a societal sickness. They did not just stand up in a vacuum and kill someone by mistake. Our parents and our churches have massive responsibilities to teach young people about tolerance,” said Walaza, the CEO of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre.

“Our country’s Constitution looks so good, but it means nothing if people’s misconceptions, misunderstandings and fantasizing about same sex partners leads to their committing murder.” she said.

“This is a conversation that we must be prepared to exhaust. The Desmond Tutu Peace Centre creates platforms for the voices of the voiceless and marginalized to be heard. We have a responsibility to open these debates – not as an end in itself, but as a beginning. We hope that other organisations, such as the Human Rights Commission, will be willing to play a role,” Walaza said.

Achmat, who rose to prominence as a founder and leader of the Treatment Action Campaign, and now co-directs Cape Town based NGO Ndifuna Ukwazi, said there was no doubt that expressions of hatred for “others” was on the rise in South Africa. “There is a definite move towards promoting a return to traditionalism – and that is not good news for the rights of gays and lesbians.”

The sentencing of the Khayelitsha four this to 18-year prison terms for stabbing and stoning to death 19-year-old Zoliswa Nkonyana in 2006 following an argument about her sexual orientation followed more than 40 court postponements.

Nkonyana, 19, was assaulted and beaten to death with bricks, rocks and golf clubs outside a Khayelitsha shebeen. Nine men were arrested, with five acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sicelo Mase, Luyanda Londzi and Mbulelo Damba – who were convicted in October – were each given 18-year sentences, of which four years were suspended. The accused were 16 and 17-years-old when they perpetrated the crime.

“There are two things that the case has highlighted. The first is the state of our criminal justice system and its impact on all of us, particularly on women and children. The second issue is hate,” Achmat said.

“What is it about our justice system that it can take six years and 43 postponements to deal with this matter?” Walaza asked. “We live in a society of human rights, and a world of shared humanity. We cannot tolerate the intolerable.”