Thursday, August 16, 2007

marching to condemn lesbian killings

By Nthateng Mhlambiso (BTM Senior Reporter) Source: www.mask.org.za August 10, 2007: One of the marchers during the 07 – 07 – 07 campaign in Meadowlands, Soweto, Suzan Phetoe (22), confirmed her fear towards the recent murders of Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa. Alliance for Campaign 07 -07 -07, which is made up of more than 25 South African organisations – led by the Joint Working Group (JWG), aims to raise consciousness towards violations of gay people. Started at the Meadowlands Stadium towards Meadowlands Police Station, the march coincided with the South African national Women’s Day. Battling to contain herself, Phetoe added that some of the four suspects arrested might be known to her. “According to what I have been told in description of the four suspects arrested, I am suspecting I know them and I can’t believe that they would do something like this.” Generally the march sent a message that gay people are human beings. “Killing us won’t help. We will continue to be friends, lovers, cousins and sisters forever”, she asserted. The 07 -07 -07 campaign, which saw support from the township community, was well-attended by hundreds of people from gay organisations such as the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA), Forum for Empowerment of Women (FEW), Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Behind The Mask, Out LGBT-Wellbeing just to mention a few. Speaking at the march, Director of Positive Women’s Network (PWN) Prudence Mabele said the gay community has nothing to celebrate on Women’s Day because lesbian women are being killed just for their sexual orientation. “We want justice for the two women who were killed, and to ensure that such deaths do not happen in South Africa to anyone. We want freedom in our country”, Mabele appealed. The memorandum handed to Director Mthuthuzeli Liwani of Meadowlands Police Station demanded justice and an end to hate crimes, witnesses’ protection and perpetrators to be refused bail and for the South African Police Services (SAPS) to convene a meeting with the townships’ lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) society to hear their needs. Gay organisations however acknowledged the work that SAPS has done so far. Liwani promised to forward the memorandum to the Provincial Commissioner and the SAPS national office. “We, as the SAPS in Meadowlands Police Station, share the same feeling with you [the gay community]. We will endeavour to assist to meet all demands made”, Liwani elaborated. The JWG, a national network of LGBTI focused organisations in South Africa which was also part of the march, pointed out in a statement that South African women are still plagued by violence after thirteen years into democracy. “We call on our women leaders to break the silence on sexism and homophobia to express their anger at all forms of gender-based violence and at the murders of all women including lesbian women”, the JWG said in the statement. Meanwhile, the four arrested suspects will appear at the Protea Magistrates court on 13 August this year.

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