Home / Episode 9


2008 SERIES

EPISODE 9 - Hate crimes

The TeamAdolescents & ARVsHerpes & HIVCelebrities & HIVSero-disordant coupleRelationships & sex Breast, bottle or cup?VCTHate crimesMDR & XDR TBCircumcisionGender violenceInfants on ARVsSexual negotiationsSocial grantsCervical cancerSubstance abusePMTCTFarm workers & HIVPEPTeen pregnancyDisclosureNSPStigma and predjudiceWater and sanitationHuman rights

Imagine being attacked for who you are

Salome Mosooa

Coming to terms with one's sexual orientation can be a confusing and stressful time. Added to that, people of a different sexual orientation are being assaulted, raped, and bullied on a daily basis; causing them to feel unsafe in the townships where they live.

These are known as hate crimes. Hate crimes are at their root based on ignorant discrimination against race, nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or HIV status. Siyayinqoba Beat It! investigates a particularly heinous kind of hate crime known as "curative rape", where the perpetrator is attempting to force a change in their victim's sexual orientation.

Siyayinqoba Beat It! is never afraid of a challenge, and this week we bring you one of the most shocking and controversial subjects prevalent in South African society today: sexual violence and hate crimes.

This week our panelists and Community Journalists specifically focus on hate crimes against people of a different sexual orientation. Our first insert deals with the shocking and horrific death of Sizakele Sigasa and her friend Salome Masooa in Meadowlands, Soweto last year. It raises the question of "curative rape" whereby some people think they can "cure" a woman of her lesbian tendencies through violent rape.

When our film crew attends the funeral of Sizakele we see the community's outrage and people willing to speak out against this very taboo subject.

Download a transcript of what the community had to say here

Next we meet Nhlakanipo Maguna, who lives in fear for his life after being beaten by children in his community because they believe his being there will cause other children in the village to become gay. This shows the level of bigotry and ignorance that is prevalent in our society.

After he was attacked, Nhlakanipo had two of the boys arrested but they were released soon after and the case was never followed up.

Read about Nhlakanipo's anti-gay hate crime experience.

In our third segment we hear the story of Funeka Soldaat who was gang raped by men who believed they could cure her of her lesbianism. Having also been stabbed, we see first hand the destruction biased opinions can cause to people who are different.

Read about Funeka's will to stay true to who she is here.

The spotlight also falls on the police and their lack of compassion towards these crimes. In this episode the viewer will be challenged to examine their own prejudices and start to realise that we are all human; and that tolerance is something that is only learnt once people who are different are understood.

IT'S A FACT

Sizakele Sigasa

Nhlakanipho Magula

Funeka Soldaat

Homophobia placard

 

 Hate crimes are crimes that target individuals because of prejudiced attitudes towards particular groups and identities.
In South Africa, we have an epidemic of hate crimes directed at lesbians and gay men, foreigners and people living with HIV.
Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa (June 2007), Thokozane Qwabe (July 2007), Madoe Mafubedu (April 2007), Eudy Simelane (May 2008) were all recognised in their community as lesbians, and were all brutally murdered.
Lorna Mlofana (December 2003) was murdered after she disclosed to the men who were raping her that she was living with HIV.
Nandipha Makeke (December 2005) was a TAC activist who was raped and murdered. Hundreds of other women who were thought to be lesbian have been raped and attacked in all parts of South Africa.
May 2008 saw an outbreak of xenophobic violence which claimed over 60 lives. Over the last few years, over 600 Somalians have been killed because of hatred towards the presence of foreigners in South Africa. Racially motivated hate crimes are also common.
Hate crimes such as these are linked to the broader epidemic of gender violence. This climate of violence is one of the drivers of the spread of the HIV epidemic in South Africa.
In most of the cases of crimes against immigrants and lesbians no one has been arrested, prosecuted or convicted for these crimes. This sends a message to perpetrators that they can get away with their actions.
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has shown through persistent protests that it is possible to get arrests, conviction and long jail sentences, as in the cases of Lorna and Nandipha.
After the murders of Salome and Sizakele, the 777 campaign was launched to mobilise for the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the perpetrators of hate crimes in the belief that this is the only way to send a clear message that these crimes will not be tolerated.
After the death of Eudy Simelane the 777 campaign managed to mobilise and apply pressure, resulting in five men being arrested who are currently standing trial.
This week's show is intended to encourage everyone to contribute to the arrest and conviction of perpetrators of such crimes.