Four South African men have been sentenced to eighteen years in jail for stabbing and stoning to death a 19-year-old lesbian in 2006. The court found that the men killed Zoliswa Nkonyana because she was living openly as a lesbian. The South African constitution protects people on the grounds of sexual orientation but homophobia is widespread. In traditional African society, homosexuality is not accepted - especially among women and black lesbians say that they live in constant fear. More than 30 lesbians have been killed in the past 10 years because of their sexuality and the so-called practice of "corrective rape" also appears to be on the increase, according to gay activists. Three years ago, a man was sentenced to life in prison and another to 32 years for the gang rape, robbery and murder of Eudy Simelane, a lesbian activist who had been a midfielder on the national football team. Last year, a man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape and murder of Nqobile Khumalo, a lesbian in Durban.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 2nd February 2012 - 3:56pm