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So far 100000 e-mails have been sent through Change.org.

On January 5 2010 a small group of lesbian activists in the townships of Cape Town collected more than 100000 signatures from 163 countries calling on Justice Minister Jeff Radebe to combat "corrective rape", which they feel is on the increase.

Corrective rape is when men rape lesbian women to "turn" them straight or "cure" them of their sexual orientation.

"Our fight against corrective rape has been going on for so long, under the most harrowing circumstances, with only a few volunteers to help," Luleki Sizwe, the volunteer anti-rape advocacy group that initiated the petition, said.

"It just seemed as if nobody was listening, nobody cared and our sisters were getting raped, beaten up and murdered without anyone doing anything about it."

News of the petition's success is likely to increase pressure on Radebe, whose chief of staff told Change.org that the petition that was set up to automatically generate individualised e-mails to the minister's senior staffers, had flooded the ministry's e-mail system.

"What the women of Luleki Sizwe have done is remarkable," Change.org chief executive Ben Rattray said.

"From a position of almost no power they've been able to mobilise more than 100000 people from 163 countries and get the attention of the most powerful officials in South Africa."

Activists are pushing for a meeting with the minister to discuss "corrective rape" prevention and get it declared a hate crime.

Luleki Sizwe is a tiny Cape Town charity that rescues, supports, feeds and nurses survivors of "corrective rape" in 10 Cape Town townships.

Run by four volunteers, Luleki Sizwe was founded by community activist Ndumie Funda after her female fiancée was a victim of "corrective rape".

Radebe was first contacted by Luleki Sizwe activists months ago by post and e-mail.

After tens of thousands petitioned the minister, the only response was an e-mail from his chief of staff complaining about the volume of protest letters sent to the ministry.

To date, Radebe has not responded to the corrective rape activists' complaints nor agreed to meet them.

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Mon May 20 15:20:19 SAST 2013 ::

Jan 6, 2011

Earckybru

shoo!
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Jan 6, 2011

Kuch

Shoo!
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Jan 6, 2011

DlulaBedlana

Bathong. "Corrective Rape"??? People who rape because the victim had a mini skirt on can claim the same title. Rape is rape, finish and klaar.
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Jan 6, 2011

vendiza

Funny how gays aren't raped. This people are just making an excuse for raping this women
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Jan 6, 2011

hlakolr

I agree with @DlulaBedlana, rape is rape ,it shud be punishable
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Jan 6, 2011

ThirdEye

@DlulaBedlana 100% correct. Rape mst b treated the same way no special treatment to this lesbians.
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Jan 6, 2011

HoiHoi

@Vendiza
Gays do get raped i know two or three who have been raped and they didn't report the matter to the police.
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Jan 6, 2011

Eskhonkosini

Something really need to be done to help these sisters that still suffer these harsh acts from these animals amongst us in the townships.
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Jan 6, 2011

THEOZA

I agree rape is rape, regardless of who has been raped and shud be regarded as such.
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Jan 6, 2011

Phai

Minister start giving some attention ke eng ka wena. Can't u see ppl are crying out for your help. They have sent you letters by post & email but still no response from u. All u can say is that they are filling your mail box. What will it take for u to react. Come on. What message are u sending out?? Wa bora. I think I should start looking for u'r email address.
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