Only 19 years old, she was beaten, and then kicked and stoned to death when she fell to the ground
A CAPE TOWN non-governmental organisation has called on the Khayelitsha Magistrate's Court to impose a harsh sentence on four men found guilty of killing lesbian Zoliswa Nkonyana six years ago.
Nkonyana was 19 years old at the time.
Those found guilty are Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sabelo Mase, Luyanda Londzi and Mbulelo Damba - all of Khayelitsha - who appeared before magistrate Raadiyah Wathen yesterday.
The case provoked outrage among activists when it was postponed several times in the past.
Nkonyana was beaten by her attackers in February 2006, and then kicked and stoned to death when she fell to the ground.
Jill Henderson, research and advocacy coordinator at Triangle Angle - an NGO that fights for the rights of gay and lesbian people in Khayelitsha - testified during pre-sentencing.
Henderson said the court should consider the prejudice against lesbians and the nature of the crime when it came to sentencing the four perpetrators.
She said it was clear Nkonyana was killed because of her sexual orientation.
"I would like the court to consider the nature of the crime. She was brutally killed and the incident had affected many people's lives, including, that of her mother," Henderson said.
"Though Nkonyana was killed six years ago, violence against lesbians continues unabated.
"It is not safe for lesbians in Khayelitsha."
Henderson said lesbians were treated as sub-humans in society and this showed that some people had no respect for the country's Constitution.
Nkonyana was open about her lesbian status and her mother had accepted it.
Henderson said she was responsible for researching and monitoring incidents of violence against gays andlesbians in communities.
Before to the incident, the organisation had recorded 15 incidents of violence against lesbians in Western Cape, Henderson said.
It also recorded 12 other incidents after the death of Nkonyana.
Another activist and chairperson of the NGO Free Gender, Funeka Soldaat, also testified yesterday. She demanded a long jail term for the four accused.
"I would like the court to sentence the accused to 35 years in jail so that they can learn a lesson," she said.
Soldaat , who is also a lesbian, said Nkonyana was only 19 when she was killed.
"She was a soccer player and her dream was to play for Banyana Banyana one day."
Soldaat said she and other lesbians had decided to form NGO Free Gender after a series of incidents againstlesbians.
"Some of us were beaten or killed and no action was taken against the perpetrators.
" We also wanted to educate the people about the lesbians and their rights," Soldaat added.
Residents demand harsh sentences for lesbian killers
Only 19 years old, she was beaten, and then kicked and stoned to death when she fell to the ground
A CAPE TOWN non-governmental organisation has called on the Khayelitsha Magistrate's Court to impose a harsh sentence on four men found guilty of killing lesbian Zoliswa Nkonyana six years ago.
Nkonyana was 19 years old at the time.
Those found guilty are Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sabelo Mase, Luyanda Londzi and Mbulelo Damba - all of Khayelitsha - who appeared before magistrate Raadiyah Wathen yesterday.
The case provoked outrage among activists when it was postponed several times in the past.
Nkonyana was beaten by her attackers in February 2006, and then kicked and stoned to death when she fell to the ground.
Jill Henderson, research and advocacy coordinator at Triangle Angle - an NGO that fights for the rights of gay and lesbian people in Khayelitsha - testified during pre-sentencing.
Henderson said the court should consider the prejudice against lesbians and the nature of the crime when it came to sentencing the four perpetrators.
She said it was clear Nkonyana was killed because of her sexual orientation.
"I would like the court to consider the nature of the crime. She was brutally killed and the incident had affected many people's lives, including, that of her mother," Henderson said.
"Though Nkonyana was killed six years ago, violence against lesbians continues unabated.
"It is not safe for lesbians in Khayelitsha."
Henderson said lesbians were treated as sub-humans in society and this showed that some people had no respect for the country's Constitution.
Nkonyana was open about her lesbian status and her mother had accepted it.
Henderson said she was responsible for researching and monitoring incidents of violence against gays andlesbians in communities.
Before to the incident, the organisation had recorded 15 incidents of violence against lesbians in Western Cape, Henderson said.
It also recorded 12 other incidents after the death of Nkonyana.
Another activist and chairperson of the NGO Free Gender, Funeka Soldaat, also testified yesterday. She demanded a long jail term for the four accused.
"I would like the court to sentence the accused to 35 years in jail so that they can learn a lesson," she said.
Soldaat , who is also a lesbian, said Nkonyana was only 19 when she was killed.
"She was a soccer player and her dream was to play for Banyana Banyana one day."
Soldaat said she and other lesbians had decided to form NGO Free Gender after a series of incidents againstlesbians.
"Some of us were beaten or killed and no action was taken against the perpetrators.
" We also wanted to educate the people about the lesbians and their rights," Soldaat added.
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