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
JAIL THEM: Residents protest outside the Khayelitsha Magistrate's Court during the trial of four men who killed Zoliswa Nkonyana. PHOTO: ELVIS KA NYELENZI- SA lesbians targets of fierce abuse
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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.
MRPRESIDENT11
Yes it not good to hurt Lesbians,but they shoul also practise to play away from our chicks.Report Abuse
Kebao
@MrpresidentYou must satisfy your chick if you dont want lesbians to take them
Report Abuse
ayobaness
but y murdering her?@MRPRESIDENT11
mr pres yo chicks are also after them
they r not forcing them
Report Abuse
Livelifemolefe
We as Africans have lost our morals and values.The democratic values of the Western world are eradicating our own belief system and this could lead to doom.
Imagine, me Molefe getting married to John or Lindiwe getting married to Kedibone!!!
Report Abuse
maneater
@Kebao@Mrpresident
You must satisfy your chick if you dont want lesbians to take them
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i wish she can come for my chick i can also play along i might just be able to satisfy them both!!!
Report Abuse
RobinH
MrPresident: What's with the "OUR chicks" nonsense? Do they "belong" to you? Do you "own" them? I think not.Report Abuse
Ann
give them thugs life sentences, they had no right to take away her precious life, mxmReport Abuse
Ann
ayobanessbut y murdering her?
@MRPRESIDENT11
mr pres yo chicks are also after them
they r not forcing them
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true ayoba
Report Abuse
JUBJUB
But why killing them because they are human beings after all...I mean its not our problem if some people are the way they are....
No one is choosing for you how to live your life..
Report Abuse
RobinH
Well Cejay, best just keep your head down and keep quiet then, hey. Else one may just come and gobble you up.Report Abuse