DURBAN – KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza has condemned the murder of an LGBTQIA+ activist.
The department said the murder of Pinky Shongwe, 32, of Umlazi’s H section, last week, heightened fears that members of the LGBTQIA+ were targeted and that perpetrators often escaped prosecution.
Shongwe was stabbed several times, allegedly by a man whose proposal she turned down.
Khoza sent her condolences to the Shongwe family.
She also expressed her disgust at attacks which were motivated by prejudice towards LGBTQIA+ community.
“It is shocking that in a country like ours we still have so much intolerance among people. We became the first country to constitutionally protect its citizens against discrimination based on sexual orientation and the fifth in the world to legalise same-sex marriages. However, we continue to see horrible incidents and attacks on people belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community,” Khoza said.
The MEC urged people to be more tolerant of each other, saying no one had a right to discriminate against anyone based on sexual orientation.
“People should educate themselves about rights to human dignity and the right to life, enshrined in the Constitution, which apply to every individual equally across the land. We have been leading several campaigns as the Department of Social Development and government as a whole, encouraging tolerance among our people,” Khoza said.
She said it was difficult to comprehend why LGBTQIA+ activists and other members of that community were under attack in the province.
“We cannot claim to have freedom while some sectors of our communities live in fear and constant attack. We have an increasing number of people who have been murdered because of their sexual orientation. The list of victims of homophobic violence and murder increases daily,” Khoza added.
The MEC urged communities to unite in ending the scourge. She made a passionate plea to people who might have witnessed the attack on Shongwe, to provide police with information to ensure that the perpetrator was arrested.
Khoza sent a team of social workers to provide psychosocial support to the bereaved family. Shongwe will be laid to rest in Gcilima village, in Ugu District, on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.
Daily News