Corrective Rape in South Africa

The term “corrective rape” has been circulating gay rights activist groups in South Africa since the death of well-known soccer player Eudy Simelane in 2008. Her body was found partially clothed with numerous stab wounds on her face and chest. She was a victim of gang rape, or “corrective rape,” where men attack lesbians in order to reverse their sexual orientation. Simelane was also one of the first women to live openly as a lesbian in her hometown of Kwa-Thema, Springs Gauteng, a township just outside of Johannesburg.

                                                                                                               (Image: Passport Magazine) Eudy Simelane

Last week, another victim of this hate crime was found in the same township. She was attacked shortly after dropping off her girlfriend, beaten with rocks and stabbed with broken glass. [url=http://www.hrw.org/]The Human Rights Watch[/url] said that a beer bottle, large rock and multiple used condoms were found around her body.

(Image: South Africa.to) Map of the Gauteng province

Earlier this month, South Africa’s Justice Ministry set up a task force to handle hate crimes against the country’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population. Acitivists worldwide signed an online petition that demanded the government do something to halt the attacks, according to CNN. The task force is set to begin work in July. Its presence is supposed to address issues regarding sensitivity training for social workers and police and whether rapists targeting sexual minorities should receive harsher sentences.

Police in the Gauteng province say they have not found any evidence of a hate crime.

What?

Seriously?

The South African director for Human Rights Watch, Siphokazi Mthathi, said that corrective rape follows a trail of other problems such as violence, problems accessing health care and violation by police. [url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/05/05/south.africa.gay.activist.killed/index.html?iref=allsearch]She told CNN reporters that they’ve heard cases where, when a rape is reported, the police tell them: “Aren’t you happy that you got a real man for a change?”[/url]

And these bastards have the gall to walk around boasting what they did to their victims. Witnesses tell police and activists they’ve seen men mocking sexual minorities, saying they’ll take the “lesbian” out of the women who are open about their sexual orientation. But what can a populace who cannot rely on the police do? Fight back. I’d love to see these women lay a beat down on the homophobes prowling Kwa-Thema.

In most African countries, homosexuality is illegal due to leftover rules against sodomy introduced by the British colonial era. South Africa, however is the first African nation to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, according to CNN. Despite this law, attacks on sexual minorities still happen. Which is bad, obviously.

                            Thanks a lot, you a**holes.

[url=http://news.change.org/stories/victory-ministry-of-justice-agrees-to-corrective-rape-activists-demands]Change.org considers their demand for the South African government to recognize “corrective rape” a victory.[/url] I don’t see how it’s a victory if hate crimes are still happening. It’s not about getting the government to recognize the issue, it’s about stopping the hate crimes. Many don’t believe the task force will have enough power to protect sexual minorities and it’s not like they can depend on police. Join Change.org and follow the petition’s progress against “corrective rape” [url=https://www.change.org/join]here[/url].