NYDA: Take action on corrective rape

2011-05-11 21:09

Johannesburg - It is the responsibility of all South Africans to take action on violence against people because of their sexual orientation, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) said on Wednesday.

The Agency said in a statement: "In a country where the Constitution clearly stipulates that no person may unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone because of their sexual orientation, reports about lesbians being victims of corrective rape and murder have become a worrying trend.

"NYDA calls upon all South Africans to take action against these ongoing violent attacks...The South African Police should act swiftly to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended.

"Community members also have a key role to play by reporting anyone who is suspected of intimidating or harming a person because of their sexual orientation."

The NYDA was reacting to the "corrective rape" of a 13-year-old girl in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, on Thursday last week.

Two openly gay women, Noxolo Nogwaza and Nokuthula Radebe, were raped and murdered last month.

The attacks were believed to be motivated by homophobia.

The ANC Women's League on Tuesday said corrective rape was "heartless and senseless".

"As the ANCWL, we regard corrective rape as nothing less than a hate crime and a clear indication that women, children, gay and lesbian individuals continue to be regarded as soft targets for cowardly acts of victimisation," spokesperson Nosipho Ntwanambi said.

- SAPA