COMMUNITY ORGS MEET ON LESBIAN MURDERS

LGBTI organisations appear to be taking some action after the recent murder of a lesbian couple in Soweto.

The Joint Working Group (JWG) – a national network of LGBTI organisations and partners – hosted a meeting on 18 July at Constitution Hill Women’s Gaol

It was attended by a range of organisations and individuals with the purpose of coordinating various initiatives in response to the murders of Salome Masooa and Sizakele Sigasa – two black, lesbian activists who were killed in Soweto two weeks ago.

The organisations expressed their outrage and shock at what they believe to have been a hate crime against lesbian women.

“This is part of a broader trend of victimization against women, people living with HIV/AIDS, lesbian and gay people, other marginalized individuals,” said a media statement issued by the JWG.

The meeting developed a plan of immediate action to ensure that the murders are responded to with the priority they deserve. To this end, organisations committed themselves to mobilising persons, constituencies and resources.

The meeting called upon the Minister of Justice, the Police Commissioner, the National Prosecuting Authority and the South African Police Services to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book, through a rigorous and speedy investigation and prosecution process.

Furthermore, participating organisations called upon political, community, faith-based and other leaders to break the silence and take an active and visible stance against this horrendous crime, and against all forms of prejudice-motivated crimes in South Africa.