MAJOR HATE CRIMES PROTEST IN SOWETO

A protest in response to the recent brutal murder of two lesbians, Sizakele Sigasa (left) and Salome Massoa, has been being planned for Women’s Day, on August 9, a public holiday in South Africa.

The protest is being organised by Concerned Residents of Soweto (Hate Crimes), People Opposing Women Abuse, Positive Women’s Network, Forum for the Empowerment of Women, One In Nine Campaign, the Joint Working Group and the newly established 07-07-07 Campaign.

The organisers have called on the LGBTI community and all those concerned and affected by the murders and hate crimes to take part.

The event will take place from 10am at Meadowlands Stadium in Soweto. The protest will then proceed to Meadowlands Police Station. Here, participants will picket, read messages of solidarity and hand over a memorandum to the station commissioner calling for an efficient and effective investigation.

“A key message of this particular action is to highlight and confront the contradictions between our constitutional provisions on equality, dignity and autonomy for all, including LGBTI people, and the ways religious and traditional institutions and others shape and/or contribute to hate and hate crime,” say the organisers.

They add that, “State failure in acting against this ongoing violation, and ensuring that the rights of LGBTi people are recognised, protected and fulfilled in accordance with state obligations is also a focus for action.”

The 07-07-07 Campaign – formed as a reaction to the murder of Sigasa and Massoa and named after the date of their killing – aims to raise awareness among South African leaders and local communities about violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

The campaign will work through five areas: legal and lobbying; community mobilisation and direct action; building solidarity; media and; research and documentation.

Sigasa and Masooa’s bodies were discovered by a jogger in a field in Meadowlands, Soweto, on Sunday 8 July. According to various reports, the couple, who were romantically involved, had been tortured, and possibly raped, before they were shot dead. No arrests have yet been made.

For more information on the protest or to join the 07-07-07 campaign contact:

FEW

Dawn Cavanagh: dawnc@few.org.za

PWN

Prudence Mabhele: pmabele@pwn.org.za

POWA

Carrie Shelver: carrie@powa.co.za