The Pietermaritzburg-based Gay and Lesbian Network has taken part in a protest outside the Umlazi Magistrates Court today in support of a woman who was abused because of what she wore.
The woman was allegedly attacked by four men, stripped naked, forced to walk in the streets and had her house burnt in T-section Umlazi in July last year, apparently because she was wearing pants.
Men in that part of the township are said to have imposed a ban on women wearing trousers.
A delegation of women from the Network has joined other women’s organisations from Durban to protest outside the Court.
The protest was organised by the Gender Aids Forum (GAF). The purpose of the protest is to support the woman during the court proceeding and in solidarity for women rights.
Ponie Ngcobo, Project Officer at the Gay and Lesbian Network said “We coming out in support of the woman whose rights have been violated and to send a message to the community that women’s rights cannot be held to ransom and that the perpetrators are convicted.
We stand in solidarity for all women who are abused and we will not rest until women are respected and that they enjoy the rights which we fought for all these years.”
