MISSING LESBIAN FOUND DEAD IN BIN

The decomposing body of a lesbian woman, missing since September last year, has been found in a bin in the Cape Town township of Nyanga.

The Daily Voice reported on Monday that 21-year-old Nontsikelelo Tyatyeka’s body was found by police on Friday.

Tyatyeka’s family have been waiting for a year to hear news of her fate.

“The decomposed body of a 21-year-old woman was found in a rubbish bin at Qumbu Street, Mau-Mau, Nyanga on Friday. A murder case docket was opened,” said Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk.

He added that a 29-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the murder and that he will appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court.

Tyatyeka’s mother, Nombasa, said that she knew the suspect, who was a friend of her daughter’s.

She revealed that a witness had recently told a family member that when Tyatyeka refused to sleep with the suspect because “she’s a tomboy,” he stabbed her and stuffed her into a bin.

“Just last week he asked me if my daughter has been found yet. And all the while he knew exactly what happened,” Nombasa said.

Police investigated the lead and found Tyatyeka’s body.

The murder adds to the growing list of lesbian women that have been murdered or raped in South Africa in recent years because of their sexual orientation.

A task team, consisting of government and LGBTI rights groups, has been set up to study and deal with the crisis but has thus far had little impact.