A 23-year-old gay man in Kuruman, in the Northern Cape, was beheaded this past weekend following an argument about his sexuality and gender appearance.
According to the group Legbo Northern Cape, Thapelo Makhutle was attacked at his place of work in the John Taolo Gaetsewe district on Friday. The organisation said that there was an argument related to “his sexuality and homosexuality”.
His two attackers are believed to have followed him to the room where he lived and on Saturday cut his throat, decapitating him.
They left his body under a blanket as though he were sleeping.
Makhutle, who identified as both gay and transgender, was a volunteer for Legbo Northern Cape. He recently participated in the Kimberley Out In Africa Gay and Lesbian Festival, was known as a beauty queen named Queen Bling and was recently crowned Miss Gay Kuruman.
“It’s so sad. I can’t describe the pain that we are feeling right now,” Shaine Griqua, director of Legbo Northern Cape, told Mambaonline. “We have lost a young, talented, gay man who was open about who he was. The last few days have been like a dark cloud.”
He said that no arrests have yet been made in connection with the murder. He expressed his frustration with the lack of support for LGBT people in the Northern Cape and noted that hate crimes are on the rise in the province.
“We recently had a lesbian stabbed three times in a bar because they said that she should be a woman and not a man. She chose not to press charges because she didn’t want her family involved,” Griqua said.
“The government is not interested in this problem,” he added.
Legbo Northern Cape and other groups will be meeting on Wednesday to devise an awareness campaign about Makutle’s brutal attack.
The young man’s funeral will be held on Saturday in Kuruman.
24 Responses
Oh no!
WTF is this world coming to ? My heart goes out to these , the most vunerable. I hope they find his attackers and put them in jail for life.
Oh no… What do we do? This can’t be left alone. As an ordinary guy, I feel compelled to do something, but I feel a little unsure about what I CAN do. Any ideas from anyone?
This is quite sad!!
Am even speechless,where is one going to hide and live peacefully! Poor innocent young man!! May his soul rest in internal peace!
may your soul rest in peace my best friend i will always cherrish the good times we had…
Whoever did dat they will rot in hell
Every time when I think abt it I cry *sad*……I hope those bastards rott in hell
members of SAPS & CPF’s also needs to be educated as once a group of LGBTI tried to lay a crimen injuria case & the SAPS member on duty refused to take the case.
R.I.P sweetheart!
It’s so sad what just happened to one of us.RIP my gay brother,may God grant comfert to your family and friends.
may those animals who did this to you get rot in jail.i so wish they
Catch them.
R.I.P. Queen Bling So sorry that you had to die so young and such an unnecessary death brought about by haters.
OMG….. No matter What Happens GOD is aware of this situation. Every dog has its tail u can run but not hide!!!!
God pls those who re ignorant…. Thz z pure BS….
I dnt knw wht other people have against gays cause they are good,loving,caring nd sweet people my heart is broken Tp was a frnd nd brother.I jst pray 2 God dat those pigs are cought nd be punished. May hs soul rest in peace*teardrop*
I dnt knw wht other people have against gays cause they are good,loving,caring nd sweet people my heart is broken Tp was a frnd nd brother.I jst pray 2 God dat those pigs are cought nd be punished. May hs soul rest in peace*teardrop*
I dnt knw wht other people have against gays cause they are good,loving,caring nd sweet people my heart is broken Tp was a frnd nd brother.I jst pray 2 God dat those pigs are cought nd be punished. May hs soul rest in peace*teardrop*
This is revolting. Personally- I will not stand for hate in my community. If people make fowl comments or uncalled for comments to members of the LGBT community whilst I am around I make an effort to address the issue in the most proper manor. We need to stand up for one another. If you over hear an argument- nothing is taken from you to show some compassion to the victim or perhaps, if possible, to ward off the instigators. I’m sadden by this news. It also reminds us, as LGBT members, to be observant. Unfortunately we have to lead lives filled with paranoia- but if it means surviving another day then so be it. I just wish more gay men would announce the sexuality and support the community more tangibly. The youth need to see that being gay is okay- hearing it is simply not enough in today society.
Have these murderers been caught? What origin are they?
What origin are they? WTF does that mean? And why on earth would it matter?
Primitive savages
I appeal to everyone in kuruman to stand up and fight up this hate crimes in our community , u can’t take a life of a person because she is gay, to our gay brothers out there pls be strong, do not let something like this pull u down from being honest to urself, stand up and fight those monsters. To the family and friends lala ka ntho madi a tshologe, may her soul rest in peace Queen Bling
I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO BE CONCIENTISED THAT NO ONE CHOOSES TO BE GAY. IT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE BORN WITH YOU CANT DENY IT, IF YOU ARE ONE, AT THE SAME TIME YOU DONT CHOOSE TO BE HETEROSEXUAL. WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING WHO HAS ACCEPTED YOU THE WAY YOU ARE WITHOUT JUDGING YOU. WHY ON EARTH JUDGE HIM. REMEMBER THIS CAN HAPPEN IN YOUR OWN FAMILY BECAUSE WE DONT DECIDE ON WHO IS GOING TO BE GAY OR NOT. MAY HIS SOUL TEST IN PEACE. FR, MOSOBELA
This is just horrifying!