COSATU SLAMS LESBIAN MURDERS

South Africa’s largest trade union has thrown its support behind the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign and condemned the spate of attacks on lesbian women.

“Cosatu is appalled by the rising levels of violence and the increasingly heinous acts that are unleashed on women and girls in our society,” said the organisation.

“This scourge has been concentrated in the working class communities; but we note how all classes are affected by gender-based violence, including celebrities.”

Cosatu urged its members “and all caring individuals to not turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to incidents of violence against women and children”.

It included in its list of violent incidents the “intimidation, rapes and brutal slayings of lesbian women”.

Cosatu pledged “to continue educating our members about the rights of gay people and all those of a different sexual orientation (LGBTI) and we appeal to all sectors of our society do the same”.

In July, Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven slammed the brutal sexual assault and murder of Duduzile Zozo who had been raped with a toilet brush and strangled.

Held annually from 25 November to 10 December, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign launched in 1991.