Gay Limpopo Man Survives Hate Crime Rape Ordeal

A 24-year-old gay man from Limpopo has been left physically and emotionally traumatised after he was brutally beaten and raped in what activists say was a suspected hate crime.

According to activists in the province, the shocking incident took place in the early hours of Sunday morning last weekend.

MambaOnline spoke to the man’s close friend, Danelle Nyelisani, about the ordeal, which began when the survivor and his friends went out for the night to the Midoroni Tavern, outside of Louis Trichardt.

While at the venue, the man was allegedly harassed about his sexuality by two other men. The pair then followed the group to a second venue, which turned out to be closed.

Beaten and Raped in Abandoned House

It was there that the two men allegedly threatened the survivor with a knife and forcibly took him to an abandoned residence nearby, where he was beaten and raped.

They are then said to have dragged him to another home where he was raped again.

With the help of an individual in the house who reportedly took pity on him, the survivor managed to escape and ultimately made his way to Nyelisani’s home. He arrived battered, bloodied, and wearing only one shoe.

“He was bruised up, had swollen lips and swollen eyes. He was limping because he had an injury on his toe,” says Nyelisani.

Police Action and Arrest

The survivor reported the incident to Tshilwavhusiku Police Station and received hospital treatment.

Activists have criticised the police for their lack of urgency in responding, claiming officers only acted after they intervened and the matter was escalated to Makhado Police Station in Louis Trichardt.

The police, accompanied by the survivor, returned to the second residence where one of the suspects was found and arrested after a brief chase.

The man has been charged with rape and appeared in Makhado Magistrates’ Court. He is due to return for a bail hearing on 18 July. The second suspect remains at large.

Ongoing Trauma and Fear

Nyelisani told MambaOnline that the survivor is still trying to come to terms with what he endured and remains fearful of the second alleged attacker.

“He’s still scared, and he’s told me that he’s having trouble sleeping. He’s still processing the entire matter. I’m going to him daily to try to comfort him so that he’s not alone. When he’s around people and if we are talking, it makes it better.”

Nyelisani is convinced that his friend was targeted because of his LGBTQ+ identity. “This has always been stigma. It’s like there are people, mostly men, in this community, who always say, if we get to rape you guys, that’s when you’ll be masculine.”

Community Outrage and Call for Justice

Precious Murulane, founder of the Vhembe LGBTQIA organisation, said in a statement that the attack was “not merely a criminal matter; it is an attack on the very fabric of human dignity and equality.”

“In a country where LGBTI rights are constitutionally enshrined, such acts of violence—and the institutional complacency that often follows—represent a grievous betrayal of justice,” she said.

Murulane has called on members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to show support for the survivor by attending the upcoming court hearing. She urged attendees to wear black and rainbow colours in solidarity with the victim and all survivors of hate crimes.

“This case must not fade into silence,” she said.