MambaOnline publishes a monthly overview of reported LGBTIQ+ rights violations in South Africa, including hate speech, hate crimes and other forms of discrimination.
We also track the progress of cases through the criminal justice system and highlight key human rights developments. While we aim to be as comprehensive as possible, many incidents go unreported or are not identified as hate crimes.
Below is our summary for April 2026.
South Africa’s LGBTIQ+ National Task Team Warned of Growing Safety Crisis
The National Task Team (NTT) on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) warned of a deepening safety crisis facing South Africa’s LGBTIQ+ communities amid rising violence and shrinking support services. The NTT’s Rapid Response Team reported that it was monitoring 54 active cases of murder, rape and assault targeting LGBTIQ+ people, with 84% of these cases recorded between 2024 and 2026. Particular concern was raised over organised “Grindr syndicates” targeting gay men through dating apps for robbery and kidnapping. Civil society organisations also warned that cuts to funding were already undermining queer healthcare and victim support services. While the meeting acknowledged ongoing progress in strengthening Provincial Task Teams, participants stressed that many queer, transgender, gender-diverse and intersex people continued to face violence, discrimination and unequal access to rights and services.
Transgender Woman Alleged Mistreatment at Free State Hospital
Transgender woman Buhlebendalo Mthombeni came forward with allegations of ongoing mistreatment, transphobic remarks and procedural failures at Universitas Academic Hospital in the Free State, raising concerns about barriers faced by transgender people accessing gender-affirming healthcare in South Africa’s public health system. Mthombeni said she experienced hostility and discrimination from healthcare staff, including comments questioning her gender identity, and claimed repeated refusals to provide appropriate medical documentation negatively affected employment opportunities and her ability to change her legal gender marker. The hospital confirmed that it had launched an internal investigation into the allegations while maintaining that it followed institutional procedures and protocols.
Murder of Queer Woman in Bekkersdal in Suspected Hate Crime
In March 2026, 38-year-old queer woman Hermina Khoza was shot and killed in Bekkersdal, Gauteng, in what activists and community members feared may have been a hate crime. According to reports, Khoza was allegedly shot multiple times while walking to a tuckshop in the early hours of the morning, with claims emerging that the suspected shooter had previously made anti-lesbian remarks and threats. Family members and friends described Khoza as openly queer, widely accepted in her community, and deeply loved by those around her. A murder case was opened by the police, although no arrests had been made at the time of reporting. Activists and relatives called for justice, improved safety measures for LGBTIQ+ people in vulnerable communities, and emotional and financial support for Khoza’s grieving family.
SAHRC Launched Campaign to Protect Intersex Children’s Rights
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) launched a national campaign aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of intersex children, including the release of a new pamphlet and poster. The initiative seeks to provide parents, guardians and healthcare providers with information to support intersex children and encourage informed decision-making, particularly around medical interventions performed on children too young to consent. The SAHRC highlighted concerns about the ongoing marginalisation of intersex people and the long-term physical and psychological impact of unnecessary non-consensual surgeries. Intersex South Africa welcomed the campaign and praised the inclusion of intersex voices in developing the guide, while also calling for greater engagement with intersex communities in policymaking.
Constitutional Court Ruling Weakens SA Human Rights Commission
Activists and human rights advocates raised concerns after the Constitutional Court ruled that directives issued by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) are not legally binding and amount only to recommendations unless enforced through the courts. LGBTIQ+ activists warned that the ruling could weaken access to justice for marginalised communities, particularly LGBTIQ+ people who rely on the SAHRC as an accessible mechanism for addressing discrimination and rights violations. Concerns were also raised about the SAHRC’s limited resources and the lengthy delays and costs associated with court processes, with critics arguing that the judgment could leave constitutional rights unenforceable in practice.
Cape Town’s Hate Speech Pastor Renewed Attacks on LGBTIQ+ Community
Cape Town pastor Oscar Bougardt, who was previously found guilty of LGBTIQ+ hate speech and placed under a suspended sentence by the Equality Court, sparked renewed controversy after launching a series of anti-LGBTIQ+ social media posts. He targeted comedian Marc Lottering and a fellow pastor who had invited Lottering on stage during a church service. Bougardt made repeated claims that homosexuality is “contradicting scripture,” while further posting statements opposing same-sex parenting, trans and gender-diverse identities, and LGBTIQ+ rights more broadly, including comments framing LGBTIQ+ people as “reprobates” and linking homosexuality to “societal decay.” Lottering said he was aware of the renewed hate speech but chose not to engage with it. Bougardt defended his comments as expressions of “sincerely held religious beliefs” and argued they did not constitute unlawful hate speech.
SAHRC Controversially Settled 6-Year Same-Sex Wedding Venue Discrimination Case
The SAHRC settled a long-running Equality Court case against the Beloftebos wedding venue in the Western Cape after the owners refused to host two same-sex weddings in 2017 and 2020, citing religious beliefs. The agreement acknowledged that the conduct constituted unfair discrimination and included an apology to one of the affected couples, alongside an undertaking that the venue would not refuse services to same-sex couples in future. However, it imposed no compensation or penalties on the owners. The settlement was criticised for excluding one of the couples, Sasha-Lee and Megan Watling, who were not consulted and were not referenced in the agreement. The couple described the outcome as lacking accountability and precedent-setting value. The SAHRC defended the process as consistent with its public-interest mandate, arguing that the Watlings had pursued separate legal action.
Somizi Mhlongo Snubbed Ngizwe Mchunu Over Hate Speech Comments
Tensions emerged at the 2026 Metro FM Awards afterparty in Durban when queer celebrity Somizi Mhlongo refused to greet former radio host Ngizwe Mchunu, who has previously made anti-LGBTIQ+ remarks. Video footage circulating on social media showed Mhlongo declining to shake Mchunu’s hand and instructing security to block him from entering the VIP area, after which Mchunu responded with insults and homophobic language. Mchunu later accused Mhlongo of being “unprofessional” in media interviews, while making further derogatory remarks, escalating an already controversial exchange. The incident came against the backdrop of Mchunu’s prior public statements in which he admitted to “hating” LGBTIQ+ people and was accused of inciting violence toward queer communities.
Have you experienced or witnessed an LGBTIQ+ rights violation such as a hate crime, hate speech or any other kind of LGBTIQ+ discrimination in South Africa? If you’d like to bring it to the attention of the LGBTIQ+ community, email info@mambaonline.com. We will refer survivors to community groups that can provide support.
