South Africa LGBTIQ+ Rights Watch: November 2024

MambaOnline and OUT LGBT Well-being publish a monthly overview of reported LGBTIQ+ rights violations in South Africa, including hate speech.

We also look at the status of cases making their way through the criminal justice system and other human rights developments.

Here is our summary for November 2024.

Date Set for Trial of Johannesburg Grindr Gang Suspects

The trial of seven men accused of being part of the so-called “Grindr gang” was finally set for 24 to 27 February 2025 by the Johannesburg Magistrates Court. The men have been in custody since September 2023, charged with the kidnapping and brutal assault of a Johannesburg student, reportedly lured to a meeting through the Grindr dating app. The case has seen numerous frustrating delays, repeatedly pushing back the trial date. Sibonelo Ncanana, Civil Society Engagement Officer for OUT LGBT Well-being, expressed relief and cautious optimism about the latest development in the case. “Justice delayed is justice denied, and we recognise the emotional and psychological toll that such postponements have likely imposed on the victim and the wider LGBTQ+ community,” said Ncanana. Three other men are facing similar charges in Cape Town in connection with several Grindr Gang attacks targeting queer men in that city. • Read more

Transgender Victims of Violence Remembered

Marking the Transgender Day of Remembrance on 20 November, Transgender Europe (TGEU) released its annual update of the Trans Murder Monitoring Project, which documents cases of violence against trans and gender-diverse people worldwide. Between 1 October 2023 and 30 September 2024, 350 trans and gender-diverse individuals were reported murdered — an increase from the 321 cases recorded the previous year. South Africa recorded four cases in this period: Jo-Ann Isaks, 27 (Upington); Karabelo Pudumo, 18 (Kimberley); Thabang Mmelusi Maboela, age unknown (Johannesburg); and Clemmy Hadebe, 22 (Johannesburg). “When will this violence end? We can no longer afford to wait! States must commit to immediate action to counter the surge in anti-trans hate speech and attacks and break this cycle of violence! Our lives depend on it!” urged Ymania Brown, Executive Director of TGEU. • Read more

Refiloe Malope Murder Case Postponed

Access Chapter 2 reported that the case against two men accused of murdering lesbian woman Refiloe Malope faced more delays in the Polokwane Magistrates court after one of the men requested a new lawyer. The organisation said it viewed the development as “a delaying tactic” by the accused. Malope was kidnapped on 9 May 2022 from Kgaphamadi village in Limpopo. Witnesses saw the screaming woman being forced into the boot of a white Toyota sedan by two men. Malope’s body was recovered more than a month later after it was found dumped at the bottom of a deep mine shaft in Benoni, east of Johannesburg. Two suspects, Police Sergeant Thabo Letudi Moses Mokoana and Modirelwa Maxwell Mokoana were arrested in connection with the murder.

South African Youth Lead the Continent in LGBTQ+ Acceptance

The results of the 2024 African Youth Survey were released in November, highlighting the attitudes of South African youth toward LGBTQ+ rights compared to their peers across the continent. Commissioned by the Ichikowitz Foundation, the survey conducted 5,604 face-to-face interviews with young people in 16 African countries. A striking 80% of young South African youth said they believe that LGBTQ+ individuals deserve greater protections, a significant jump from 64% in 2020. This figure is more than double the continent-wide average of 37%. The survey also found that less than half (45%) of South African respondents said that everyone is treated equally under the law in their country, versus 56% who said the same continent-wide, suggesting a greater awareness of inequality among South African youth. • Read more

Honor Mhlaba Murder Case Highlighted IPV in LGBTIQ+ Community

The murder of Pretoria resident Honor Mhlaba, allegedly at the hands of his boyfriend, spotlighted the issue of intimate partner violence (IPV) within South Africa’s LGBTIQ+ community. Mhlaba was reportedly pushed to his death from a seventh-floor building during an argument in June 2024. Advocacy group Access Chapter 2 (AC2) raised concerns about the underreporting of IPV in same-sex relationships due to stigma, minority stress, and fear of secondary victimisation. AC2 called for tailored IPV awareness programmes, improved legal protections, and swift action in Mhlaba’s case, which faces delays as court proceedings are postponed to January 2025. The organisation urged the justice system to ensure accountability and honour Mhlaba’s memory by protecting the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community. • Read more

Cape Town WorldPride Announcement Sparks Homophobic Backlash

The announcement that Cape Town will host WorldPride 2028, the first African city to do so, sparked both celebration and backlash. While the LGBTIQ+ community hailed the decision as a milestone for visibility and inclusivity, virulently homophobic pastor Oscar Bougardt denounced the event, vowing to mobilise opposition and accusing the city of bypassing public consultation. Bougardt risks violating a suspended hate speech sentence prohibiting him from making anti-LGBTIQ+ remarks. Opposition to the event was also expressed by several other religious and faith-based groups, including the anti-LGBTIQ+ lobby group FOR SA and the Cape Town Ulama Board. The organisations asserted that the event is an attempt to impose so-called “woke” political and ideological agendas on the public. OUT LGBT Well-being dismissed these claims, asserting that Pride events highlight the rights and dignity of a historically marginalised community. • Read more

• 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. 
• If you need free support to uphold your LGBTIQ+ rights, please email OUT at report@out.org.za.
• Did you know you can lodge a complaint of unfair discrimination or hate speech (at no cost and without a lawyer), in the Equality Courts, which are located across South Africa? For more information, read OUT’s guide to using the Equality Courts.