South Africa LGBTIQ+ Rights Watch: December 2024
MambaOnline and OUT LGBT Well-being publish a monthly overview of reported LGBTIQ+ rights violations in South Africa, including hate speech, hate crimes and other discrimination.
We also look at the status of cases making their way through the criminal justice system and related human rights developments.
Here is our summary for December 2024:
Muldersdrift Gay Couple in Grindr Hostage Ordeal Alleged Police Neglect
A gay couple in Muldersdrift, South Africa, endured a three-day hostage ordeal in their home after inviting a man they met on Grindr who needed support to stay for the night, only for him to bring an accomplice who turned aggressive. The intruders stayed for several nights, allegedly intimidated, assaulted, and robbed the couple, ransacking their house and stealing valuable items before the victims managed to escape. Despite reporting the incident, the couple accused local police of neglect and bias, claiming officers dismissed their case due to their sexuality. The traumatic event left the victims emotionally scarred and feeling unsafe, prompting calls for heightened caution within the LGBTQ+ community about online interactions. Gauteng police pledged to investigate the claims of police misconduct.
Pride Event Highlighted Health Access Gaps in Buffalo City
Buffalo City’s second Inclusive Pride, held on December 7, 2024, in East London, spotlighted healthcare access challenges for transgender individuals and the rising hate-fuelled violence against LGBTQIA+ people in the Eastern Cape. Activists delivered a memorandum to Frere Hospital, accusing its management of obstructing the distribution of hormone therapy to the Duncan Village Day Hospital, despite approvals from provincial committees in 2022 and a directive from the Eastern Cape Department of Health in 2023. Organisers criticised the year-long delay, which they argued forced transgender individuals to endure systemic neglect of their healthcare needs. The event also highlighted the escalation of hate crimes, with five LGBTQIA+ murders reported in the province between August and September 2024. As of mid-January 2025, Frere Hospital had yet to provide the necessary hormone medication to the Duncan Village Day Hospital, despite the Department of Health denying any discrimination against LGBTQIA+ clients.
Reports of Gay Dating App Attacks in Southern Gauteng
Reports surfaced in December of gay men being targeted through dating apps in Southern Gauteng, particularly in the Orange Farm and Vaal areas, where criminals used fake profiles to lure victims into abduction and extortion. In one case, a man was forced to pay R10,000 under the threat of having private images published. OUT LGBT Well-being condemned these acts as hate crimes exploiting the vulnerabilities of LGBTIQ+ individuals and called for law enforcement to take urgent action. The organisation highlighted the ongoing threat of “Grindr gang” syndicates and the reluctance of victims to report such crimes due to fear of stigma and secondary victimisation.
Sexual Harassment in SA Universities: LGBTQIA+ Students at Heightened Risk
A report by the Commission for Gender Equality revealed persistent sexual harassment in South Africa’s universities, with LGBTQIA+ students facing heightened risks and unique challenges. The study, conducted at Nelson Mandela University, North-West University, and Sol Plaatje University, highlighted systemic failures, including inadequate policies, dismissive campus security, and a lack of inclusive education and reporting mechanisms. LGBTQIA+ students reported harassment tied to their gender identity and sexuality, with some alleging abuse of power by student leaders demanding sexual favours. The report called for overhauling policies, enhancing awareness, improving reporting systems, and addressing harmful stereotypes to create safer, more inclusive campuses.
Johannesburg Man Recounted Grindr Gang Attack in Kempton Park
A 22-year-old Johannesburg man recounted being ambushed and robbed by criminals in Kempton Park after being lured through Grindr. The ordeal began on December 17th when he engaged with a suspicious profile and later met a man who did not match the photos provided. He was led to a park, where five men attacked him, verbally and physically abused him, and forced him to unlock his phone and bank accounts. The attackers moralised about his sexuality while robbing him of his belongings. Despite reporting the incident to police, he alleged a lack of action in the area where the attack happened.
Transgender Woman in Brutal Hate Crime Attack in Tshwane
Aobakwe Mahlobo, a 23-year-old transgender woman and makeup artist from Tshwane, was brutally attacked in a tavern in Winterveld on December 26, in a hate crime incident. A man she did not know began making hateful remarks about LGBTQ+ individuals before smashing a bottle into her face, causing severe injuries. Mahlobo, who managed to fight back before the attacker fled, received emergency treatment and filed an assault case. The attack left her physically scarred and emotionally traumatised, highlighting the ongoing violence faced by transgender individuals in South Africa despite constitutional protections. A man has since been arrested in connection with the attack.
- For online dating safety tips, click here.
- 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.
Leave a Reply