SOUTH AFRICA – Human Rights Watch (HRW), one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights, has said the murder of a South African lesbian activist who was stoned and stabbed to death is part of an “epidemic” of hate crimes against gays.
Noxolo Nogwaza, a 24-year-old member of the gay rights group Ekurhuleni Pride Organizing Committee, was stoned to death in Kwa Thema Township outside Johannesburg on April 24.
There was evidence that Nogwaza was targeted because she was a lesbian and HRW described the murder as, “… appearing to be the latest in an epidemic of brutal homophobic attacks”.
“Nogwaza’s death is the latest in a long series of sadistic crimes against lesbians, gay men, and transgender people in South Africa,” Dipika Nath, a researcher for the rights group, said in a statement.
The police, however, do not consider the murder a hate crime at this time. Police spokesman Tshisikhawe Ndou told AFP, “We do not have evidence to conclude that the crime was committed against her based on the fact of her sexual orientation. It is just purely murder and rape that we are investigating at this stage.”
According to HRC Nogwaza was stabbed repeatedly with glass shards and left in an alley, her face and head disfigured by stoning. A beer bottle, a large rock and used condoms were found on and near her body.
Police have not made any arrests for the murder.
