DURBAN - THE Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex+ (LGBTQI+) community has been rocked by the murder of a lesbian in KwaZulu-Natal.
Sisanda Gumede, 28, was killed on Saturday evening. She was buying a cigarette at a local shop in Umbumbulu, south of Durban.
Her brother, Sibusiso Gumede, said his sister had tried to intervene in a fight between a man she knew and her friend.
“Those who were at the scene said the person who stabbed her was bothering people in the area. He kept exposing his knife.
The man then took her (Sisanda’s) hat off, threw it on the floor. He told her he did it because she was a lesbian. When she was bent over to pick up her hat, he stabbed her in the neck,” Gumede said.
Sisanda was rushed to the hospital, but she died on the way.
Other reports suggested that Sisanda was killed by a relative who had gloated to the family “I have killed your homosexual.”
Gumede confirmed that Sisanda was stabbed by a relative.
Gumede said the family was very hurt by what had happened. Both their parents had died and they lived with their grandmother, who despite the news, was coping well because she was “strong”.
Gumede said his sister loved people and loved spending time with them. They plan to have her funeral on Friday.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said charges of murder were laid at the Umbumbulu police station.
Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza said on Tuesday: “We are deeply ashamed that in our nation we still have people facing discrimination based on their sexual orientation.
“This is a gross violation of basic human rights and we should unite to end such crimes.
“It must sink into the minds of all those involved in such crimes that no one has a right to take a life and abuse someone else because of their sexuality.”
Khoza said that her department was committed to fighting for justice and that she wanted society to work together “to end hate crimes, homophobia and other forms of unfair discrimination against LGBTQI+ communities”.
“We must ensure that he gets arrested so that he answers for his sin as he attacked a defenceless woman,” Khoza said.
Social workers were sent to meet the Gumede family to provide psycho-social support.
Meanwhile, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has launched a national campaign, #LGBTI+equality project, to solicit public comments and contributions on the state of LGBTI+ equality in South Africa.
These will be used to identify key areas of intervention for the commission to ensure the achievement of LGBTI+ equality in South Africa.
Daily News