about south africa

official name: Republic of South Africa
capital: Pretoria
head of state: President Thabo Mbeki
state: multi party democracy
population: 44,344,136
independence: from Britain in 1910 (Apartheid ended in 1994)
languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu (all official)
religion: Christian 68% (includes most whites and Coloreds, about 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5% (60% of Indians), indigenous beliefs and animist 28.5%
currency: rand (ZAR)
media: Mail and Guardian; The Star; City Press

legal wise

status of homosexuality: legal
age of consent: 19 (homosexual male and female) 16 (heterosexual)

Before 1968 South African statutory law provided for a uniform age of consent at 16 years. While this did not detract from the common law prohibition against all sexual contact between men, it did at least mean that homosexuals and heterosexuals were treated alike in statutory prosecutions for underage sex. In 1969 any immoral or indecent act committed by a male with a boy under 19 became a separate statutory offence, subject to imprisonment of up to six years with or without a fine of up to 12,000 Rand in addition to such imprisonment (Sexual Offences Act,ss. 14 (1) (b), 22 (f)). In 1988 it became an offence for any woman to commit an immoral or indecent act with a girl under 19 (s.14(3)(b)). This is the only reference to lesbian conduct in South African law. These discriminatory provisions remain in force. [2002]
laws covering homosexual activity:
On 8th May 1996 South Africa became the first country in the world to enshrine lesbian and gay rights in its Constitution: Clause 9. (3) reads: "The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language, and birth." A similar provision had previously been included in the Interim Constitution adopted in December 1993. The ANC had formally recognised lesbian and gay rights as part of its policy at its policy conference in May 1992.

Laws pertaining to equality are constantly challenged and changed in accordance with the constitution, however completed equality is yet to be acheived. [2002]

background information and government attitudes:
By April 1996 every political party, with the exception of the minority African Christian Democratic Party, had stated their support for protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination in the constitution.

December 20, 1997: Delegates to the ANC's 50th National Conference in Mafeking voted to in support of the following resolution:"The ANC National Conference ...tasks its representatives in all levels of government to establish equality for lesbian and gay people in the following areas in particular: "EMPLOYMENT -- Equal rights for all workers, including lesbian and gay workers in both the private and public sectors; The recognition of same sex relationships for worker benefits (e.g. housing, medical aid and bereavement leave). ...

"FAMILY RIGHTS -- Custody and access, maintenance, immigration and adoption rights for lesbian and gay persons and the recognition of lesbian and gay families; Establishing the equal right to marry for people of the same sex.

"YOUTH -- The appropriate inclusion of lesbian and gay youth in all youth programmes, policy and law; The protection of lesbian and gay youth from discrimination at home, at school, on the streets and in the media; Equalising the age of consent; Running programmes to counter anti-gay prejudice and inclusive sexuality education programmes for all scholars." (RW Quote/Unquote 1/1/98)

International actions: 1995: At preparatory meeting for UN World Conference on Women in New York, proposed inclusion of words "sexual orientation" in paragraph addressing discrimination. (DS)9/1995:

At UN 4th Conference on Women in Beijing supported (unsuccessful) proposal for inclusion of references to "sexual orientation" in the draft "Platform for Action"

While the constitution offers many protections to lesbian and gay people the government have consistently opposed any changes to laws that would give same sex couples and lesbian and gay people equality. In all cases thus far challenges that have reached the constitutional court have been been successful. [2002]

South Africa abstained from voting on ILGA's consultative status at the UN in January 2002.

(some) legal and policy reform
1995 to 1996
1997 to 1999

communication

main lines in use: more than 5 million (2001)
cellular telephones: 7.06 million (2001).
Radio broadcast stations: AM 14, FM 347 (plus 243 repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998).
Radios: 17 million (2001).
Television broadcast stations: 556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997).
Televisions: 6 million (2000).
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 150 (2001).
Internet users: 3.068 million (2002).

links and contacts

Cape Town

Al-Fitrah Foundation
Tel: 082 507 3412 (Muhsin Hendricks)
E-mail: admin@al-fitrahfoundation.org
activities: e-support, weekly spiritual meetings, socials

Gay Muslim Outreach
Abdul 082 784 5304
Email: gmo_sa@yahoo.com

Triangle Project (Cape Town)
101 Millwave House, Waverly Business Park, Dane Street, Mowbray
PO Box 13935, Mowbray
Tel: +27 (0)21 448 3812/3
Fax: +27 (0)21 448 4089
Helpline: +27 (0)21 422 2500
Email: info@triangle.org.za
Website: www.triangle.org.za
activities: counseling, mental health, HIV, support, advocacy

Triangle Project (Guguletu)
Uluntu Centre NY 108 Guguletu
PO Box 43282 Woodstock 7915
Tel: +27 (0)21 633 9921
Fax: +27 (0)21 448 4089
Helpline: +27 (0)21 422 2500
Email: info@triangle.org.za
Website: www.triangle.org.za
activities: counseling, mental health, HIV, support, advocacy

Cape Town Pride
http://www.moffie.co.za

galacttic
www.galacttic.co.za

Durban

Durban Lesbian and Gay Community and Health Centre
Room 301 Protea House, Mark Lane, Durban
Tel: +27 (0)31 301 2145
Fax: +27 (0)31 301 2145
Email: gaycentre@mweb.co.za
Website: www.gaycentre.org.za
activities: counseling, mental health, HIV, support, advocacy

Johannesburg

Gala (Gay and Lesbian Archives)
6th Floor, Richard Ward Building,
Wits University
PO Box 31719 Braamfontein 2107
Tel: +27 (0)11 717 4239
Fax: +27 (0)11 717 4239
Email: gala@library.ac.za
Website: www.wits.ac.za/gala
activities: archiving LGBT history

Ultra Violet Book Cafe
Tel/fax: +27 (0)11 482 9823
www.ultra-violet.co.za

African Pride
www.africanpride.org

Pride Communications
www.pridesa.co.za

Pretoria

OUT (Mamelodi)
Vista Campus 9999 Modise Road Section N Mamelodi-West
Tel: +27 (0)12 344 5108
Email: toni.out@gay.org.za
activities: counseling, mental health, HIV, support, advocacy

OUT (Pretoria)
118 Melville Street, Sunnyside
Tel: +27 (0)12 344 6501
Fax: +27 (0)12 344 6501
Email: out@gay.org.za
Activities: counseling, mental health, HIV, support, advocacy

Soweto

Sohaca (Soweto HIV/Aids Counsellors Association)
PO Box 229 Dube Village 1800 Soweto
Tel: +27 (0)11 939 3540
Fax: +27 (0)11 939 5903
Email: sohaca@lantic.net
activities: counseling, mental health, HIV, support

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