different detention cells for homosexuals

By Lesego Masike (BTM Intern)

May 25, 2007: A row erupted among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisations in South Africa regarding detentions of gays in prison cells.

This followed a recent statement released to Parliament by National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi saying gay inmates should be detained in different cells from other prisoners. Selebi recently revealed that ensuring safety for gay prisoners is currently a problem.

Police don’t know where to detain homosexuals as it’s sometimes difficult to detect whether they’re female or male.

The LGBTI organisations feel that Selebi is taking the easy way out by introducing separate detention cells instead of addressing the issue of safety in prisons.

“We do not think that it is a good idea. This could only perpetuate discrimination towards an already marginalised community. Separating gay from heterosexual inmates goes against LGBTI organisations’ goal of trying to increase coexistence of people either heterosexual or homosexual”, asserted Vista Kalipa, the Triangle Project’s Media Coordinator.

On the contrary, Liesl Theron – director of Gender Dynamix – believes that having separate holding cells would ensure protection for gay people. Asked about the viability on detecting detainees’ sexual orientation, Theron expounded that there should be a “panel of professional people who can conclude that the person is homosexual before allocating them to a holding cell.”

“For a person who is in the process of gender reassignment, the dress code should be taken into consideration. For instance, if a man is transitioning to being a woman, they should be held in women’s holding cell”, she added.

Nthabiseng Dlamini (24) – who’s a lesbian served a three-months jail term at Johannesburg Prison recently (popularly known as Sun City), said that the proposal of separate detention cells for homosexuals is welcomed.

Although she was put in same cells with other women and without any attempts of discomfort from the women, Dlamini still feels that “we can only be safe when we are separated.”

In a quote by Mambaonline on 13 May, Selebi said; “This is a problem that we have because this democracy recognises all preferences and some people prefer to say ‘we are gay’”.

Responding to this Selebi’s utterances, Kalipa said that Selebi should be more informed on LGBTI issues and their safety.

The Police Commissioner is a great believer in democracy. This is according to Selebi’s spokesperson Sally De Beer. “South African police have no intention of discriminating against anyone,” said De Beer.

“Separate holding cells may be introduced if only the need arises in the future, for now, existing policies still stand”, De Beer emphasised. She concluded that males will be detained within males’ cells while females within female cells.

Triangle Project has said that they can offer sensitivity seminars and workshops on issues of sexuality to help decrease problems when dealing with gay and lesbian people in prison, should there be a need.