end hate campaign to root out hate crimes in sa

By Nthateng Mhlambiso (BTM Senior Reporter)

SOUTH AFRICA – June 19: The 07-07-07 Campaign is set to root out all forms of hate crimes against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in South Africa.

Through planned public actions aiming at creating safe spaces for all and demand justice for all victims of hate crimes, the campaign also seeks to raise public consciousness around diversity and advocate for acceptance thereof.

This comes after twenty five-year-old Desmond Dube, known to his friends as Daisy, was gunned down and died on the scene at Becker Street in Yeoville.

A drag queen, Dube went for an outing in the suburb with four friends who are all proud drag queens three weeks ago on 2 June before they were confronted by three homophobic men who called them ‘izitabane’ – a derogatory word for homosexual.

After reprimanding the hate speech of being called ‘izitabane’, just after nine o’clock in the night, one of the three men in a white Toyota Corolla is believed to have handed a gun to his friend and instructed him to shoot them.

A witness at the scene, Odwa Mbane, explained the alleged assassin to have caused chaos and instilled fear during the incident. Mbane affirmed that the motivation behind the attack was a result of their gender identity.

With the intention to create awareness around hate crimes, the 07-07-07 Campaign has organised a Community Speak Out event on 2 July at Yeoville Recreational Centre, which will encourage conversations about hate crimes and safe spaces. It will also promote Johannesburg as a safe city for all.

In its programme of action, the campaign also aims to pressure and monitor police response to Dube’s murder, and to build while declaring a Safe Space at Yeo and Becker Streets where Dube lived and died.

Dube’s mother Nontsikelelo Dube with friends declared that they want to see justice done for Dube and the “return of a crimeless and peaceful Yeoville.”

In grieving for her loss, Nontsikelelo described Dube’s pride for who she was and her love for her sense of responsibility.

Meanwhile, LGBTI activists are concerned at the increasing levels of homophobic attacks, and together with other communities, they plan to intensify the campaign to end hate against LGBTI people.

So far, no arrests have been made regarding Dube’s murder, but Captain Mbazima Bila of Yeoville Police Station said investigations are under way.

Dube was buried on 10 June in Tembisa, the biggest township in the East Rand.