GOVERNMENT TO FIGHT CORRECTIVE RAPE FOLLOWING LESBIAN RAPE

By Mongezi Mhlongo (BTM Senior Reporter)

SOUTH AFRICA- 09 April 2010: As the case of Millicent Gaika (30), a Cape Town lesbian who was beaten up and raped by a man known to her, is presently being heard at Wynberg Court, government has condemned the ongoing acts of “corrective rape” in the country and has vowed to put an end to them.

After the man was arrested, the case was first heard at the Wynberg Court on Tuesday, 6 April but was postponed to today, Tuesday 13 April. 

Speaking outside the court where people are marching in support of Gaika, Ndumi Funda of Lulek’isisizwe LBT Women’s Project said, “We are strongly opposing bail for the perpetrator and we want to see justice being done for Gaika.”

She also expressed her frustration with the official handling the matter stating that he does not want to cooperate nor listen and that Gaika presently does not have a lawyer to represent her.

“Rape, in any form, is of course completely unacceptable and so is targeting people on the grounds of their sexuality. We strongly condemn these crimes and these so called corrective rape cases will be afforded full attention of the police”, said Advocate Lennit Max, Minister of Community Safety in Cape Town.

He added, “There is not enough awareness around hate crimes and the practice of corrective rapes, and there needs to be an increased awareness. I will, on Monday request a full report on these cases to determine the true nature and the extent of these hate crimes and to ensure that the proper measures are in place to deal with them.”

Rape in South Africa continues to be a prevalent issue which cuts across the racial divide. The South African Police Services statistics of 2009 revealed an alarming figure of more 8682 sexual offences, reported in the Western Cape alone.

“We are very much concerned as the department and strongly condemn such behavior because no person deserves to be raped and discriminated against, on the basis of their sexual orientation”, said Sibani Mngadi, Media Liason Officer for the Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities. 

He added, “with the upcoming 16 days of activism campaign we will highlight abuses against lesbian women which have no been highlighted previously.”

Mngadi further said that rape is a serious offence and “it is unfortunate that most rape cases are not dealt with efficiently. With regards to this case, it is also a hate crime, which should not be tolerated. As the department we want to see justice taking its course and the matter dealt with accordingly.”  

Jody Kollapen, Chair of the South African Human Rights Commission, in the Action Aid hate crimes 2009 report, said “We all have a responsibility, all institutions such as the South African Human Rights Commission, the police and justice system, civil society and each individual to stand in defense of both the constitution and the rights of all.”

He pointed out “hate crimes of this nature require decisive action and those responsible must be held to account. The criminal justice system needs to develop more effective strategies in this regard.”