VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN CLAIMS ANOTHER LESBIAN’S LIFE

By Lesego Tlhwale (BTM Intern)

SOUTH AFRICA – 28 June 2009: The gay community is lamenting the death of Girly “S’gelane” Nkosi, a Kwa-Thema lesbian who was stabbed by two unknown men on Friday 19 June 2009.

According to a close friend Nkosi, 37, passed away on Monday morning at Pholosong Hospital due to internal bleeding near her spine.

The LGBTI community has compared the impact of Nkosi's death to untimely departures of many gays and lesbians who met their deaths through the hands of homophobic perpetrators.

“Girly survived numerous attacks in her life. In May this year she was brutally attacked in Highlands, reported the matter to SAPS and she passed away still pursuing the officials to solve the case by arresting the assailants”, the friend revealed.

She added “On Friday 19 June, in an unexplainable manner, she was again attacked in the same neighborhood.”

A family member known only as Mr Shabangu said “I was surprised when I heard that S’gelane was attacked in Highlands, our neighborhood, everyone knew her there.”

Nkosi’s family members and friends expressed their shock and sadness at her memorial service held at the Trinity Reform Church in Kwa-Thema on Thursday 25 June.

The memorial service was attended by family, friends, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community and activists who all pledged their support.

Nkosi was described as having been “a sister, a fighter, a comrade and a friend to many and had the outmost respect for people around her.”

She is survived by her father, her brother, relatives and many friends she made, loved and lived with trough the years of her life.

She was laid to rest on Friday 26 June in Kwa-Thema. Police are investigating her murder case.

May her soul rest in peace.!