Jail for South African ‘corrective rapist’
September 22nd, 2009
A man was today jailed for life for his part in the gang-rape and murder of a lesbian athlete in South Africa.
Eudy Simelane, an international footballer, was killed last year in a spate of ‘corrective rapes’ against lesbians in the country.
In March 2009 human rights group ActionAid drew worlwide attention to the alarming number of women being targetted by men trying to ‘cure’ lesbians of their sexual orientation by raping them.
There have been more than 30 reported murders of lesbians in the past decade in South Africa, but today’s trial was the first to result in convictions.
Human rights activists are hoping that the high-profile court case will raise awareness of the scale of the attacks.
Simelane was one of the first women to live openly as a lesbian in KwaThema township, near Johannesburg. A keen footballer since childhood, she played for the South African women’s team and worked as a coach and referee. She hoped to serve as a line official in the 2010 men’s World Cup in South Africa.
But in April 2008 Simelane was attacked while leaving a bar. She died after being gang-raped and stabbed 12 times. Her naked body was dragged towards a stream and dumped.
24-year-old Themba Mvubu was today convicted for his role in the rape and murder. As he was led from the dock today he muttered “I’m not sorry.” Another man was jailed earlier this year for the attack, while two men were today acquitted.
[via The Guardian]
I’m South African and this story has shocked me. It breaks my heart to know there’s so much violence against women in a country that has so many great things to offer. Changes need to be made, and soon, but the problem is on such a big scale it’s really disheartening.
This story has made me feel ashamed of a place I have always been fiercly proud of.
Katka-K ∼ September 22nd, 2009 10:08 pmthat’s horrible. And here I am thinking whether to march in my local parade saturday or watch.
How can we help them?
rory ∼ September 23rd, 2009 4:06 am