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Lesbians in South Africa are being subjected to ‘corrective rape’ by men who think it will ‘cure’ them of their sexual orientation, according to human rights group ActionAid.

Rape is fast becoming the most widespread hate crime targeted against gay women across South Africa.

One lesbian and gay support group says it is dealing with 10 new cases of lesbian women being targeted for ‘corrective’ rape every week in Cape Town alone.

The report by the international NGO ActionAid, backed by the South African Human Rights Commission, said the horrific crimes against lesbians were going unrecognised by the state and unpunished by the legal system.

There are an estimated 500,000 rapes in South Africa every year. For every 25 men accused of rape in the country, 24 walk free.

As part of the widespread oppression of women, the country is now witnessing a backlash of crimes targeted specifically at lesbian women, who are perceived as representing a direct threat to a male-dominated society.

‘Corrective rape’ survivors interviewed by ActionAid said their attackers told them the rape would “teach them a lesson” and “show them how to be real women”.

“So-called ‘corrective’ rape is yet another grotesque manifestation of violence against women, the most widespread human rights violation in the world today,” said Zanele Twala, Director of ActionAid South Africa.

“These crimes continue unabated and with impunity, while governments simply turn a blind eye.”

Hate crimes

The hate crimes against lesbians in South Africa are not limited to rape – 31 lesbians have been reported murdered in homophobic attacks since 1998. Of the 31 cases, only two were taken to the courts, and there was only one conviction.

Support groups stress that because hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation are not recognised in the South African criminal justice system, the actual number of women killed is likely to be much higher.

Tsidi, a hate crime survivor from Cape Town said: “Here in South Africa you have judges sending women to jail for stealing a loaf of bread to feed her baby, but men who gang rape women, who murder lesbians… they walk the streets as free men.”

South Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, guaranteeing the rights of gay and lesbian people. However, the South African legal system has not caught up.

Hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation are not recognised by South African law and the courts refuse to recognise that it plays any part in these cases. The police are reluctant to investigate hate crimes against lesbian women and there is inadequate support for the survivors.

One lesbian woman said: “We get insults every day, beatings if we walk alone, you are constantly reminded that…you deserve to be raped, they yell, if I rape you then you will go straight, that you will buy skirts and start to cook because you will have learnt how to be a real woman.

Zanele Twala, Director of ActionAid South Africa believes the international community has a duty to help lesbians in South Africa. “It is clear that the South African government must put a stop to these crimes against women and fulfil the promises of the constitution.

“Worldwide, it is utterly unacceptable that millions of women and girls live daily in fear of their lives. The international community have a duty to address violence against women as the most serious threat to security in the world today.”

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