Zoliswa Nkonyana Murder Trial – 23rd August 2008

DELAYED JUSTICE IS NO JUSTICE

About 100 angry protesters from a variety of social movements and the Khayelitsha community mobilised under the banner of the Western Cape Alliance to End Hate at the trial today of the nine men accused of the gruesome murder of 19 year old lesbian Zoliswa Nkonyana in February 2006. Protesters gathered at 9am in front of the Khayelitsha Regional Court chanting slogans, singing, toy toying and holding placards demanding justice for Zoliswa and an end to prejudice and violence against LGBTI people. At 11am they packed the court room to make clear their horror and disgust at this murder.

Funeka Soldaat a lesbian activist from Free Gender in Khayelitsha said “we cannot allow these heinous and ongoing attacks on black lesbians” she said “Our communities are often very homophobic. They claim that homosexuality is un-African but it is killing that is un-African.”. Pumeza Runeyi from the Treatment Action Campaign said “we cannot hide, we love our bodies, they are ours to control and we can’t tolerate the rapes and killings of lesbians in our communities”.

The protesters were outraged when the trial was postponed once again due to problems with the legal representation of three of the nine accused. The trial has now been set down for the 27th August and Magistrate Watton issued a stern warning that all the accused must have legal representation present on that day in order for the trial to begin. She further agreed to a demand from Prosecutor Isaacs that all lawyers must have all the necessary documentation for the trial in their possession before the court reconvened on the 27th August.

The constant changes in legal representation of the accused are causing unacceptable delays to a case that has been ongoing for almost a year. Addressing the masses Vanessa Ludwig, Director of Triangle Project said “this constant switching of lawyers is an absolutely unacceptable delaying tactic by the defense that is denying justice to Zoliswa and ignoring the extreme pain and trauma of her family and friends as each day in court comes and goes without any progress in the trial”. Emily Craven from the Joint Working Group agreed and said “we welcome the insistence by Magistrate Watton that all representation issues must be resolved by Wednesday in order for the trial to finally get underway.”

Activists are also deeply concerned about issues related to security issues both inside and outside the court complex. Nonhlanhla Mkhize of the Durban Lesbian and Gay Centre said “security issues are of great concern to us, both for those people directly involved in the case like the witnesses and for the activists attending the trial. People should be able to move through the court without fearing intimidation or violence”.

Reflecting on the proceedings of the day and personal stories shared outside court, Phumi Mtetwa from the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project said “It is deeply saddening that during women’s month we are having to attend trials such as this. We should be celebrating ourselves and our achievements during this month not mourning and protesting the deaths of our sisters and the undermining of the values of respect and diversity”.

The Alliance will once again be out in force when the court sits on the 27th August in order to send a strong message that we can and will not tolerate any further delays in this case. Justice for Zoliswa is a long time overdue.

For more information regarding the WC End Hate Campaign, please contact the Western Cape End Hate convener: Marlow Valentine at e-mail: endhate@triangle.org.za

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The WC End Hate is an alliance provincial organisations from the LGBTI, Women and HIV and AIDS sectors as well as individual human rights activists and human rights defenders, working to end all forms of crimes of hate.

Press Release Issued: Friday, 23 August 2008

CONTACT PERSONS

1. Provincial Alliance Convener: Marlow Valentine – 0836685935 / 021 4483812 (endhate@triangle.org.za)
2. Commission for Gender Equality: Keegan Lekay – 0838781386 / 021 4264080 (keeganl@cge.org.za)
3. Triangle Project: Vanessa Ludwig – 0823075923 / 021 4483812 (director@triangle.org.za)

Marlow Valentine
Community Engagement and Empowerment Manager – Triangle Project
Challenging Homophobia, Appreciating Sexual Diversity
Physical Address: Unit 29 Waverley Business Park, Dane Street, Mowbray 7700
Postal Address: PO Box 13935, Mowbray, 7705
Tel 021 4483812
Fax 021 4484089
Email marlow@triangle.org.za
Website www.triangle.org.za