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The levels of hate towards members of the LGBTIQ+ community needs to be condemned by all, including the church, writes Reverend Nokuthula Dhladhla, the project officer at the SA Network of Religious Leaders living and affected by HIV-AIDS, SANERELA+.
Here are the known victims of the LGBTIQ+ murders that have shaken South Africa since 12 February 2021. These are just victims in the last five months of this year:
- Bonang Gaela, 29 whose throat was slashed in Sebokeng on 12 February.
- Nhlanhla Kunene, 37 whose body was found half-naked in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg, on 5 March 2021.
- Sphamandla Khoza, 34, who was beaten, stabbed and had his throat slit on 29 March in Kwamashu, Durban.
- Nathaniel Spokgoane Mbele, who was stabbed in the chest in Tshirela, Vanderbijlpark, on 2 April 2021,
- Khulekani Gomazi, 27 was beaten to death on 3 April in Mpophemeni, KwaZulu Natal.
- Andile Lulu Nthuthela, 41, whose mutilated and burnt body was found in Kwanobuhle, Kariega, the Eastern Cape, on 10 April 2021.
- Lonwabo Jack had just celebrated his 22nd birthday on 17 April 2021. His lifeless body was found on a pavement the next day in Nyanga, Cape Town
- Lucky Kleinboy Motshabi's naked body was found in a field, with stab wounds, in Dennilton, Limpopo, on 24 April 2021. He was 30 years old.
- Phelokazi Mqathana, 24, was stabbed to death. It was reported a man stabbed her after she rejected his advances in Mfuleni, Cape Town, on 9 May 2021.
- Lindokuhle Mapu, 23, was stabbed to death in Mfuleni on 9 May 2021.
- Aubrey Boshoga, aged 48. His body was dumped outside his house on 29 May 2021 in Gauteng.
- Masixole Level, aged 28. His body was found on a street in Kwazakhele, the Eastern Cape, on 6 June 2021.
- Anele Bhengu, 28 was raped, stabbed and mutilated in KwaMkhutha, KwaZulu Natal, on 13 June 2021.
- Lulama Mvandaba died days after being beaten up in Khayelisha, Cape Town.
There are other names we may not know and many more from the past. Names of men and women from all corners of this country. These are human beings, they are sisters, brothers, mothers, uncles, fathers, aunts, created in the image of God like all of us.
Their violent deaths have shaken the foundations of their loved ones who are left behind and leave us with important questions we need to reflect on as a country. What was their crime? They lived out who God created them to be, and they paid for it with their lives.
The LGBTIQ+ community is faced with so much hate, discrimination, stigma all their lives. For many of them, this comes from families, religious spaces, communities and they have nowhere to go. It's a hard life to live, characterised by fear and rejection. Who would choose this hard life if this was a choice?
The silence of the religious community
All of us, in our diversity, have been created in the image of God. God created others to be tall, short, black or white, dark-skinned or light, different facial features and physical attributes. That is the beauty of it and that's part of his plan for mankind.
All of it is a gift from God that makes us human beings, and our differences should be celebrated rather than incite hate. And just like we have different physical bodies, so does our sexual orientation differ. Why on earth do we then have to rape, kill, discriminate and hate those who are different from who and what we are? Why do LGBTIQ+ communities have to live in fear because other human beings think that they can change them? What is wrong with our world?
These killings we have seen since the beginning of 2021 and in the past need to stop. They MUST stop. There is tangible fear in the LGBTIQ+ community and that cannot be condoned. We are witnessing a massacre.
Why is the church not speaking out, I am not really surprised? The church is known to be silent in many horrible or societal issues that are happening in our communities. But again, religious spaces are also part of the problem as most of these spaces continue to push a divisive narrative. The reading and interpretation of sacred texts continue to contribute to the cycle of prejudice and fuelling stereotypes.
One of my wishes as a member of the clergy is to change the narrative and follow the narrative that God has given us. Love your neighbour as yourself. God did not say we love because but as yourself. That is the message of love. Love regardless.
I appeal to religious leaders and everyone to stand against these horrific deaths that we are seeing. We have the pulpit and access to audiences and homes across the country. Let us spread the word of love. LGBTIQ+ people are having it hard in this country, with nowhere to go. They are rejected by their families. Churches are not safe. Our role as religious leaders is to love and spread love no matter what, even when we do not understand.
- Reverend Nokuthula Dhladhla is a project officer at the SA Network of Religious Leaders living and affected by HIV-AIDS, SANERELA+.
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