The government condemned all forms of violence against homosexuals following the assault of a gay man in a Cape Town township.
|||Cape Town - The government on Saturday condemned all forms of violence against homosexuals following the assault of a gay man in a Cape Town township.
“Government condemns in the strongest terms possible and reiterates its commitment to fight all forms of hate crimes perpetrated against lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and inter-sex people in South Africa,” said acting Cabinet spokeswoman Phumla Williams.
The Times reported on Friday that Lunga Voko was beaten and left unconscious by a group of men because he was gay in an area near Khayelitsha.
Voko's attackers allegedly inspected his penis to verify if he had been circumcised.
They were enraged after finding that he was and beat him up.
Voko celebrated his 23rd birthday on Easter Sunday and was attacked while walking home with his friends.
He was allegedly beaten with an iron rod and was unconscious.
While down, one person fired a gun, and a piece of Vuko's right ear was torn off, the newspaper reported.
He was taken to Groote Schuur Hospital and later discharged.
Williams said every citizen had an inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected, as enshrined in the Constitution.
“As government we are committed to fight all forms of crime, including violence against gay and lesbian people. The South African Police Service are currently investigating the case and we are confident that justice shall prevail,” Williams said.
Earlier in the week, the Zulu Royal household described a traditional Zulu marriage of two gay men in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal, as “unholy”.
Cameron Modisane and Thobajane Sithole, both 27, made headlines when they tied the knot last week dressed in traditional attire.
Spokesman for the Zulu Royal house Prince Mbonisi Zulu described the union as “unholy”. - Sapa