The National Task Team on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics (NTT on SOGIESC) has reaffirmed its mandate to advance equality, strengthen institutional responses and protect the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons.
The commitment was made during recent NTT’s Quarter 2 plenary meeting, co-chaired by Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister Andries Nel and Civil Society Organisations’ (CSO) Co-Chairperson, Sibonelo Ncanana-Trower.
The plenary expressed deep concern about the continuing incidence of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), including the recent murders of women.
It noted the links between misogyny, violent discrimination, femicide and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) persons, stressing the need for an effective and coordinated criminal justice response.
This includes appropriate police visibility, thorough investigations and effective prosecution of perpetrators.
On legislation, Nel reported that the draft Regulations under the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act, 2023, have been received by the Ministry and currently under consideration.
Once approved, the Regulations must, as provided for in the Act, be submitted to Parliament for approval 60 days before publication in the Government Gazette.
The finalisation of the Regulations is an important step towards bringing the Act into operation.
The Rapid Response Team (RRT) also tabled its Quarter 2 Case Register, which currently tracks 36 active priority hate-crime matters nationally.
Of these, 20 cases remain under police investigation with no arrests having been made, while 16 have been enrolled on court rolls. Murder accounts for 18 of the active matters, while seven involve rape.
The RRT also raised concern over cases involving kidnappings, robberies and extortion facilitated through dating applications, including cases linked to Grindr [dating app].
The meeting further noted a recent conviction in a murder case in KwaZakhele in the Eastern Cape, where the accused was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.
To strengthen coordination with the police and assist in addressing delays in investigations, Nel welcomed the commitment by Deputy Minister of Police, Dr Polly Boshielo to participate in the work of the NTT.
The NTT encouraged victims and communities to promptly report hate-motivated violence to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and, where appropriate, bring cases to the attention of Provincial Task Teams (PTTs) or the NTT Secretariat.
“This will enable cases to be monitored and relevant support to be coordinated,” Nel said.
The plenary also noted progress in strengthening provincial structures, with the Secretariat having finalised procedures for PTTs to access earmarked funding and concluded provincial civil society co-chair election processes.
The NTT welcomed the participation of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
It also ratified the admission of three civil society organisations as NTT members, including Outright International, the South African Workplace Equality Index (SAWEI) and the MambaOnline Foundation.
The meeting further considered emerging continental and international campaigns opposing sexual and reproductive health rights, gender equality, and the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons.
It noted civil society mobilisation ahead of the scheduled Pan-African Conference on Family Values in May 2027 and reaffirmed the NTT’s commitment to defending, consolidating and advancing South Africa’s constitutional values of equality, dignity and freedom. – SAnews.gov.za
