Category: South Africa

Dear Mandela: The dream you went to prison for has never been achieved

February 18, 2013

KPFA Evening News, 02.17.2013 By Ann Garrison South African President Jacob Zuma, in his State of the Union address, promised to speed the pace of land redistribution and housing construction to replace the country’s urban shantytowns, but nearly 20 years after the end of apartheid, the number of people living in shantytowns has doubled and the … More Dear Mandela: The dream you went to prison for has never been achieved

South African Township Lesbians March for Justice against Corrective Rape

February 2, 2013

Claiming the streets in protest for justice By Melanie Nathan, February 02, 2013. Today a large group of lesbians, carrying signs and the South African gay flag,  from a variety of Townships around the Cape Town area, took to the streets singing and chanting for justice to draw attention to the issue of corrective rape … More South African Township Lesbians March for Justice against Corrective Rape

South African Ministry of Justice probes Gay Cure Arts School

January 19, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January, 19, 2013. The South African Justice Ministry has called on the Human Rights Commission to investigate claims of unfair discrimination at the Creare Training Centre in Bloemfontein. A week ago we reported that Creare Training Center’s prospectus claimed it could convert gay students into heterosexuals through “rehabilitation” and the discriminatory statements … More South African Ministry of Justice probes Gay Cure Arts School

March planned to hunt rapist Andile Ngocza wanted for ‘corrective’ rape of lesbian

January 19, 2013

Cape Town, South Africa  join the march to help catch brutal rapist By Melanie Nathan, January 19, 2013. In 2010 I broke the story of the brutal rape of a lesbian in Gugulethu, a Township near Cape Town, in an article that went viral around the world, causing outrage, “The Face of Corrective Rape.”  I … More March planned to hunt rapist Andile Ngocza wanted for ‘corrective’ rape of lesbian

South African Christian Arts Academy Claims it Can Cure Gays

January 13, 2013

A South African Christian arts academy in Bloemfontein may be breaking the law by advertising that it can “cure” homosexual students, and that if a homosexual refuses such, they can be expelled.  By Melanie Nathan, January 13, 2012. The Sunday Times reported that the Creare Training Centre’s prospectus claimed it could convert gay students into … More South African Christian Arts Academy Claims it Can Cure Gays

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Yvonne Chaka Chaka speak out against Criminalization of Homosexuality

December 12, 2012

Watch Video below where Yvonne Chaka Chaka overtly declares her support for Uganda’s Gay Community By Melanie Nathan,  12/12/2012 At the same time as the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill, otherwise known as ‘The Kill the Gays Bill’ moves from the number one spot to number six on the Ugandan Parliament’s Order Papers, the United Nations played … More United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Yvonne Chaka Chaka speak out against Criminalization of Homosexuality

World AIDS DAY | South African Gold Coin Exchange Announces Mandela Collectible Coin’s U.S. Beneficiaries

December 1, 2012

Three U.S.A. Charities to benefit from sales of The Mandela Red Ribbon Twin Set Editorial, December 01, 2012. In honoring Worlds AIDS DAY on December 01, The South African Gold Coin Exchange (SAGCE) has chosen three renowned charities based in the United States of America, to benefit from the sale of a newly launched Nelson … More World AIDS DAY | South African Gold Coin Exchange Announces Mandela Collectible Coin’s U.S. Beneficiaries

In Memoriam Carmen Nathan | Published in The International Journal of Medicine and Law

November 20, 2012

By Professor S.A. Strauss (1990) Carmen Nathan, executive editor of Medicine and Law Since 1989, suddenly died  in Mmbatho, Bophuthstwana on October 09, 1990. Her death was a severe loss to the editorial baord and left a great void in the lives of her family and her many friends and colleagues in Southern Africa, Europe, … More In Memoriam Carmen Nathan | Published in The International Journal of Medicine and Law

Remembering the late Prof. Carmen Nathan on her Birthday

November 20, 2012

 Prof. Carmen Nathan  passed away at age 56, way too young and so accomplished: “A Mother and a friend to all, whose selfless commitment to justice has imparted a legacy abundant in love, compassion and wisdom.”  by Melanie Nathan, November 20, 2012. My mother was born Carmen Keile Miller, in 1934, to Rose Shamis and … More Remembering the late Prof. Carmen Nathan on her Birthday

Another young South African soccer player murdered for being a lesbian

November 11, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, November 1o, 2012. I have received reports of the yet another horrific murder of a young South African lesbian. According to Ndumie Funda, the founder and Executive Director of Luleki Sizwe, an organization that assists young lesbian victims of  so called “corrective rape”  a young woman was murdered by a group of … More Another young South African soccer player murdered for being a lesbian

South Africa Wits University Proud about Gay Pride

November 2, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, November 01, 2012. My alma mater, The University of the Witwatersrand, and the University attended by Nelson Mandela, is hosting ‘Wits Pride,’ a week long event designed to create awareness and educate students about crimes motivated by hate against the LGBTI community in South African. Marchers sang with scathing critique, pointing fingers … More South Africa Wits University Proud about Gay Pride

South Africa Gay Flag Bus Tour takes LGBTI Education & Goodwill from bottom to top encountering Homophobia

October 12, 2012

From the bottom of the Continent of Africa to the top of South Africa, a Budget Bus filled with LGBTQI community representatives toiled the bush, the veld, cities and townships, spreading rainbow acts and music, all in the name of full inclusiveness and education against homophobia. The Gay Flag of South Africa, led its annual tour of the country amidst much to contemplate and celebrate, including the approval of the Gay Flag as a national symbol. … More South Africa Gay Flag Bus Tour takes LGBTI Education & Goodwill from bottom to top encountering Homophobia

Watch Video Ugandan Anti-Gay Resolution Fails and Embarrasses Pan African Parliament

October 11, 2012

“It is a bizarre resolution and it will never pass” By Melanie Nathan, Oct 11, 2012. At The Pan African Parliament‘s  session  in Johannesburg on 9 October, Ugandan delegate, Ogwal Cecilia Barbara faced the fact that her anti-gay resolution was not only without merit, but also an embarrassment to her country. Barbara tried to introduce  … More Watch Video Ugandan Anti-Gay Resolution Fails and Embarrasses Pan African Parliament

Gender Action Project calls on Johannesburg Pride to remember brutalised LGBTi people

October 11, 2012

Statement Written by GAP – Oct 11, 2012 On Saturday 6 October 2012 at the annual Johannesburg Pride march, the 1in9 campaign staged a now nationally infamous ‘disruption’ of the Pride ‘march’. LGBTi activists, many of them black lesbians, attempted to stop the march by blocking Jan Smuts Avenue near Rosebank, Johannesburg. The activists staged … More Gender Action Project calls on Johannesburg Pride to remember brutalised LGBTi people

Lesbian Group Disrupts Johannesburg LGBTI Pride Parade

October 7, 2012

by Melanie Nathan, Oct 07. 2012. South African lesbian feminists called for a pause, a minute of silence at the Johannesburg  (Joburg) Gay Pride Parade, to remember lesbians and LGBTI victims of homophobic murders,  yet were denied their moment by Pride organizers. A group calling themselves One in Nine chanted “one minute of silence” and … More Lesbian Group Disrupts Johannesburg LGBTI Pride Parade

South African Gay Flag Becomes First in World to be Recognized as official National Symbol

October 6, 2012

Despite Homophobia South Africa is a World leader for LGBTI Rights – Constitutional Equality ‘flagged’ by the fight vs. homophobia By Melanie Nathan Oct 06, 2012. The South African government has announced in the official Government Gazette that Gay Flag of South Africa has been approved and accepted as South Africa’s official gay flag (an … More South African Gay Flag Becomes First in World to be Recognized as official National Symbol

ANC KwaZulu-Natal Leaders Gunned Down

September 13, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, September 13, 2012. Two African National Congress branch leaders were gunned down on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast of South Africa, after attending a meeting, the party said in a statement on Monday. The ANC, the majority ruling party in South Africa,  condemned the shooting of Oshabeni branch chairman Dumisani Malunga and branch … More ANC KwaZulu-Natal Leaders Gunned Down

Victory For LGBTI South Africans as Constitutional Committee Says Gay Rights are Safe

September 9, 2012

Sexual orientation and gender identity will remain fully protected by the South African Constitution By Melanie Nathan, September 09, 2012. Victorious news for the South African LGBTI community.  It would seem that the anti-gay traditionalists  in the South African Parliamentary system  have failed to ditch LGBTI equality in South Africa.  The South African Constitutional Review … More Victory For LGBTI South Africans as Constitutional Committee Says Gay Rights are Safe

South African Police Make Arrests in Rape and Murder of Kwazulu Lesbian

September 3, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, September, 03, 2012. Police have made an arrest in the latest reported rape and and murder of a 28 year old Lesbian in Kwazulu, Natal, South Africa. The body of  Mandisa Mbambo was discovered under her bed by her parents on Sunday, 26th August, in the brutal rape and murder. Like  many … More South African Police Make Arrests in Rape and Murder of Kwazulu Lesbian

Tutu Calls for Bush Blair Prosecutions | A Reminder of Romney Campaign Audacity

September 2, 2012

South Africa’s Tutu boycotts seminar in anti-Blair protest By Melanie Nathan, September 02, 2012 While many in the United States are contemplating the possibility of another Republican led government, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu, wants to hold Republican life and thought responsible for the hundreds of thousands of preemptive deaths in Iraq. Nobel Peace Prize … More Tutu Calls for Bush Blair Prosecutions | A Reminder of Romney Campaign Audacity

South African Ambassador to Uganda Jon Qwelane Hate Speech Trial Goes to High Court

August 30, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, August 30, 2012. Jon Qwelane,  the homophobic journalist who was appointed by President Jacob Zuma as the South African Ambassador to Uganda in exchange for political favors,  and to escape prosecution for hate speech, successfully pleaded that the Equality Court in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court did not have the jurisdiction to hear … More South African Ambassador to Uganda Jon Qwelane Hate Speech Trial Goes to High Court

Gay Flag of South Africa and ANC Hold Historic Public Meeting to Condemn Homophobia in SA

August 30, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, August 30, 2012. An historic public meeting took place Thursday between the South African majority party, the ANC and the Gay Flag of South Africa (GFSA) an NPO to condemn recent homophobic violence against the LGBTI community in South Africa, as well as the anti-gay commentary by Traditional leaders who are reviewing … More Gay Flag of South Africa and ANC Hold Historic Public Meeting to Condemn Homophobia in SA

South African Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng Threatens Freedom of Speech

August 29, 2012

“Every South African who is aggrieved about something has the right to say what he wants ..that’s also politicians… but I will not hesitate to confront anybody who actually does something that poses a threat to the independence of the judiciary,”  By Melanie Nathan, August 29, 2012. The socially conservative Chief Justice of the South … More South African Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng Threatens Freedom of Speech