By Melanie Nathan, September 22, 2015. The LGBTI community in Southern Africa is mourning the passing of a friend and comrade, trans activist Comrade Xolile Sane ‘Malume’ Mabuza. As the director of Rock of Hope, Malume fought courageously for the rights of LGBTI people, not only in his home country Swaziland but also across the … More Mourning Trans Activist Malume
By Melanie Nathan, September, 18, 2015. Dr. Zander Barnard, a Mr. Gay South Africa 2015 finalist and a well known doctor from Cape Town, has passed away at his home at the age of 32. According to a report at Mamba Online, Dr. Barnard graduated with an MBChB from the University of Stellenbosch and specialized … More Mr Gay South Africa 2015 Finalist Dies
Sitting in the dock, shackled in chains, a murdering rapist awaits his fate. By Melanie Nathan, July 31, 2015. Thabo Molefe, 47, has been sentenced to a concurrent 22 years for murder and 12 years for raping Lihle Sokhela, 28, a lesbian from Daveyton, Gauteng, South Africa. A large group of lesbians and supporters descended … More See Shackled Rapist Murderer of South African Lesbian as Judge announces Sentence
By Melanie Nathan, July 22, 2015. After sloppy police work, as alleged by the organization IRANTI, the trial against Thabo Molefe, charged with the murder of Thembelihle Sokhela, a lesbian from Daveyton, will finally be heard at the Pretoria High Court on Monday July 27. Lihle was a 28-year old lesbian from Daveyton, murdered on … More Trial to Commence as Justice sought in rape and murder of South African Lesbian
By Melanie Nathan, July 16, 2015. Back in April 2013, the reporting of a very special wedding story went viral as a young South African same-sex couple from Zulu and Sotho traditions held a traditional wedding ceremony to celebrate their marriage. Now, 2 years later, it is with sadness that one of the couple is … More Historic Traditional Zulu Marriage Ending in Divorce
June 17, 2015, Posted By Melanie Nathan. Gateway Health Institute Receives Grand Challenges Explorations Grant for Groundbreaking Research in Global Health and Development Pretoria – Gateway Health Institute announced today that it is a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Coenie Louw will pursue an innovative … More South African Doctor Winner of Grand Challenges Explorations
Crucial tool for lobbying to misinformed African politicians June 11, 2015, by Melanie Nathan This month by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) countering the notions that underpin homophobia and the criminalization of LGBTI people in Africa and the impact on HIV. Eleven respected experts, mostly academic scientists based in South Africa, authored … More Breakthrough African Academic Report Shows Basis for Anti-Homosexuality Laws Fail Science
Posted by Melanie Nathan, April 21, 2015. Protests calling for the South African people and government to bring an end to xenophobic attacks, riots and murders are taking place around the world. The African LGBTI group Out and Proud Diamond Group, (OPDG) based in London, organized a protest in London at the South African High … More Calls to End Xenophobia by LGBT Group Protesting South African Embassy in London
Raymond Buys starved and tortured murdered by de Koker, on his death bed … More South African Reparative Camp Killer Gets 25 Years
Xenophobia a Scourge and Scapegoat felt by all immigrants also impacting LGBT refugees By Melanie Nathan, April 17, 2015. The sordid side of South Africa, reared its ugly head this past week, as Xenophobic mobs attacked foreigners and immigrants, causing at least 5 deaths in the Durban area. This brewing inferno, which spread to other … More Xenophobic Mayhem and Murder may make South Africa a Skunk Nation yet again
See Video: South African Jews Recite Mourners Kaddish for Mandela By Melanie Nathan, March 13, 2015. When Mandela died the most pious of South African Jews and the most secular of South African Jews all mourned – we had lost Tata Madiba, the man who had brought freedom for all, to South Africa. President Jacob … More Pro Palestinian BDS Betrays South African Constitution and Mandela Legacy
The BDS movement is clearly now a tool for anti-Semitism By Melanie Nathan, March 12, 2015. Threatening to kill South African Jews is surely not the South Africa Mandela would have endorsed. Unfortunately the BDS movement in South Africa is causing anti-Semitic terror. Reports have emerged from Johannesburg, that Protesters chanted anti-Semitic slogans and threatened … More BDS Protest Triggers Calls to Kill South African Jews
Alex de Koker and Michael Erasmus were found guilty of murder, child abuse and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, by the Vereeniging Regional Court in South Africa, today. By Melanie Nathan, February 27, 2015. Finally, after years of uncertainty and trial, Alex de Koker and his henchman Michael Erasmus were found guilty … More Justice as Game Ranger in Anti-Gay “Man Up” Camp Found Guilty of Murder
By Melanie Nathan, February 12, 2015. Two men involved in the murder of Professor Carl Mischke turned on each other in court, with each blaming the other for the beating that claimed the University of Johannesburg academic’s life, during an apparent robbery. At the time of the murder it was speculated that the Professor was … More Johannesburg Gay Murder Trial Accused Expresses Backhanded Remorse
The guise of so called “corrective” rape against lesbians are hate attacks by men who believe woman are there for their use! By Melanie Nathan, January 28, 2015. The trial of two men accused of raping a lesbian, to supposedly “correct” her sexual orientation commenced in the South African city of Port Elizabeth, Wednesday. The … More South Africa Trial of 2 Men Accused of Raping Lesbian
Welcome Home Junior! By Melanie Nathan, December 16, 2014. I first met Junior Mayema back in 2011 when I was invited to keynote speak at Cape Town Pride’s Pink Gala in South Africa. At the time Junior, approached me along the Pride parade route. He told me that he was an LGBTI refugee from the … More From Congo to Castro UNHCR Resettles Persecuted LGBTI Activist in the U.S.A.
Poignant Art Exhibition Honoring Mandela Opens on Anniversary of His Death Posted By Melanie Nathan, Dec 05, 2014. On the one-year anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s death, an exhibition curated by Natalie Knight featuring works created after Mandela’s passing on 5 December 2013, will be launched at Stephan Welz & Co. in Johannesburg. We Love Mandela: … More Art In Memory of Mandela
People are speculating about corruption and ineptitude in the South African Embassy in Uganda | Why is High Commissioner seat in Uganda Vacant? By Melanie Nathan, November 17, 2014. Following the story in South African press that Jon Qwelane is back in Court, I noted terminology referring to Mr. Qwelane as the “former high commissioner” … More Jon Qwelane No Longer High Commissioner to Uganda
Twenty years of democracy, one of the most magnificent countries in the world, is there hope? By Melanie Nathan, November 12, 2104. Below is a mere smattering of examples of recent Hijackings in South Africa. This horrific criminal behavior has been going on for the past 20 years, since the end of Apartheid. One can … More South African Scourge Heightens with Child dragged to Death in Hijacking
Willing to die rather than live without authentic identity By Melanie Nathan, October 09, 2014. Nadia Swanepoel from Gauteng South Africa is willing to die rather than to be forced to continue to live with the legal identification of a man. Swanepeol began transitioning to a woman over four years ago, has started a hunger … More Trans Woman Hunger Strike as South Africa refuses to Change Identity
By Melanie Nathan, Oct 08, 2014. The beauty of Soweto Pride could not be better expressed than through the endless photographs displayed on the Inkanyiso website. What better a way than steeped in Pride, to further the celebration of 20 years of democracy in South Africa. One feels the hope in the beauty, love and smiles, … More The Beauty of Soweto Pride
By Melanie Nathan, October 03, 2014. The Supreme Court of Appeals in Bloemfontein, South Africa, has dismissed an appeal by the Methodist minister who had been fired for marrying her same-sex partner. The Court ruled that courts should not be expected to decide on internal religious matters. Back in March 2011, I was invited to … More South African Appeals Court Rejects Fired Methodist Lesbian’s Appeal
By Melanie Nathan, September 23, 2014. I participated in this forum back in May, in South Africa, as a panel speaker with Justice Edwin Cameron, on the issue of homophobia in Africa and its impact on key populations, and was also panel chair. Here is, with thanks to SAfAIDS, the Boksburg Communiqué on the Tweet@ble … More Boksburg Communiqué Report on SRHR and HIV/AIDS Services for Key Populations In ESA
Our friends in South Africa are tackling this issue with concern. Here are 2 reports which can be fully read on their respective sites: GROUPS SAY SA GOV MUST BACK UN LGBTI RESOLUTION Updated – South Africa did support the Resolution – See http://oblogdeeoblogda.me/2014/09/26/united-nations-hrc-passes-resolution-condemning-lgbt-discrimination/ posted by Luiz DeBarros | September 24, 2014 | Human rights … More South Africans Concerned About Government Supporting LGBT in UN Resolution
By Melanie Nathan, August 18, 2014. According to sources in South Africa and media reports another South African woman has been raped and brutally murdered in what appears to be another lesbian “corrective” rape, torture and murder. The half naked body of Gift Disebo Makau was discovered in the Tshing Township, in Ventersdorp, in the … More Horrific Brutal Murder of South African Lesbian
Over 10,000 turn out for South African Rally to Support Israel Posted by Melanie Nathan, Aug 05, 104. Johannesburg – Aug 04- 2014. On Sunday, more than 12,000 South Africans, representing a broad spectrum of society, came together to stand united in solidarity with Israel, while condemning the use of terror by Hamas against the citizens of … More South African Rally for Israel Speaks Peace in Face of Years of Rising Anti-Semitism
By Melanie Nathan, July 14, 2014. It is with much sadness that I note the passing of South African literary giant and Nobel laureate, Nadine Gordimer. The news was made public today by a spokesperson at the law firm Edward Nathan Sonnenberg, Johannesburg. A statement released through the firm by her family confirmed that … More South Africa Mourns as Literary Giant Dies
An Embarrassment to Zuma By Melanie Nathan, May 14, 2014. Armed robbers boarded a tour bus and robbed 30 American students at gun point in Pretoria, South Africa. The students, from a Maryland university, on a trip to South Africa will return home early. No one was injured during the robbery according to Stevenson University. … More Thirty Maryland Students Robbed at Gunpoint in South Africa on Tour Bus
By Melanie Nathan, May 12, 2014. South African world champion athlete and Olympic silver medallist, Caster Semenya, is marrying her fellow athlete, Violet Raseboya. Following her victory at the 2009 World Championships, Semenya had been subjected to gender testing. She was then withdrawn from international competition until 6 July 2010 when the IAAF cleared her … More Gender Controversial South African Olympian Caster Semenya to Marry Girlfriend
By Melanie Nathan, May 04, 2014. It reminds me largely of the “old” pre-Apartheid South Africa: — Township – a filthy dumping ground languishing in stark contrast to nearby spotless suburbs – no services- the stench of poverty – and then the ultimate reminder THE large police presence – challenging – the obnoxious scent of … More Police Descend on Bekkersdal The ANC Embarrassment
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