The NTT, convened by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, serves as a crucial platform to strengthen coordination between government and civil society in preventing and responding to hate crimes and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).

“This appointment reflects OUT’s long-standing commitment to advancing equality, dignity and justice for LGBTIQ+ communities,” said Dawie Nel, Executive Director of OUT LGBT Well-being. “Sibonelo has demonstrated consistent and principled leadership in their work, combining grassroots understanding with national advocacy. Their appointment signals a continued strengthening of community voice and accountability within the NTT.”

As Human Rights Coordinator, Ncanana-Trower has played a pivotal role in coordinating OUT’s human rights and hate crimes programme, leading national partnerships, and strengthening case-referral mechanisms across provinces. Their work has centred on supporting survivors of hate crimes, building the capacity of community-based organisations, and amplifying the rights of lesbian, bisexual, queer women, transgender and intersex persons in advocacy and policy spaces.

“I’m honoured to serve as Co-Chair,” said Sibonelo Ncanana-Trower. “The NTT must be a living structure that reflects the realities of survivors and communities on the ground. My focus will be on strengthening provincial coordination, ensuring survivor-centred responses, and building collaboration between civil society and state institutions to make equality a lived reality.”

Key Priorities for the NTT under Ncanana-Trower’s Co-Leadership

Survivor-Centred Justice: Strengthening coordination between police, courts, and support services to ensure timely, respectful, and accountable responses.

Provincial Collaboration: Building active, well-supported Provincial Task Teams that work hand in hand with municipalities and CBOs.

Inclusivity: Ensuring trans, intersex, and LBQ voices are fully represented and protected in national responses and policy frameworks.

Data and Accountability: Improving monitoring and reporting systems to inform prevention strategies and government accountability.

Community Empowerment: Resourcing and training grassroots partners to document cases, provide support, and sustain advocacy.

About OUT LGBT Well-being

Founded in 1994, OUT LGBT Well-being is one of South Africa’s longest-standing LGBTIQ+ health and human rights organisations. OUT works to advance the health, well-being, and human rights of LGBTIQ+ people through rights-based services, research, advocacy, and strategic partnerships. OUT’s work includes HIV prevention and treatment programmes, mental-health support, hate-crime response and legal referrals, and national-level policy advocacy.

Media Contact

OUT LGBT Well-being – Human Rights Office

Email: sncanana@out.org.za

WhatsApp: +27663955731

Website: www.out.org.za

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Johannesburg – 14 August 2025 – We, the undersigned queer organisations, are deeply alarmed and frustrated by the continued delays in the prosecution of the “Grindr 7” case (Hillbrow CAS 523/09/2023), in which seven accused are charged with the abduction, brutal assault, and extortion of a young queer person in Johannesburg.

Since the arrest of the seven accused in September 2023, this matter has been repeatedly postponed — with hearings delayed for months due to legal representation issues, procedural backlogs, and administrative inefficiencies. After nearly two years, the case is finally scheduled for trial from 18 August 2025 to 20 August 2025.

This case is not just about one incident. It amplifies the ongoing and deliberate targeting of the LGBTIQ+ community by a well-organised criminal syndicate using dating and social media apps, most commonly Grindr, to lure victims under the guise of romantic or social meetings. Once trapped, victims are subjected to violence, robbery, and in some cases, sexual assault.

The persistence of these attacks over more than a decade reflects not only the brutality of the perpetrators but also the systemic negligence of state institutions that continue to treat violence against queer people as peripheral and non-urgent. Similar patterns and incidents have been reported in other provinces, and, in some cases, the victims have been murdered, with others kidnapped and still missing. Yet there is little evidence of a coordinated effort by law enforcement to investigate and dismantle this network.

In the few instances where cases reach the courts, the drawn-out legal process not only prolongs the trauma of the victim and their loved ones but also emboldens these criminals. Every delay sends a dangerous message: that queer lives are expendable, that crimes against us can be dragged through the courts until they fade from public attention, and that organised violence against our community can continue unchecked.

Such inaction corrodes public trust in the justice system and sends a chilling message that queer lives can be violated without consequence.

We call for:

1. The urgent prioritisation of the Grindr 7 case and an end to unnecessary postponements.
2. A coordinated SAPS investigation across provinces into syndicates targeting queer people through dating apps.
3. The immediate enactment of the Hate Crimes Act to ensure targeted crimes against the LGBTIQ+ community — such as those committed by the Grindr 7 — are recognised, prosecuted, and punished with the seriousness they deserve, alongside adequate protection and psychosocial support for victims.
4. Public awareness campaigns to alert queer communities about these targeted crimes and how to reduce risk while using online platforms.
5. Specialised training for SAPS officers, prosecutors, and court officials on LGBTIQ+ rights, safety, and trauma-informed handling of cases involving targeted violence – including the creation of dedicated liaison officers for queer-related crimes in every province.

Justice delayed is justice denied — and every delay places more queer people at risk. The Grindr 7 trial must be a turning point in dismantling organised violence against our community, and not just another date in a long chain of postponements.

Signed: Access Chapter 2; Forum for the Empowerment of Women; GALA Queer Archive; MambaOnline; OUT LGBT Well-Being; PFSAQ; Wits Activate

For more information: Lwazi Mazibuko: lwazimazibuko@pfsaq.org | 062 541 8360

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This is a necessary decision published by the Commission on the 12 July 2025 that affirms South Africa’s constitutional values of dignity, equality, and freedom of belief — values that must never be compromised. The public opposition to the party’s registration reflects a collective rejection of it’s ideologies that were viewed as being rooted in exclusion, fear, and religious extremism. The proposed adoption of Sharia law (which bases laws, rights and conduct on Islamic religion rather than secular human rights) and the party’s name — disturbingly similar to ISIS/ISIL — raised deep concern, particularly among communities already vulnerable to religious and other violations and marginalization due to being LGBTQIA+.

We are reminded of the recent “LGBTQ not welcome at La Gardi” sign placed by business owners siting religious belief as their bases for excluding queer community members from being served at their store. Additionally, the resulting string of hate crimes in Gqeberha where LGBTQIA+ individuals were targeted with violence allegedly rooted in religious extremism. We also recall the targeted threats and hostile actions against Imam Muhsin Hendricks, a prominent advocate for queer Muslims, whose work in promoting inclusion, compassion, and human dignity has been met with animosity from those seeking to weaponize religion.

OUT stands firmly in the belief that freedom of religion cannot come at the expense of other constitutional rights — especially the rights of women, LGBTQI+ individuals, and religious minorities. South Africa is a secular democracy and political formations that aim to impose religious law on the population violate the very foundations of that democratic state. We urge all South Africans to remain vigilant against rising fundamentalism and to actively defend the rights of all people to live free from violence, hate, and discrimination — regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or belief system.

OUT and it’s constituents applaud and thank the IEC for upholding these shared democratic values for the good of all. The commissions  full statement may also be read for more information by  [clicking here].

The post OUT welcomes the IEC’s Decision to Reject the Registration of the “Islamic State of Africa” Party appeared first on OUT.

This critical renewal—secured through a majority vote—reaffirms the global commitment to uphold the human rights of LGBTIQ+ persons, particularly at a time when anti-rights movements are gaining momentum, and queer and gender-diverse communities are facing intensified threats.

We especially commend the reappointment of South Africa’s own Graeme Reid to this role. As a respected human rights scholar and advocate, Reid’s leadership will continue to shine a spotlight on injustices faced by LGBTIQ+ individuals globally, including in Africa where criminalization, hate crimes, and systemic exclusion persist.

The renewal comes amidst growing efforts by regressive forces to erase our identities, silence our voices, and undermine inclusive international mechanisms. It is therefore not just symbolic—it is strategic. It ensures the continuation of vital work in documenting violations, advocating for accountability, and supporting states in upholding international human rights standards.

We applaud the 29 states who voted in favor of the resolution, including South Africa, and remain deeply concerned by the opposition from several African and Global South countries who continue to use sovereignty as a veil for discrimination. The fight for dignity, recognition, and justice is not a Western agenda—it is a universal human rights imperative.

OUT reaffirms our support for the Independent Expert and stands in solidarity with civil society movements across the world who mobilized for this renewal.

We call on all governments, including our own, to engage constructively with the mandate and ensure its recommendations are translated into local laws, policies, and protections.

Together, let us continue to build a world where no one is left behind—regardless of who they are or whom they love.

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