17 March 2025 – OUT LGBT Well-Being strongly condemns all forms of sexual violence and abuse, particularly crimes committed against children. Perpetrators must be held fully accountable for their actions. However, we are deeply concerned by the recent statement issued by the ANC Youth League in KwaZulu-Natal (ANCYL KZN), which unnecessarily highlighted an alleged perpetrator’s sexual orientation.
In a statement issued on 11 March 2025, the ANCYL KZN stated: “It has come to our attention that a member of the LGBTQIA+ community has been arrested following allegations of raping the child since 2022.”
Sexual violence is a crime that must be addressed with the seriousness it deserves, regardless of the identity of the suspect or perpetrator. By framing this heinous act in terms of the individual’s sexual orientation, the ANCYL KZN is not only distracting from the crime itself but also fuelling harmful narratives that contribute to the victimisation of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly lesbian women, who already face disproportionate levels of violent hate crimes in South Africa.
This kind of rhetoric is dangerous. It reinforces stereotypes that falsely portray LGBTQ+ people as predatory—a misconception that has long been used to justify discrimination and violence. In a country where LGBTQ+ individuals, especially black lesbian women, continue to be subjected to brutal attacks, including so-called “corrective rape” and murder, such statements can further incite hatred and violence against an already marginalised community.
Given the ANC’s history in fighting against racial discrimination and oppression, the organisation should know better than to engage in profiling based on sexual orientation. South Africa’s history has shown the devastating consequences of labelling and profiling individuals based on race, gender, or sexuality.
The ANC has long advocated for a non-discriminatory society, and as such, its youth structures must be held to the same standard. Targeting individuals based on their identity, rather than addressing the crime itself, undermines the struggle for equality and justice.
It is also deeply concerning that the same stance was taken by the KZN LGBTIQ+ Sector under SANAC, a structure meant to protect and advocate for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. Such an approach not only legitimises harmful stereotypes but also weakens the fight against the ongoing crisis of violence faced by queer people, particularly lesbian women.
LGBTQ+ advocacy bodies should be at the forefront of challenging harmful narratives, not reinforcing them. We expect better from structures tasked with ensuring the dignity, safety, and inclusion of queer individuals in South Africa.
OUT LGBT Well-Being urges all political and social leaders, as well as LGBTQ+ advocacy structures, to exercise responsibility in their public messaging and to avoid language that endangers vulnerable groups. We call on the ANC Youth League in KZN and the KZN LGBTIQ+ Sector under SANAC to retract or amend their statements, ensuring that the focus remains on justice for the survivor and accountability for the alleged perpetrator, rather than fuelling prejudice.
We remain committed to advocating for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ individuals and call for an end to violence and discrimination in all its forms.