OUT LGBT Well-being launched its We Remember campaign at Saturday’s Johannesburg Pride march, aiming to raise awareness of the disturbing number of deadly attacks against LGBTIQ+ people in South Africa this year.
The organisation created a series of placards, each honouring one of the 13 known individuals brutally murdered in suspected hate crimes in 2024. The posters, boldly displayed during the parade, feature a photo of each victim along with their name, age, and details of their death.
“While many people attend Johannesburg Pride to celebrate LGBTIQ+ inclusion and freedoms, we wanted to add a sobering reminder that LGBTIQ+ individuals continue to be targeted because of who they love or how they identify,” says Sibonelo Ncanana, OUT’s Civil Society Engagement Officer.
“LGBTIQ+ South Africans in rural or less developed areas are especially vulnerable to hate crimes. We wanted to remind the public that each victim was a person with a life, friends, family, and loved ones. They should not be forgotten amidst the rainbow flags, extravagant outfits, and party atmosphere of Pride,” he adds.
The pink We Remember placards were highly visible at the front of the 26 October, 2024 march through Sandton’s streets and were also dispersed throughout the procession, creating a powerful impact on participants, onlookers and members of the media.
These posters will be displayed at other upcoming LGBTIQ+ events, such as the planned Eastern Cape Provincial Pride. The campaign will also continue online, with a weekly tribute to each victim shared on OUT’s social media platforms.
The following LGBTIQ+ individuals were murdered in South Africa in 2024. We remember their names:
- 14 September 2024: Queer couple Siyasanga Mabulu, 39, and Abongile Mani, 23, were shot and killed at a tavern in Khayamnandi, Gqeberha, by a group of men. It appears no one else was targeted in the shooting. Siyasanga was a beloved local soccer coach.
- 7 September 2024: The decomposing body of 50-year-old Lazarus Ikaneng Thomas, affectionately known as “Pankie,” was discovered in his locked shack in Galeshewe township, Kimberley, with signs that he may have been strangled. He was last seen alive two weeks earlier.
- 1 September 2024: Sipho Mahlinza, 27, was with his partner in his car in Kwazakhele, Gqeberha, when they were confronted by a group of men who demanded a lift. When Sipho refused, the men reportedly used anti-gay slurs before shooting him. Sipho died in his partner’s arms.
- 1 September 2024: The body of Nokuthula Veronica Bottoman, a 35-year-old lesbian, was found in KwaNobuhle township, Kariega, with stab wounds. Reports indicate she may also have been raped. Her family only learned of her death through a social media post.
- 27 August 2024: Lesbian couple Nombulelo Bhixa, 28, and Minenhle Ngcobo, 22, were allegedly shot in the head by Ngcobo’s jealous ex-boyfriend in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg.
- 18 August 2024: Xolani Xaka, a 32-year-old gay man from Zwide, Gqeberha, was fatally stabbed outside his home by unknown assailants. Xolani was a client of OUT’s Engage Men’s Health project, which provides sexual health services to men who have sex with men (MSM).
- 10 August 2024: Clement Hadebe, a 22-year-old transgender woman, was shot dead in Johannesburg while walking home with friends. Her murder sparked a wave of victim-blaming on social media.
- 17 June 2024: Neliseka “Nelly” Xeke, a 28-year-old lesbian, was found with severe wounds near a tavern in Motherwell, Nelson Mandela Bay. She was reportedly killed after intervening in a domestic dispute.
- 1 June 2024: Karabelo Pudumo, an 18-year-old transgender high school student from the Northern Cape, was stabbed over 20 times in a suspected hate crime in Kimberley.
- 14 May 2024: Jo-Ann Isaks, a 27-year-old transgender woman, was found by a family member in a burning room in Paballelo, Upington, with multiple stab wounds.
- 3 February 2024: Diego Jacobs, 21, a gay man, was stabbed to death while walking home with friends in Delft, Cape Town. His alleged killer had reportedly harassed him previously due to his queer identity.
About OUT LGBT Well-being
OUT LGBT Well-being is a registered NPO recognised internationally for providing high-quality HIV and other health and empowerment services to gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSM) communities.
Founded in 1994 and one of the longest-running LGBTIQ+ organisations in South Africa, we advocate for LGBTIQ+ equality and human rights and work to eradicate stigma, discrimination, and hate crimes.
OUT’s Engage Men’s Health project is funded by USAID through PEPFAR to provide HIV and related health services to MSM in Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City.