The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual plus (LGBTQIA+) community in Kimberley in the Northern Cape believes the gruesome killing of a 34-year-old lesbian woman was a hate crime.
Three men had allegedly raped her before dousing her with paraffin and setting her alight.
Tawanyana’s friends who are also part of the LGBTQI community say only people who are consumed by hatred can commit such a crime.
“It something that’s unexpected for such a young soul. It’s hard to come to terms with the nature of how she died, especially as the country is crying out to stop gender based violence.”
“We fighting for she’s not fighting anymore. We are the ones who are going to be fighting for her now. I’m standing up proud and saying, I’m a butch lesbian woman who’s fighting for my rights.”
Seeking justice
Family and Friends of a lesbian woman who was brutally murdered in Kimberley last week are seeking justice and want the perpetrators behind bars.
34-year-old Tankisho Tawanyana is being laid to rest today after she was raped and killed allegedly by three men.
The men allegedly raped her before dousing her with paraffin and setting her alight.
Her loved ones say they want the law to speed-up investigations.
Her brother, Palesa Musa, says the horrendous death has left them in pain.
“It is something that’s unexpected for such a young soul. It’s hard to come to terms to terms with the nature of how she died, especially as the country is crying out to stop gender based violence.”
Search under way for three men who allegedly raped and set a Kimberly woman alight
