South African Cabinet Condemns "Corrective Rape"

Government Seal

In the most high-level government statement to date, the South African Cabinet has condemned the epidemic of 'corrective rapes' of lesbian women. The message was released at a press conference on Tuesday by government spokesperson Jimmy Manyi after the cabinet meeting.

From News 24:

Cabinet has condemned the practice of "corrective rape" of lesbian women and wants perpetrators prosecuted, government spokesperson Jimmy Manyi said on Thursday.

"Cabinet condemns the senseless and brutal acts of criminality that have been coined 'corrective rape'," he said at a briefing on Cabinet's regular fortnightly meeting.

"Perpetrators who are found guilty will be met with the full might of the law."

Manyi said ministers had received the assurance of the police and justice departments that they would "work very hard" to deal with all violence against women.

He said communities were co-operating with the authorities by reporting cases.

"Society as a whole has been intolerant of these kinds of activities, and they keep getting reported, so I think in partnership with the community at large, police will win (the fight against) this 'corrective rape' scourge."

The Department of Justice task force began work in October to combat violent hate crimes against LGBTI South Africans and includes six people representing the judiciary, police and department of social development and six representatives from the LGBTI community.