Upon taking office as President, Jacob Zuma swore an  oath which included an undertaking to “obey, observe, uphold and maintain the constitution and all other law of the republic”. 

He also pledged to “protect and promote the rights of all South Africans” and to “do justice to all”.

In terms of the Constitution and South African law it is illegal  to discriminate against people on the basis of sexual orientation.

Yet there appears to be a marked increase in physical attacks  on   black African lesbians. Often this includes the bizarre concept of “corrective rape”, where the perpetrators imagine that a woman will change her preference after she has been subdued by a gang of violent men.

In the latest assault, a young woman in Crossroads, near Cape Town, was stabbed on Friday night.

     The incident brings into focus today’s meeting between gay and lesbian activists and the Justice Department, who will seek ways to combat the scourge.

Any such attempt would be massively boosted by a few words from Zuma condemning the attacks. Is he man enough?