Secunda transgender woman crippled in attack, blames transphobia
She was allegedly attacked twice by the same man, resulting in a criminal case and her having to get an operation on her left leg.
Emmah Skhosana has been crippled in what she believes to be a transphobic hate crime after she went to confront a man about her girlfriend. The 39-year-old woman from Extension 22 in eMbalenhle outside Secunda struggles to use her left leg since the attack in August last year.
Skhosana, who is transgender, has been in a same-sex relationship for the past five years with a woman she had met in KwaZulu-Natal.
“We decided to live together until we get married,” she says.
However, the relationship went through a rough patch in 2021 and 2022 when her girlfriend had an affair with a man which led to two attacks on Skhosana.
“I began to notice that something was not right. When I found out what was going on, I approached the man. I wanted to explain to him that I am unhappy because he took my girlfriend,” says Skhosana.
The man did not take well to the confrontation. He allegedly assaulted her with knobkierie in June 2021, inflicting injuries on her face.
Skhosana’s partner finally broke off the affair after the same man allegedly again attacked Skhosana in August last year. This time he reportedly used a golf club, severely beating her.
Her injuries were so severe that she needed to get an operation on her left leg.
Her assailant was arrested and released on bail. The case is still pending.
Skhosana feels that men are undermining the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community.
“We are often the victims of abuse and cannot defend ourselves against their strength.”
She claims discrimination is still rife and a lot needs to be done to educate the eMbalenhle residents on the LGBTQ community. She also warned members of the LGBTQ community not to date a man and a woman at the same time.
“This can lead to you being either injured or killed.”
Skhosana and her partner are still together.
The partner, who wants to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, told the Ridge Times that she regrets her affair.
“It breaks my heart to see what he had done to Emmah because of me. I wish I could reverse it,” she says.
Constable Busi Mthethwa, the eMbalenhle police spokesperson, confirmed a case of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm was opened at the eMbalenlhe Police Station in August.
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