LGBTIQ+ community speak about discrimination at police in eMbalenhle
Attendees said they are afraid to report crimes against them because of fear of stigmatisation.
Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and other gender-diverse communities led by the Rainbow Seed Institute have raised concerns about alleged discrimination and stigmatisation at government institutions, particularly police stations, during the Pride Flag Tour held at the eMbalenhle Sasol Club on August 18.
The Pride Flag Tour is a national campaign aimed at promoting stigma-free and inclusive healthcare for the LGBTIQ+ community.
It brings together government officials, traditional leaders, civil society organisations and healthcare providers to raise awareness, improve access to welcoming services and advocate for human rights.
During the eMbalenhle leg of the tour, community members shared personal experiences in which they alleged that they were ridiculed, questioned or treated unfairly when seeking assistance from government institutions.
One community member alleged that they were sexually assaulted in eMbalenhle several months ago and faced insensitive questioning when they went to the local police station to open a case.
“I was sexually abused here in eMbalenhle months ago and when I went to eMbalenhle Police Station to open a case, a certain officer asked me why I didn’t fight back. His colleague asked me what I was doing in the street at night,” the community member said.
The person claimed that they were not the only member of the LGBTIQ+ community to have experienced sexual violence, alleging that members of the community were particularly vulnerable to attacks during weekends.
“Some of my LGBTIQ+ community members are afraid to report because of fear of stigmatisation,” the person said.
Another member alleged that they were assaulted following an argument and subsequently faced similar treatment when they went to the Bethal police station to report the incident.
The community member also recounted an experience at a Home Affairs office where they alleged that an official questioned their gender and challenged the authenticity of their identity document.
ALSO READ: March and March calls for crackdown on non-compliant spaza shops in eMbalenhle
“These are the kind of problems we are experiencing in most of the government institutions where we need to get help. We want all government departments, including police, to start accepting and recognising us as an LGBTIQ+ community.”
The Pride Flag Tour provides an opportunity for community members to document their concerns and add their signatures to the Pride flag.
The concerns gathered during the tour will form part of preparations for a major Pride Flag Tour event in Cape Town, where the flag is expected to be handed over to ministers from various government departments.
Joy Khumalo, Rainbow Seeds LGBTIQ+ community advocacy officer, said the LGBTIQ+ community should be proud of who they are and ensure that they fight for their rights.
Constable Nomthandazo Masina, a Social Crime Prevention Officer at the eMbalenhle Police Station, assured the community that police services were available to everyone without discrimination.
Masina said the police were guided by the Constitution and encouraged anyone who felt mistreated at the station to escalate the matter to the station commander.
“As police, we are there to serve all communities regardless of their gender, language or belonging. We serve every citizen; you are welcome to raise your concern with our station commander if you were ill-treated by our colleagues at the station because it is a place where you have to feel safe without being discriminated against,” said Masina.
Masina, however, cautioned community members against making false rape allegations, saying police had encountered cases where disputes involving consensual sexual activity and money allegedly resulted in criminal complaints.
“There are some community members who open rape cases because they agree with someone with monetary exchange for sex, and when that deal doesn’t materialise, they open cases not with an intention for justice to be served but to use a case to solicit money from that person,” said Masina.
Masina warned that anyone who deliberately made a false allegation could face criminal consequences. The community’s concerns highlighted the need for government institutions to ensure that LGBTIQ+ people can access public services safely, respectfully and without fear of discrimination.
