Mourners pay tribute to Pinky Shongwe
The Gcilima resident was stabbed to death in Umlazi two weeks ago.
Scores of mourners bid farewell to Pinky Shongwe (32) who was stabbed to death two weeks ago, allegedly by a man she had rejected after he ‘proposed love’.
Shongwe identified as lesbian.
According to her sister, Khethiwe Shongwe the incident occurred after she had visited another sister who had a party at her residence in Umlazi near Durban.
“Pinky went out to buy liquor. She met a man who tried to ‘propose love’ but she told him that she was not interested in men as she was dating women. It is alleged the man took out a knife and stabbed her,” said Khethiwe.
Pinky was buried at her residence at Gcilima location near Margate last Sunday.
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality Mayor Skhumbuzo ‘Zero’ Mqadi, and ward 7 and 9 councillors Nkululeko Mbuyisa and Sinqobile Mngomezulu joined the mourners.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community came out enmasse to pay tribute to Shongwe and called on society to accept them as they are, to stop discriminating against them and not to subject them to harassment and violence.
Mayor Mqadi urged law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in finding the perpetrator responsible for taking Shongwe’s life.
He also pleaded to people to respect other’s choices and to keep in mind that lesbians and gays enjoyed legal protection in the country’s Constitution. He lauded the Gcilima community for being tolerant and accepting gays and lesbians in the rural village.
The family urged the police to do their job and ensure the killer was arrested and prosecuted for taking the life of their beloved child.
Several speakers described Shongwe as a people’s person, down-to-earth who oozed love and empathy and who would not even harm a fly. She was also hailed for her great football skills which saw her chosen to play for the regional side.
Her friend, Thulaz Mthuli said Shongwe was there for her when she was ostracised by her own family for being lesbian. She said Shongwe embodied care and love.
Mourners vowed that Shongwe’s name would never be forgotten, and that her death would be used as a rallying point to intensify the struggle for the acceptance of gays and lesbians.
They called on government to expedite efforts aimed at defending and protecting the rights of the LGBTI community.
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