Returning to the streets of Bethelsdorp, where four months earlier an openly gay Imam was murdered, Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Pride called for urgent safety measures and transparency in the police investigation.
In February, LGBTQIA+ activist and Islamic scholar Imam Muhsin Hendricks was visiting Gqeberha to officiate an interfaith wedding when he was gunned down in Extension 24, Bethelsdorp.
At the time, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) expressed “deep concern” over the killing of the “world’s first openly gay Imam” whose murder was widely shared via social media.
On Saturday July 12, NMB Pride organised a march to highlight not only the violence inflicted against the LGBTQIA+ community but also the fear and alleged threats they face.
According to NMB Pride Public Relations Officer Tash Verwey murder and violence against LGBTQIA+ residents are especially high in informal settlements and townships.
“We feel that the community is targeted, murdered, raped and assaulted and they can’t openly be themselves,” she shared. “People are not open-minded in Gqeberha.”
Commenting on the demands for transparency in the murder investigation of Imam Hendricks, she said it was concerning that there have been no updates on the case.
“We are seeking justice for him and justice for all victims of LGBTQA+ hate crimes,” she said.
In the memorandum, NMB Pride demanded justice for all victims of LGBTQIA+ hate crimes and a description ofemergency support services available to victims ofviolence.
“We demand regularpublic updates onthe investigation’s progress andclear timelines forthecase to reach prosecution,” it stated in the memorandum. “Silence in the face ofthis tragedy underminesjustice andweakens trust in law enforcement.”
NMB Pride is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO) dedicated to advocating for the rights, safety, and dignity of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg commented that the murder investigation is ongoing.
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