4 South African Men Sentenced To 18 Years In Jail For Stabbing & Stoning To Death 19-Year-Old Zoliswa Nkonyana

Cape Town —Human rights activists have welcomed the sentencing of four men who were found guilty of stabbing and stoning a 19-year-old lesbian to death in 2006. Khayelitsha Regional Court magistrate Raadiyah Wathen sentenced Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sicelo Mase, Luyanda Londzi, and Mbulelo Damba to 18 years each, with four years suspended for five years. People Against Suffering, Oppression and Poverty said the sentence sent a loud message against homophobia across Africa.

"The court in Khayelitsha has sent a strong message by finding that the men who killed Ms Nkonyana did so because she was living openly as a lesbian and that this warranted the harshest penalty," it said.

"We hope that this message is heard loud and clear across the rest of the continent, where homophobic discrimination is widespread and where homosexuality is a crime."

The group said it was also working to advocate for the rights of gay and lesbian refugees who had been forced to flee their home countries and were seeking refuge in South Africa.

"Although in many parts of South African society homophobia is still prevalent, today we are proud that South Africa's legal system has upheld our Constitution and has set an example to the rest of Africa to follow."

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