Lesbians living in South Africa are being raped by men who believe it will 'cure' them of their sexual orientation, a report has revealed.
Women are reporting a rising tide of brutal homophobic attacks and murders and the widespread use of 'corrective' rape as a form of punishment. The report, commissioned by international NGO ActionAid, called for South Africa's criminal justice system to recognize the rapes as hate crimes as police are reportedly failing to take action over the escalating violence.
The extent of the brutality became clear when Eudy Simelane, former star of South Africa's national female football squad, became one of the victims last April. Simelane, one of the first women to live openly as a lesbian and an equality rights campaigner, was gang-raped and beaten before being stabbed to death 25 times in the face, chest and legs.
A statement released by South Africa's national prosecuting authority said: "While hate crimes – especially of a sexual nature – are rife, it is not something that the South African government has prioritized as a specific project."
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