Man accused of raping South African lesbian
A South African man has gone on trial accused of raping a lesbian to “turn her into a woman”.
Andile Ngcoza, 43, of Gugulethu, is accused of dragging the 30-year-old woman into his shack and beating and repeatedly raping her, the South African Independent reports.
The alleged attack took place on Friday evening and Ngcoza appeared in court today on charges of rape, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and kidnapping.
Ngcoza’s alleged victim said she had known him for years and had smoked a cigarette with him on the evening on the attack.
He then allegedly pulled her into his shack and locked the door before beating and raping her.
Neighbours heard noise coming from the shack and kicked the door down to rescue the victim.
The alleged victim, who is openly gay, said Ngcoza threatened to kill her and said he would make her pregnant to “show” her she was a woman.
The case’s prosecutor, Nazley January, asked for the case to be postponed until April 13th because there was not enough information for a bail application.
A report released in March 2009 suggested that there was a rise in ‘corrective rapes’ and assaults on lesbians in South Africa.
Charity ActionAid said women in Johannesburg and Cape Town were suffering an increase in homophobic attacks and sexual assaults which are seen as a form of punishment or “cure”.
Figures suggest there are an estimated 500,000 rapes in South Africa every year and for every 25 men accused of rape in the country, 24 walk free.
