Thandiswa is a 22 year old lesbian from Meadowlands in Soweto. She was in the closet for many years until she met Sandra, her soul mate.

When the people from the community found out about her lifestyle they didn’t accept it at all. Everywhere she went they called her all sorts of insulting names and said that she is committing a sin. It really got to her, and she didn’t even get out of the house because she didn’t want to hear any more of the nasty comments.

Things were getting out of hand, and some guys were threatening to kill her if she continued with the so called taboo that she had been living.

“Babe, let’s go to the police station and report those guys,” Sandra said.

“I can’t Sandy. I will not be taken seriously. You know that people think that we are committing a sin,” she said, but Sandra begged her until she agreed.

The next day she woke up and went to the police station. That’s where she met sergeant Moloi. She was a rude woman who didn’t want to hear about gays and lesbians.

“Good morning ma’am.” She said.

“Yes, how can I help you?” Sergeant Moloi said.

“I want to report some guys from my township. They are threatening my life” Thandi said.

“Tell me about the circumstances that led to those threats.” She said.

“They said that if I don’t change my lifestyle they will kill me.” she said.

“Lifestyle?” asked sergeant Moloi.

“See… I am a lesbian.” she said, and sergeant Moloi’s facial expression changed.

“In that case you are to blame. You have a demon. It’s a taboo. Do you expect people to sit back and watch you live a sin and send yourself straight to hell?” she said, and Thandiswa just stormed out of the station because she had anger issues.

She went home and told Sandra what happened. When Sandra told her to report sergeant Moloi she refused.

“I don’t want anything to do with the police,” she said. She was miserable for a few days. One night when she was coming from the shop, the guys were behind her. They pulled her to a nearby veld. She tried fighting them, but they were too strong. They raped her and stabbed her to death.

Sandy was worried, and in the early hours of the morning the police came knocking on her door. They told her that Thandi’s body was found on the veld, and it looked like she was raped and to stabbed. She struggled to come to terms with what happened.

After the funeral she went to report sergeant Moloi in the police department. She and the guys were arrested and given long sentences.
All this happened because Thandiswa’s right to safety and security was ignored. If sergeant Moloi had done her job, which is to protect people’s rights, this wouldn’t have happened.