Swift Gasa case conviction shows justice for some: iLIVE

25 April 2013 - 15:58 By Lizelle Bright
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
A memorial service for businessman Nhlanhla Gasa held in the Anglican Church in Durban. From left are Nhlanhla's ex-wife Sne, his son Andile, Sne's sister Joyce, daughters Noni and Mbali, Mbali's husband, former South African Airways CEO Khaya Ngqula, and his son Mpumelelo. File photo.
A memorial service for businessman Nhlanhla Gasa held in the Anglican Church in Durban. From left are Nhlanhla's ex-wife Sne, his son Andile, Sne's sister Joyce, daughters Noni and Mbali, Mbali's husband, former South African Airways CEO Khaya Ngqula, and his son Mpumelelo. File photo.
Image: THULI DLAMINI

Whilst it is commendable that the justice system has managed to fast-track sentencing to just under a month in the Gasa murder, it is terribly sad for those victims’ families who do not have friends in high places, as justice still is a distant prospect for them; wondering if their loved one’s murderer/s will ever face justice.

There have been nine gay murders in Gauteng since late 2010, all with similar modus operandi and none of their murderers have been sentenced to date.

In some instances families are ‘ashamed’ and keep quiet, and it is this very silence that encourages these hate crimes as the victims were/are being extorted.

Once society accepts the truth that being gay is not a choice and are open about it, I believe hate crimes like this could come to an end.

In the meanwhile, those less influential victims’ loved ones will have to wait to see justice done before they can find closure.

As to the comment by Bonga Mthembu in ‘Swift justice against poor blacks’, the writer suggests that it is because the ‘poor’ killer is black that justice was served so swiftly; this is so far from the truth and way off the mark!

The fact that the victim was influential and had friends in high places, is the reason there was swift justice and not because the killer is a poor black as the writer suggests!

In one of the Gauteng gay murder cases, where three black men have admitted guilt to killing a white man, there certainly has been no swift justice for that family.

Bringing race into this is so very misplaced and not the way South Africans should be thinking today.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now