South Africa: LGBTI People in Yeoville Morn the Killing of Daisy Dube, an Open Drag Queen

southern africa | gender | non-anarchist press Thursday June 12, 2008 16:36 by Lesbian and Gay Equality Project phumi at equality dot org dot za

On the evening of 2 June 2008, five close friends, four proudly self identifying as Drag Queens, went for an outing in Yeoville. Confronted by homophobic hate speech, they challenged three men to stop calling them “izitabane”.

Shortly after 9pm, one of the three men, sitting in a white Corolla, handed a gun to the other friend to “shoot lezitabane”. Twenty five year old Desmond Dube, fondly known as Daisy, died on the scene.

Close friend, Odwa Mbane, who was at the scene described the fear and chaos caused by the assassins. She affirms that the motivation was because of their gender identity and that they were not going to subject themselves to ridicule.

MaNonstikeleo Dube describes her daughter’s pride for who she was, her love for her, sense of responsibility and her great loss of a daughter who had carried her needs and dreams to the day she was brutally murdered.

Daisy Dube was buried at the Thembisa cemetery, following a moving service in Yeoville, attended by many members of the LGBTI community from around Johannesburg.

The family and friends would like to see justice being done for Daisy and the return of a crime-less and peaceful Yeoville. The Yeoville Police have opened a case [number 45/06/2008] and are investigating the matter.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the CID on 011 487 3971. LGBTI activists are concerned at the increasing levels of homophobic attacks, leading to murders against its community. Together with communities, they will intensify the campaign to end hate against LGBTI people.