The Equality Court is set to hear the case of a transgender Mpumalanga woman who was assaulted and discriminated against after she was “outed” by members of her church. The woman, named only as Ndlovu, was a member of the International Pentecost Holiness Church from 2013.
She chose to not disclose her gender identity but in August 2015 a church member who suspected or perceived that Ndlovu was transgender informed others in the church.
Two church members are alleged to have then sexually assaulted Ndlovu to prove that she was born biologically male. She was forced to undress under duress, undermining her bodily integrity, autonomy, self-determination and right to privacy.