Young lesbian woman “stoned to death” in Katlehong
Ruth Chigowe leaves behind a one-year-old daughter The death toll is mounting once again. It’s been reported that a 24-year-old lesbian mom from Zimbabwe was brutally murdered in Gauteng. In a statement, FEW (Forum for the Empowerment of Women) said it first heard of the news of Ruth “Nickki” Chigowe’s death on 27 May.
Her unidentified lifeless body was discovered “stoned to death” in Maphanga section, Katlehong, a large township southeast of Johannesburg.
It was only on 31 May that the organisation was able to confirm Chigowe’s identity. A murder case has been opened at the Katlehong North Police station.
No arrests have yet been made. Zaheeda Munyai from Access Chapter 2 told MambaOnline that Chigowe came to South Africa in 2019. “According to the information I have found from community members, her parents disowned her due to her sexual orientation,” said Munyai. “She then found a job in a tuckshop and started to rent a room at Holomisa.” Munyai revealed that it’s been claimed that two weeks before her body was found, Chigowe and her girlfriend “received homophobic threats from guys around the area wherein they uttered that they both deserve to be raped and killed.” To add to the tragedy, Chigowe leaves behind a one-year-old daughter. “There is an urgent need for a massive intervention in Katlehong,” said an exasperated Munyai. “LGBTI people live in fear they can’t even disclose their relationships in public.” The family is awaiting postmortem results and will need assistance in taking the body back to Zimbabwe to be buried in three to four weeks.
