A 22-year-old crossdresser identified as Syabonga Clement Hadebe, has been br¥tally m3rdered by unknown assailants in South Africa.
According to reports, Hadebe was sh+t nine times while walking home in Malvern, Johannesburg.
His lif+less body was found by the police with multiple g¥sh+t wo¥nds on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
Cartridges were found on the scene, and Clement was declared d3ad.
Women For Change advocacy group in a statement on Saturday, August 24, said the deceased identified as a trans woman and had recently started transitioning.
Local media reports indicate Hadebe, who is from KwaZulu-Natal province, was at a popular outing area in Johannesburg on the night of August 9 with a friend when they began to interact with the alleged male sh+oter who was showing interest in them, especially Hadebe.
It was reported that before they decided to leave with the alleged sh+oter, Hadebe’s friend asked him to disclose he was a gay crossdresser but he did not follow his friend’s advice.
They however left with the alleged sh+oter, who didn’t want to go with Hadebe’s friend to the B&B. The friend was later dropped off, and Hadebe and the alleged sh+oter were left alone.
Sibonelo Ncanana, civil society engagement officer for OUT LGBT Well-being, an LGBTQ advocacy group, in a statement, said the organization “is appalled by the m¥rder of Clement as well as the queerphobic victim-blaming sensationalism surrounding his d3ath.
Victim-blaming is never acceptable. The notion that LGBTIQ+ people are hiding who they are when they are simply being themselves is deeply concerning. Our identity is not something that requires disclosure.”
Ncanana said OUT LGBT Well-being will closely follow the investigation into the murder and called upon law enforcement officials to ensure there is justice for Hadebe.
