Association
LGBTQI+ hate crimes continue to be reported
LGBTQI+ people continue to be targeted in suspected hate crimes motivated by homophobia.
In Bonteheuwel, Cape Town, the body of queer activist Linten Jutzen, aka Linda Sharapova, was discovered on 21st April 2025 in a garbage bin near a school. Although the cause of death remains unclear and no visible injuries were noted, the degrading way the body was discarded sparked concerns of a targeted hate crime against the LGBTQI+ community. A protest was held on 28th April 2025 in support of Jutzen’s family and the LGBTQI+ community.
Similarly, in an apparent targeted homophobic assault in Port St Johns, Eastern Cape, Qhawe Ndabeni, a young openly gay man, was also viciously attacked in May 2025 by a group of peers after being accused of “teaching their kids gay behaviour.” During the assault he was beaten, kidnapped, threatened with death and forcibly thrown from a moving vehicle.
Civil society organisations condemn these violent incidents, collectively referred to as hate crimes, and called for more resources to combat these social ills and stronger protection against violence targeting LGBTQI+ people, emphasizing the urgent need for safety and justice.
Shooting of whistleblower sparks calls for protection reforms
On 7th March 2025, Pamela Mabini, a community activist and whistleblower in Gqeberha's KwaZakhele township, was shot and killed outside her home. She was the founder of the Maro Foundation and had been instrumental in supporting survivors and advancing the high-profile Timothy Omotoso trial for rape, trafficking and racketeering.
Her death prompted a strong response from Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi who condemned the killing and urged a thorough investigation into her murder. She also announced plans to strengthen legal protections for witnesses and whistleblowers. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) echoed these concerns, highlighting the recurring risk faced by whistleblowers and the need to hold the SA Police Service (SAPS) accountable under the Protected Disclosures Act.
On 6th February 2025 in his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged to finalise a comprehensive Whistleblower Protection Bill within the current financial year.
Community leader murdered after leading protest
On 20th February 2025, 59-year-old Vusi Banda, the chairperson of the Mondlo Township Civic Organisation, was shot and killed at his home in KwaZulu-Natal.
Banda had led a protest from Mondlo to the Abagulusi Municipal Offices demanding better service delivery including electricity, sanitation, street lights as well as Mondlo's removal from the municipality’s jurisdiction. The circumstances indicate the shooter forced entry, killed Banda and fled toward Mondlo shopping centre. A member of the civic organisation who wished to remain anonymous highlighted that "we were aware of hearsay that a local nkabi (hitman) threatened to shoot him down”. Banda was a respected community leader, passionate about empowering residents and defending constitutional rights.
Peaceful Assembly
Five arrested after violent protest at Loftus Stadium
On 11th May 2025 during the 2025 African Cup of Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier between Bafana Bafana and Malawi at Loftus Stadium in Pretoria, a group of approximately 150 Red Card Israel activists peacefully protested against Israeli apartheid and the human rights abuses against Palestine by displaying T-shirts and banners calling for the exclusion of Israeli sports teams from international competitions. Police responded aggressively, manhandling and pepper-spraying the protesters and seizing their materials.
The situation escalated when some protesters allegedly threw objects at officers, prompting a forceful response involving police and even military deployment to restore order. Five men (Loftus 5) including a 16-year-old were arrested and charged with public violence, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property.
The suspects appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on 12th May 2025. Notably, unlike typical practice in peaceful protest cases, all five were denied bail, with four detained at Kgosi Mampuru prison and the teenager held at Shosanguve Prison. Their bail hearing was scheduled for 19th May 2025.
The case of the “Loftus 5” who were arrested sparked national condemnation, with CSOs mobilising in solidarity and denouncing the heavy-handed police tactics and detention without bail.
Expression
Concerns persist despite reforms in General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill (GILAB) into law on 28th March 2025, paving the way for major reforms to South Africa’s intelligence services with a focus on enhancing oversight and accountability. The initial draft of the Bill raised serious concerns among CSOs, particularly around surveillance, freedom of association and expression. More than 30 CSOs publicly objected to the provisions in the Bill that would allow intelligence agencies to conduct compulsory security vetting for any “person or institution of national security interest.” This broadly defined power could involve private individuals, non-profit entities, religious organisations and commercial enterprises, subjecting them to invasive scrutiny. CSOs’ advocacy was instrumental in securing the removal of the draconian vetting provision, a significant victory for CSOs. However, the final version of the law still permits the vetting of individuals who access or work within so-called "critical infrastructure", a category left vague and undefined. This broad and ambiguous language creates loopholes that could enable state surveillance of journalists operating in state-owned institutions such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), posing threats to press freedom, media independence and source confidentiality.