A file picture taken on May 25, 2013, shows a Russian gay rights activist holding a poster reading “Love is stronger than homophobia!" while sitting inside a police van after his detention during an unauthorised gay rights activists rally in central Moscow.
Cape Town – Three men allegedly belonging to the notorious Ford Boys gang, were handed hefty sentences for rape and kidnapping by the Worcester Regional Court on Tuesday.
On August 26, 2017, the then 23-year-old male victim was sitting around a fire with two friends, listening to music when the accused jumped a fence and forcefully grabbed him and dragged him to a new building in Bella Vista, Ceres.
They assaulted the victim and took turns raping him.
He was held in the building for hours and the perpetrators refused to let him go.
At about 2.30am, he managed to escape and sought help.
“Four days later, three suspects who allegedly belonged to the Ford Boys gang were arrested and charged with rape and kidnapping,” said police spokesperson Ndakhe Gwala.
It was not the first time the victim was allegedly raped by the suspects.
It was reported that due to fear, he did not report the first incident.
Fear of becoming the next David Olyne, pushed him to report the incident.
Then 22-year-old Olyne, also from Ceres, was murdered in 2014 in a homophobic attack.
He was tied with wire, beaten, kicked and set on fire as a group of young people watched on.
The victim testified in camera to protect his identity.
Peter-John Adams was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for both counts and he was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Rodney Beukes was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for both counts and declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Austin Fritz was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in terms of Section 77 of the Child Justice Act. Section 103 Act 60/2000, he was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Gwala said SAPS management in the Western Cape applauded Detective Sergeant Anthony John Van Rooy of the Ceres Family Violence Child Protection Sexual offences Unit for his exceptional investigative skills in this case.
“SAPS strongly condemns homophobic attacks and any perpetrator of such crimes will face the full might of the law. We hope this harsh sentence sends a strong message that such gruesome acts will not be tolerated in our communities.”
Spokesperson for anti-GBV organisation, Ilitha Labantu, Siya Monakali said that the startling reality of these cases is that the perpetrators are getting younger and younger, however he hopes this sentencing sends a strong message that such gruesome acts should not be tolerated.
“The organisation welcomes the sentence imposed against these perpetrators.
“What is particularly startling about cases of GBV that are taking place within our society, is that the perpetrators are getting younger and younger and we want these type of sentences to send out a strong message to all those within our society who are violating the rights of others, particularly marginalised groups such as LGBTQ+ groups within our communities.
“I think one thing we would like to highlight is that South Africa has a 14% conviction rate of crimes relating to GBV and this is a startling reminder that a lot of the perpetrators are not actually being brought to justice, so we welcome sentencing of this nature because it sends out a strong message out to society that as a country we will not tolerate any sort of behaviour that will lead to the violation of any other persons human rights,” said Monakali.
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