Cape Town Pride and it's organising committee extend their condolences to the family of Noxolo Nogwaza, her friends and the Ekurhuleni Pride organisers.

The badly beaten and stabbed body of 24 year old Noxolo Nogwaza was discovered on the Sunday of the Easter Weekend in an alley in Kwa-Thema township, just outside Johannesburg in South Africa.

One report claimed that it was believed she was raped and murdered. The evidence allegedly collected at the scene was a blood stained broken glass bottle and a used condom found in her vagina. Her face had been so badly beaten that it was unrecognizable.

Victor Mukasa, project coordinator of the Human Rights Defenders Project at the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), said: “I am so disturbed by this horrific action. It is the responsibility of the South African Government to protect all its citizens. Hate crimes against LGBT people in this country are on the rise and the government should come out openly against these actions.

“Protection of individuals who are vulnerable because of their sexual orientation and or gender identity is something provided for in the Constitution of South Africa and should be put in practice."

Kwa-Thema has made the international news in 2008 when the body of Eudy Simelane was also found in an open field. She had also been raped and murdered.