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Assignment: Born Free, Killed by Hate in South Africa

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Born Free, Killed by Hate in South Africa

28/04/2016 GMT

BBC World Service - Assignment, Born Free, Killed by Hate in South Africa

The story of Pasca, a young lesbian, and how South Africa's rainbow nation failed her

Pasca was one of the born free generation in South Africa, protected by a constitution that promised to let her 'walk tall' as a lesbian. But her sexuality cost her her life.

In 1994 apartheid ended in South Africa and Nelson Mandela was elected president. He promised in his inauguration speech to “build a society in which all South Africans will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts...a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.” These promises were enshrined in South Africa’s post-apartheid constitution, the first in the world to outlaw all forms of discrimination. 

In 1994 Motshidisi Pascalina Melamu was born, making her one of the first of the so-called ‘born free generation’. Pasca, as she was known, dreamed of becoming a politician, and studied hard at school. She loved singing, dancing and football. And, Pasca was a lesbian.

In December last year, Pasca’s body was found in a field. She had been beaten and mutilated. She was one of three LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex) people murdered in a six-week period last year. Hate crimes against the LGBTI community have long been a problem in South Africa, and the government has tried to tackle them. But activists say these recent crimes are just one sign that things are not getting better. James Fletcher travels to the townships south of Johannesburg to speak with Pasca’s family and friends, and to ask whether the government is failing LGBTI South Africans.

(Photo: Betty Melamu holds a picture of her daughter Pascalina, who was murdered in December last year)

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