Transgender and Intersex Africa
Media release
7 May 2011

Pretoria: *Transgender Raped in Pretoria, South Africa

On the 5th May 2011, a 14 years old transman was raped in Attredgeville, Pretoria. He was left unconscious and traumatized by the perpetrators. The transman is believed to have been raped on his way to school. According to the victim’s mother, the school phoned her after one teacher realized that the victim was crying and bleeding from his genitals. The mother also says that the victim does not want to reveal what has happened to him. It was obvious to the teachers and mother that the child had been raped. He is admitted at Kalafong hospital after he was discovered to have had major internal damage.

His mother is also traumatized by this matter. According to her the victim was heavily bleeding and she believes that her son had been attacked by people who knew him. Apparently last week the victim was harassed by old men from his community. The harassment began after the victim was asked whether he is a girl or a boy. The victim ran home crying and told his mother about the incident.

The rape case has been opened and the investigation is taking place. The victim is under the care of a psychologist, social workers and a gender reassignment doctor who will be taking care of his wish to transition as the victim has made a strong request regarding that.

Tebogo Nkoana, the director of Transgender and Intersex Africa (TIA), went to visit the victim at the hospital and met with his family as well. According to him the family supports their child and wish for fair justice.

Transgender and Intersex Africa make a call to LGBTI activists to assist in fighting for non-discriminatory justice in this case.

Transgender and Intersex Africa will follow up on the case and make sure that it is taken serious and justice put on place.

For more information please contact;

Tebogo Nkoana
Director, TIA
Tel: 073 432 4499
Email: [email][email protected]

*Transgender is the terminology that is used to describe a person who is in conflict with the gender assigned at birth. Transman is a biological female that identifies as a man