It is hard to comprehend the full impact that hate crime has on society as a whole, and also particularly on those that are directly affected by it. Some don’t even fully understand exactly when they have experienced a hate crime, or if they do, some choose to turn a blind eye – this is often out of fear of further discrimination. Many even feel that reporting it is a waste of time, given inefficiency and lack of education of our police force regarding this matter. However, it is vital that these crimes are reported – not only because you have the right to law enforcement, but also because records of these incidents help towards hate crimes being recognized and stopped.
Hate crime can be defined as a crime, usually violent, motivated by prejudice or intolerance toward a member of a person as a result of their:
- Race, colour, ethnic origin
- Nationality or national origin
- Religion
- Gender or sexual identity
- Sexual orientation
- Disability
- Social group
Hate Crime can take many forms including:
- Physical attacks such as physical assault
- Damage to property
- Offensive graffiti
- Neighbour disputes
- Arson
- Threat of attack (including offensive letters)
- Abusive or obscene telephone calls
- Groups hanging around to intimidate
- Unfounded, malicious complaints
- Verbal abuse or insults
- Offensive leaflets and posters
- Abusive gestures
- Dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes
- Bullying at school or in the workplace
Your silence won't help if hate Crime is not reported at all structures where it happens - be it at a learning institution, social places, churches, etc.
If you are a victim of a LGBT hate crime, here are a few useful resources:
Durban Gay and Lesbian Centre
The Durban Lesbian & Gay Community & Health Centre (a project of the KZN Coalition for Gay & Lesbian Equality) offers a safe and secure space for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities of Durban and KwaZulu-Natal.
DURBAN GAY AND LESBIAN CENTRE
Tel: 031 301-2145
Fax: 031 301-2147
Email: info@gaycentre.org.za
www.gaycentre.org.za
Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) (Johannesburg)
Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW), is a networking, empowerment and support organisation of and for black lesbians in and around Johannesburg.
www.few.org.za
Free Gender (Khayelitsha, Cape Town)
Free Gender is a black lesbian organisation based in Makhaza, Khayelitsha; the largest and fastest growing township in Cape Town.
Address: 43814 Phala Crescent
Makhaza
Khayelitsha
7784. CAPE TOWN
Tel: +27 21362 9491
email: freegender2008@gmail.com
http://freegender.wordpress.com
Gender DynamiX
Gender DynamiX is the first (and currently only) African based organisation solely for the transgender Community. The aim of Gender DynamiX is to create awareness and visualise transgenderism. Gender DynamiX provides resources, information and support to trans folks, their partners, family employers and the public.
Postal Address: PO Box 347, Athlone, 7760
Physical Address: Saartjie Baartman Centre, Klipfontein Road, Manenberg, Cape Town
Tel: +27 (0) 21 633 5287
Fax: +27 (0) 86 602 9538
e-mail: info@genderdynamix.org.za
Web: www.genderdynamix.org.za
Health4Men
Health4Men offers sexual health services for all men who have sex with men and has clinics in Woodstock, Khayelitsha, Bellville, Soweto and Yeoville.
www.health4men.co.za
Jewish Outlook
Jewish OutLook is the new South African Jewish Organisation catering for the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgendered and Intersex Community.
www.jewishoutlook.org.za
info@jewishoutlook.org.za
0762158600
LifeLine Southern Africa
24-hour crisis intervention service. "Emotional First Aid station". Free, confidential telephone counselling, rape counselling, trauma counselling, Aids counselling, and a range of other services. Not-for-profit organisation.
National counselling line: 0861-322-322 - Counsellors help callers with challenges such as trauma, suicide, and relatioship issues.
Website: www.lifeline.org.za
Luleki Sizwe (Gugulethu, Cape Town)
Luleki Sizwe has 4 active volunteers and works in 10 townships in Cape Town: Worcester, Paarl, Gugulethu, Nyanga, Langa, Khayelitsha, Delft, Phillipi, Cross Roads and Lower cross roads
Cel: 074 307 4059
Address: NY30, Room 6,
Section 1, Gugulethu, 7750, Cape Town
http://www.lulekisizwe.com
National Aids helpline
0800-012-322 and aidshelpline.org.za
Run in conjunction with the Department of Health, this national toll-free helpline receives around 3 000 calls a day.
OUT (Pretoria)
OUT provides direct health services to the gay, bisexual and transgender (lgbt) community including HIV testing, counselling, treatment and general lifestyle advice and support.
http://www.out.org.za
(012) 430 3272
People Opposed to Woman Abuse (Powa) (Gauteng)
Gauteng-based organisation offering shelter, counselling and legal support to women in abusive relationships, rape survivors, survivors of incest.
Helpline: 083 765 1235
www.powa.co.za
Rape Crisis (Cape Town)
Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust works to prevent rape, offers healing to survivors, and works towards legal reforms that will ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. Services include counselling, court preparation, support groups, important contact numbers. Non-governmental organisation.
Counselling lines: 021 447-9762 (Observatory), 021 633 9229 (Athlone), 021 361 9085 (Khayalitsha)
Speak Out
Rape emergency information, services, advice, links. Non-governmental organisation.
Website: www.speakout.org.za
Stop Gender Abuse
Crisis counselling for women who have been raped or abused, advice and support for people wanting to support women in need of help, legal and other options available for abused women and rape survivors. Run by LifeLine Southern Africa.
Toll-free helpline: 0800 150 150
Website: www.rapecrisis.org.za
The Inner Circle
Being a South African based organization with a Muslim constituency, it is uniquely placed to advance the international debate harnessed by South Africa when it became the first country to safeguard freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation in its Bill of Rights.
www.theinnercircle.org.za
+27 21 761 0037
+27 21 761 4434
Fax: +27 21 761 3862
Email: admin@theinnercircle.org.za
reception@theinnercircle.org.za
media1@theinnercircle.org.za
The Pride Shelter (Gardens, Cape Town)
Africa's only safe house for gay, lesbian, transgender and intersex people in crisis.
Phone: 021 423 2871
Mobile: +27 (0)83 274 3579
1 Molteno Street, Gardens
http://www.pridesheltertrust.co.za
Triangle Project (Cape Town)
The development of a non-discriminatory society, where organisations such as Triangle Project are a choice and not a necessity.
Physical Address: Rainbow Centre, Unit 29, Waverley Business Park, Dane Street, Mowbray, 7700
Postal Address: PO Box 13935, Mowbray, 7705
Tel: +27 21 448 3812
Fax: +27 21 448 4089
Email: info@triangle.org.za
Website: www.triangle.org.za
Helpline: 021– 7126699 ( between 1pm to 9pm daily)
Women's Legal Centre (Cape Town)
The Women's Legal Centre is a non-profit, independent law centre that seeks to achieve equality for women in South Africa. As access to justice is largely inaccessible to poor women, particularly black women, the WLC plays an important role in litigating in their interest and providing them with access to free legal advice.
http://www.wlce.co.za/
7th Floor Constitution House, 124 Adderley Str. (Cnr of Church Str.) Cape Town Western Cape 8000 South Africa
0027 21 424 5660
