The brutal murder of Clement Hadebe (29) has highlighted the dangers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in South Africa.
Hadebe, originally from Madadeni in Newcastle, in KwaZulu-Natal province, was found shot nine times at a bed and breakfast lodge in Johannesburg in the early hours of Monday morning.
Hadebe’s friends have alleged that he met his alleged killer at the bustling KwaMai Mai Market downtown Johannesburg, where the man bought him alcohol.
One friend who requested anonymity recounted how the man and his two friends joined their group at a table, offering to buy them drinks.
“They offered to buy us drinks. We couldn’t say no to free booze,” the friend said.
He noticed that one of the men, who he believed to be straight, was showing interest in Hadebe. He advised Hadebe to tell the man that he was gay, but Hadebe brushed off his concerns.
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“I could tell that the guy is straight, but Hadebe just played along. When he asked Hadebe to go home with him, I again called him to the side and begged him to reveal his sexuality, but he brushed me off,” the friend said.
Another friend told ZiMoja that he left with the men and Hadebe in their car, but was ordered to jump out on the way to the hostel in Jules where the men stayed. The friend said they only wanted to be with Hadebe again.
Tragically, the next day, Hadebe was found shot nine times, allegedly by the man he had left with the night before.
Friends believe that the man killed Hadebe after discovering he was gay.
“The guy spent a lot of money on us, and he was sure that he took a woman home. He even booked a room at a bed and breakfast place,” said one friend.
“We thought that he was straight,” the friend added.
“But that did not give him the right to kill. He could have just let him go. What he did is horrible. I pray that he rots in jail for this horrific crime. Hadebe was a lovely person who loved life; he did not deserve this,” the friend said.
Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza confirmed that the police are investigating the murder.
“A murder docket is being investigated after a man was shot and killed on Monday,” she said.
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