Zoliswa Nkonyana,19, was stabbed and stoned to death in Khayelitsha on February 4th 2006.

Nine men were arrested, but only Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sicelo Mase, Luyanda Londzi and Mbulelo Damba were found guilty of the murder last month.

Since the trial began, gay rights campaigners and residents from the town have continued to picket outside Khayelitsha Magistrates’ Court.

The case has been postponed more than 40 times.

Ms Nkonyana lived openly as a lesbian and gay rights campaigners say her killing was motivated by homophobia.

Activists from the Treatment Action Campaign, Triangle Project, Social Justice Coalition and Free Gender released a statement on 7th September which strongly criticised the way the case had been handled.

They jointly said, “In the five-and-a-half years since the case began, there have been upwards of 40 postponements.

“A case of this nature should never take this long in a functional, healthy justice system”.

The group went on to mention that a witness, who was asked to give evidence in the trial, had been attacked.

Eric Ntabazalila, a spokesman for South Africa’s National Prosecution Authority, said some of the delays were due to the accused changing lawyers, with some of them also escaping from custody.

The men are due to be sentenced from December 19th.

According to the Star newspaper, there have been six killings of gay men over the last 18 months which bear similarities.

In the latest case, reported this week, a 47-year-old landlord was found bound and strangled in his Northcliff home. There were empty beer cans on the table and no sign of a break-in.

The paper reported that five of the six victims were found bound and strangled in a private home with no sign of a break-in. One was found strangled and battered to death.

However, Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini told Sapa news agency that one person could not have been responsible for the six deaths.

“We are not looking at one specific person… cases are being investigated individually and progress has been made in some,” he said.

Lt Col Dlamini added that one man had already appeared in court over one of the murders, while two men were implicated in another case.

Zoliswa Nkonyana, 19, was stoned and stabbed to death after a night out in Khayelitsha on February 4th 2006.

Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sicelo Mase, Luyanda Londzi and Mbulelo Damba were all found guilty of her murder on Friday.

Two men were already cleared of the killing, while Magistrate Raadiya Whaten said there was not enough evidence to convict three other men: Mfundo Kulani, Themba Dlephu and Sabelo Yekiso.

The magistrate said that the testimony of two witnesses led the court to conclude that Ntlabathi, Londzi, Damba and Mase were guilty.

The case has dragged on for five years, having been postponed 40 times after complaints from the defendants.

Ms Nkonyana lived openly as a lesbian and gay rights campaigners say her killing was motivated by homophobia.

In the last year, there have been four cases in which gay men were found dead in similar circumstances – bound and strangled in their homes with no sign of a break-in.

Now, the Commission on Gender Equality says it has heard of a fifth case, the Star reports.

Manolis Veloudos was found dead in his home in Greenside in April. He had been bound and killed, although he was bludgeoned with his laptop rather than being strangled.

Like the other victims, he was a user of gay social networks.

Commission spokesman Javu Baloyi told The Star: “Cases of this nature are not taken seriously by the police or the justice department.

“It is our firm belief that the Department of Constitutional Development and Justice has to come to the party in ensuring that the plight of LGBT (and intersexed) people receive the necessary attention and investigation.”

Last month, 39-year-old Barney Van Heerden was found bound and strangled in his Orange Grove home. Security guards found his car gate open and his front door unlocked.

In December 2010, Jim Cathels was found bound and strangled at his home in Berea.

Four months ago, Oscar O’Hara, 33, was found bound and strangled in Kensington, where he was house-sitting for a friend.

On September 11th, a week before Mr Van Heerden’s death, Siphiwe Selby Nhlapo, 36, was found dead in the same way at his home in Kliptown, Soweto. In this incident, the body had acid poured over it.

Four gay men have been discovered bound and strangled in their homes in the last ten months.

In each case, there was no sign of a break-in and little was stolen, the Independent reports.

In the most recent case, 39-year-old Barney Van Heerden was found bound and strangled in his Orange Grove home. Security guards found his car gate open and his front door unlocked.

In December 2010, Jim Cathels was found bound and strangled at his home in Berea.

Four months ago, Oscar O’Hara, 33, was found bound and strangled in Kensington, where he was house-sitting for a friend.

On September 11th, a week before Mr Van Heerden’s death, Siphiwe Selby Nhlapo, 36, was found dead in the same way at his home in Kliptown, Soweto. In this incident, the body had acid poured over it.

Police working separately on the four cases have not publicly discussed a possible link but there are fears in the gay community that the cases may be connected.

Forensic specialist Dr Mark Welman said: “It would be remiss of investigating authorities to not consider possible links, and they should certainly be drawing on their specialised behavioural science unit on these cases.”

Zoliswa Nkonyana, 19, was stoned and stabbed to death after a night out in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, on February 4th 2006.

She lived openly as a lesbian and gay rights campaigners say her killing was motivated by homophobia.

Nine men were arrested with each charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of murder.

The case has dragged on for five years, having been postponed 40 times after complaints from the defendants.

Yesterday, two of the accused – Anele Gwele and Zolile Kobese – were released after Khayelitsha’s magistrates’ court decided that there was not enough evidence against them.

Times Live reports that seven other men – Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sabelo Yekiso, Sicelo Mize, Luyanda Londzi, Themba Dlepu, Mfundo Kulani and Mbulelo Damba – remain on trial.

Prosecutors claimed that the nine men had assaulted two of Nkonyana’s friends, leading to the charges of attempted murder.

Yesterday, Magistrate Raadiyah Wathen withdrew the attempted murder charges against all nine defendants, although only Gwele and Kobese succeeded in having the murder charges against them dismissed.

The judge said there was not enough evidence to show the group had assaulted the dead woman’s friends.

Giving evidence yesterday, one of the accused, Luyanda Londzi, said he saw the victim at a local tavern on the night of her death and was aware that she was a lesbian.

He denied attacking her and claimed that her blood got on to his shoes when he stopped to look at her body.

As reported in the Star Tribune, the Commission’s spokesman Vincent Moaga said a judge ruled that the newspaper column in question – which was headlined “Call me names, but gay is NOT OK” – was promoting hatred. Qwelane was ordered to apologise and pay a fine of 100,000 rand (about £7,000).

The commission said they will donate the money to a gay rights organisation.

The outcome of the case is particularly significant in the light of the recent attacks and rapes of lesbian women in South Africa.

Mr Moaga said: “We are hoping really that this finding will send a message to community members, a message that says gay and lesbian people have an equal right to the protection of their dignity.”

Qwelane did not mount a defence against the case and the commission have not yet taken any position on whether his appointment as ambassador should be terminated. However, Mr Moaga said he expected the government to review the court ruling.

Uganda itself has been the subject of criticism by international human rights groups since one of its lawmakers proposed in 2009 that gay people should face capital punishment in certain cases. The Ugandan parliament has, however, not yet voted on the bill.

Despite the realities of anti-gay violence and prejudice in South Africa, the country does have strong anti-discrimination laws around sexual orientation and same-sex marriage is legal.

A government agency said in a statement following the outcome of the Qwelane case: “One of the major legacies of apartheid is that of intolerance towards difference – be it in terms of race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation or other such factors. As a result, 17 years after South Africa’s first democratic elections, the country is still grappling to find ways to better manage difference.”

With support from the Williams Institute, a report by the National Opinion Research Centre (NORC) at the University of Chicago has presented new findings on the cross-national differences in attitudes towards homosexuality.  Based on five rounds of surveys undertaken in different countries between 1988 and 2008, the report examined general trends and ranked countries regarding their attitudes towards homosexuality.

The conclusion was that “overwhelmingly, societies have become more accepting of homosexual behavior.”  Thirty-one countries were identified with data relating to public opinion about LGB people. Of those, approval of homosexuality increased in 27 countries and decreased in only four:  Russia, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, and Latvia.

The top five countries with the highest acceptance of homosexuality were the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, and Belgium-Flanders, while the lower half of the list consisted of seven ex-Socialist states, four East Asian nations, three Latin American countries and Cyprus, South Africa, and Turkey. In Russia, for example, 59 per cent of the population felt that homosexual behavior was wrong in 1991 compared with 64% in 2008. In the same year, 54 per cent of Americans surveyed said they believed homosexuality was “always wrong”.

The report also found that attitudes towards homosexuality were more tolerant among younger adults, the educated, the non-religious and those living in large metropolitan areas.

The girl, who was attacked on Thursday in Pretoria, was said to be open about being a lesbian and it is believed she was targeted for this reason.

The phenomenon of corrective rape involves the targeting of lesbians in order to ‘cure’ them. There have been high-profile cases in the country, including the recent rape and murder of gay rights campaigner Noxolo Nogwaza.

Government spokesman Tlali Tlali promised a police investigation and assistance for the girl and her family.

“The government condemns this senseless and cowardly act of criminality,” he said.

”Gay and lesbian rights are human and constitutional rights which must be protected and respected at all times.”

Dipika Nath, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, said: ”If the police and other state officials do not act swiftly, it will only be a matter of time before they have to account for their failure to the family and friends of the next lesbian who is beaten and killed.”

Last week, the government announced the formation of a task team to tackle anti-gay hate crimes.

A government spokesman said that the task force would comprise the police, the social development department, six judges and six LGBT campaigners.

The team will be charged with developing a legislative intervention plan, a public awareness strategy, and LGBTI-sensitive shelters, he said.

Government spokesman Tlali Tlali said that the decision was taken yesterday, a week after a lesbian was raped and murdered in in Kwa-Thema township.

Noxolo Nogwaza, 24, was openly gay and campaigners said it was clear she was killed because of her sexuality.

Mr Tlali said that the task force would comprise the police, the social development department, six judges and six LGBT campaigners.

“The team will be charged with developing a legislative intervention plan, a public awareness strategy, and LGBTI-sensitive shelters,” he said.

Human rights groups say that so-called ‘corrective rape’ is a particular problem in the country. The hate crime involves lesbians being targeted by men who believe they can be ‘cured’ through rape.

Today’s announcement follows a 170,000-signature Change.org petition, which called on South African authorities to address the problem.

According to Sapa news agency, government ministers are considering harsher sentences for attacks motivated by sexual orientation, plus preventative measures such as allowing equality courts to address issues such as harassment or hate speech.

No one has been arrested over Ms Nogaza’s death. She was killed in the same town as Eudy Simelane, a lesbian footballer who was raped and murdered in 2008. Her death sparked international concern about ‘corrective rape’.

Anni Dewani, 29, was shot dead in Cape Town, South Africa, in November and local police believe her husband arranged for her to be killed by hitmen.

Mr Dewani, a millionaire businessman, is wanted by South African police. Yesterday, an extradition hearing heard that he had told a witness that he “needed to find a way out” of the marriage, Press Association reports.

Reports named the witness as as male escort Leopold Leisser, 39, who is German. Mr Leisser has previously claimed that the British businessman had paid him thousands of pounds for sex on three occasions.

Representing the South African authorities who are seeking Mr Dewani’s extradition, Hugo Keith QC, said: “Dewani told [the witness] in April 2010 how he was engaged and had to get married.

“He said although she was a nice, lovely girl who he liked, he could not break out of the engagement because he would be disowned by his family. He went on to say to the witness he needed to find a way out of it.”

Yesterday’s hearing at Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court was also told that the gay rumours surrounding Mr Dewani would place him in danger of sexual assault and attack in a South African prison.

Sasha Gear, from Johannesburg’s Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, said that the suspect’s youth and criminal inexperience would result in other inmates attacking him.

She added: “The connections that have been made with homosexuality put him at additional risk. Inmates perceived to be gay are very vulnerable in prison and allegations of homosexuality or association of him with homosexuality put him at risk.”

Mrs Dewani was initially thought to have been killed in a hijacking. Her husband and their taxi driver Zola Tongo escaped unharmed.

Tongo has been sentenced to 18 years in jail for his part in the death. His sentence was reduced from 25 years after he implicated the British businessman in the killing.

Mr Dewani, who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, is living in a secure mental health hospital in Bristol where he is on bail.

He strenuously denies being gay or having anything to do with his wife’s death.

Noxolo Nogwaza, 24, was found dead in an alley in Kwa-Thema township, South Africa, on Easter Sunday morning. She was a prominent local gay rights activist and a member of the Ekurhuleni Pride Organising Committee, the key LGBT organisation in Kwa-Thema.

Reports said she had been stoned and stabbed with broken glass and there was evidence she had been raped.

Ms Nogwaza was killed in the same town as Eudy Simelane, a lesbian footballer who was raped and murdered in 2008. Her death sparked international concern about so-called ‘corrective rapes’ of lesbians in South Africa.

Human Rights Watch said it was likely Ms Nogwaza was killed because she was gay.

“[Her] death is the latest in a long series of sadistic crimes against lesbians, gay men, and transgender people in South Africa,” said Human Rights Watch researcher Dipika Nath.

“The vicious nature of the assault is a potent reminder that these attacks are premeditated, planned, and often committed with impunity.”

Ms Nogwaza was found dead after an altercation with men in a bar. No witnesses have come forward and no arrests have been made.

Tsakane Police are understood to be awaiting results of a post-mortem examination.

A spokesman from the Ekurhuleni Pride Organising Committee said the death was “definitely” a hate crime and urged police to treat it as one.

He said: “Eudy [Simelane's] case was not recognised as a hate crime against a lesbian and the same is not done in the cases of many other people who have been raped and/or murdered on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in South Africa.”

The 25 campaigners from lesbian group Luleki Sizwe want Justice Minister Jeff Radebe to recognise the issue as a hate crime.

‘Corrective rape’, as it is known, is the rape of lesbians to try and ‘turn’ them straight. Campaigners say it is becoming more common.

The most high-profile case was in 2008, when lesbian footballer Eudy Simelane was raped, beaten and murdered. Two men were jailed for her killing.

As well as demonstrating outside parliament, Luleki Sizwe has organised a 170,000-signature petition from around the world asking the government to look at the issue.

Luleki Sizwe founder Ndumie Funda told the Canadian Press: “We have shown that we can mobilise tens of thousands of people in South Africa and around the world, and the ministry now knows that they can no longer ignore our long fight against corrective rape. The question now is what they will actually do about it. The ball is in their court.”

The groups wants research to be commissioned into corrective rape and a national plan to tackle sexual violence, as well as hate crimes.

A 2009 report suggested that there was a rise in ‘corrective rapes’ and assaults on lesbians in South Africa.

Charity ActionAid said women in Johannesburg and Cape Town were suffering an increase in homophobic attacks and sexual assaults which are seen as a form of punishment or “cure”.

Figures suggest there are an estimated 500,000 rapes in South Africa every year and for every 25 men accused of rape in the country, 24 walk free.

The city centre could easily be mistaken for Melbourne or Brisbane. The combination of good weather, great food, relaxed atmosphere and hoards of tanned, sickeningly good-looking people definitely has an Australian feel to it. But the ever-present Table Mountain and subtle yet distinct African feel quickly brings you back to Cape Town.

Cape Town city centre is quite small and easily navigated on foot, with all the main sights within easy walking distance from each other, although some sights, such as the District 6 Museum and the V&A Waterfront, might be better approached by taxi if you’re alone as they involve a short hike through some deserted areas. The crime here isn’t on the same scale as Johannesburg, it’s pretty safe during the day, but bear in mind that huge numbers of locals live in abject poverty away from the affluent city and coastal suburbs. Taxis are so cheap, and it makes sense to use them at night for anything more than short trips around the centre.

There is much to do in the city during the day. Table Mountain is an obvious must, although try to do this on the first clear day of your stay as the mountain is often surrounded by cloud. This, along with frequent windy days, means the cable car to the top could be closed. The area around Greenmarket Square has a large crafts market with vendors from South Africa and the rest of the continent offering traditional carved ornaments, jewellery, and African art.

For beach lovers, the suburbs of Camps Bay and Clifton have white sand and clear waters. Camps Bay has a large beach with a promenade of eateries and shops, and is popular with surfers as well as wealthy locals and tourists. Steps take you down to the secluded Clifton’s beaches from the main road. The beaches here are named, imaginatively, Beaches 1, 2, 3 & 4. Beach 3 is popular with gay people, while Beach 4 is larger and more family orientated. Clifton has the luxury of being ‘wind free’; a label applied to a select few suburbs along the coast that are sheltered from the strong South-Westerly winds by the Table Mountain range. Clifton and Camps Bay are a little out of the city centre, and are best visited by car, but there are minibuses going there from the centre, just look for one heading in the right direction and wave it down to ask where it’s going. There is supposedly a municipal bus service, but relying on this isn’t advisable, as we saw no evidence it existed for the entire duration of our stay!

With several large universities and a youthful population, Cape Town has developed a lively nightlife. You can enjoy a decent night out with dinner, drinks, dancing and a taxi home for less than £40, so there’s no excuse not to. Areas such as Camps Bay and Clifton specialize in high-class nightlife, and Prince Harry has even been seen partying in the beachside bars around here. In the centre, the scene is more aimed towards local 20-somethings and backpackers, with prices and dress codes to match. Long Street and Kloof Street are the main centres of nightlife here.
There are quite a few gay venues, mostly to the North-West of the centre around Somerset Road. We visited Bronx, which has established itself as a mainstay of the scene. It has sensibly built the dance floor around a central bar, meaning you’re never too far away from the next drink. Free or cheap entry, lots of cute boys with their tops off and friendly staff make this a great place to end up at on a night out.

If you’re looking for something more relaxed, The Shack is a huge, grungy place with lots of seating, pool tables, a pizza kitchen and beers for a little over a quid. It’s not specifically gay, but it shouldn’t be too hard to make new friends here. All the taxi drivers know where it is; it’s best not to go by foot as it is a little out of the centre. If you’re hungry when you leave get yourself a snack at the hotdog stand across the road – watch out for dripping sauce as they are rammed full of salsa.

Another mixed venue is Neighbourhood on Long Street. Like many bars on this street it’s on the first floor and has a balcony you can sit out on and watch people going about their evening. On the night we went it had a fairly lethal offer on cocktails that were not only cheap but expertly made. For a more civilized evening head to the V&A Waterfront, a huge development of restaurants, bars and shops that caters for every taste possible, although it can feel a little sterile and generic; you could be in an historic version of Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quay (if Portsmouth was 30 degrees in January and had seals frolicking on the beach that is). Additionally, close to the Bronx there is a new, large centre called Cape Quarter, where there are loads of restaurants and bars. This is on the edge of the gay village, making it a convenient place to begin the evening.

It’s worth remembering drinks are not only cheaper in Cape Town, but a lot stronger. Many of the local beers are over 5% and spirit measures are usually larger. While many venues stay open until 4am, there is often a 2am limit on serving alcohol.

Accommodation is actually quite expensive compared to everything else in Cape Town. We stayed in Upperbloem, which offers a range of rooms with a communal kitchen offering free drinks and a continental breakfast all day, perfect for those hungover mornings where you can sit with a Danish and coffee on the balcony admiring the view of the city and its Table Mountain backdrop. There’s also a pool should you want to cool off. Located in colourful Bo Kaap, a predominantly Muslim area where the call to prayer resonates through the air throughout the day, you’re only a 10 minute walk or a £2 taxi ride from the centre – the streets here surpass San Francisco in their epic gradients, so you may want to walk into town and get a cab back! The warm and welcoming owner Katrin has an extensive knowledge of the city and is always happy to suggest activities.

If you venture a little further out of the city you’ll find a range of activities. Within a few hours drive there are vineyards, whale watching, beaches full of penguins, excellent hiking, adventure activities such as bungee-jumping, scuba diving, cage diving to see sharks, ostrich farms and safari parks with elephants and lions.

South Africa is an 11-hour flight from London, with minimal time difference and most flights operating overnight, allowing you to get out and explore the moment you arrive. A bus service costs around £5 from the airport to the centre. A taxi will cost around £20. There are approximately 10 rand to the pound, so no complicated calculations paying the bar tab. Gay people here were among the first in the world to have the freedom to marry and are protected by some of the most progressive legislation – but such legislation can be somewhat ahead of local attitudes, particularly if you venture out of the cities.

British travelers don’t need a visa to enter the country, but you’ll need a certificate of vaccination if you’ve travelled from a country where Yellow Fever is endemic. Unless you’re heading out of the cities, there are no major health concerns, but it’s worth having up to date typhoid, polio and hepatitis A vaccinations. South Africa has more people living with HIV and AIDS than any other country; if you’re planning on a bit of holiday romance, bring plenty of condoms with you and be sure to use them.

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Shrien Dewani, 30, is suspected of arranging the killing of his bride, Anni, 28, on their honeymoon in South Africa last month.

Mrs Dewani was shot dead in Cape Town after the taxi she and Mr Dewani rode in was allegedly hijacked.

The taxi driver implicated Mr Dewani, claiming to have been paid over £1,000 by him to arrange the killing. South African authorities are seeking extradition. Dewani was recently granted bail in the British courts.

Since the murder, rumours have surfaced of an affair between Mr Dewani and a male prostitute.

However, a close relative dismissed insinuations of a rift between Anni Dewani’s relatives and Mr Dewani’s family, saying: “Everyone in both families is stressed out by these spurious allegations and wants justice.

“There are good relations between the families.”

Mr Dewani’s relative added that he had lost “the woman of his dreams”.

“He’s distraught and devastated, he’s lost weight and is completely shaken.

“He’s completely traumatised, he can’t sleep, he can’t eat, he keeps getting flashbacks.”

PR guru Max Clifford said of the allegation that Dewani had been involved with a 39-year old German prostitute: “It is categorically denied. Shrien Dewani has never had a sexual relationship with a man in his life.”

The taxi driver, Zola Tongo, was jailed for 18 years last week. His sentence was reduced from 25 years after he implicated the British businessman in the killing. Two other men are accused of murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping.

Mrs Dewani was shot dead in Cape Town, South Africa, last month and local police believe her husband Shrien arranged for her to be killed by hitmen.

He has already faced questions about his sexuality and a 39-year-old German man is understood to have contacted British police to claim that Mr Dewani paid him for sex on three occasions.

According to the Sun, the escort told detectives at Scotland Yard that the pair had been in contact for months and had “kinky” sex in the Midlands and west London.

He said that Mr Dewani, a millionaire businessman, paid him a total of £1,100 in cash for his services between September 2009 and April of this year.

Mr Dewani is on £250,000 bail and strenuously denies having anything to do with his wife’s death.

He has also denied having sex with men and his spokesman, the PR guru Max Clifford, said: “It is categorically denied. Shrien Dewani has never had a sexual relationship with a man in his life.”

Mr Dewani’s lawyer said he had witnesses to corroborate his story.

He is currently fighting extradition to South Africa, where local police want to investigate him on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

Mrs Dewani’s family have urged him to return to the country to “clear the doubts”.

She was initially thought to have been killed in a hijacking. Mr Dewani and their taxi driver Zola Tongo escaped unharmed.

Tongo was jailed for 18 years last week. His sentence was reduced from 25 years after he implicated the British businessman in the killing. Two other men are accused of murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping.

Shrien Dewani is under suspicion for the death of his new wife Anni and South African police are reportedly looking into the possibility that he was gay and did not want to start a family with her.

The 30-year-old is fighting attempts to extradite him to South Africa over claims he paid two hitman to kill his wife.

Mrs Dewani, 28, was shot dead in an apparent hijacking in Cape Town last month. Her husband and their taxi driver Zola Tongo escaped unharmed.

Tongo was jailed for 18 years this week. His sentence was reduced from 25 years after he implicated the British businessman in the killing. Two other men are accused of murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping.

According to The Sun, a South African detective involved in the case said: “We are looking closely at suggestions that all was not well within the marriage – and that Shrien Dewani’s sexuality was a factor.

“They appear to have had different views about starting a family.”

Mr Dewani’s relatives said the claims were “ridiculous” and he denied he was gay in a recent interview with the Sun.

He was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and will appear at a court hearing today.

The unnamed man appeared before Wynberg Regional Court today, the Sapa news agency reports.

He is not expected to be named until his trial begins and a hearing to set a trial date will be held on July 13th.

A report released in March last year suggested that there was a rise in ‘corrective rapes’ and assaults on lesbians in South Africa.

Charity ActionAid said women in Johannesburg and Cape Town were suffering an increase in homophobic attacks and sexual assaults which are seen as a form of punishment or “cure”.

Figures suggest there are an estimated 500,000 rapes in South Africa every year and for every 25 men accused of rape in the country, 24 walk free.

The most high-profile victim of corrective rape was Eudy Simelane, a well-known female football and gay rights activist.

She was stabbed to death in April 2008 after being robbed and gang-raped. Her body was left in a stream.

Themba Mvubu, 24, from Kwathema, was jailed for life in September 2009 for murder, robbery and being an accessory to the rape.

Andile Ngcoza, 43, of Gugulethu, is accused of dragging the 30-year-old woman into his shack and beating and repeatedly raping her, the South African Independent reports.

The alleged attack took place on Friday evening and Ngcoza appeared in court today on charges of rape, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and kidnapping.

Ngcoza’s alleged victim said she had known him for years and had smoked a cigarette with him on the evening on the attack.

He then allegedly pulled her into his shack and locked the door before beating and raping her.

Neighbours heard noise coming from the shack and kicked the door down to rescue the victim.

The alleged victim, who is openly gay, said Ngcoza threatened to kill her and said he would make her pregnant to “show” her she was a woman.

The case’s prosecutor, Nazley January, asked for the case to be postponed until April 13th because there was not enough information for a bail application.

A report released in March 2009 suggested that there was a rise in ‘corrective rapes’ and assaults on lesbians in South Africa.

Charity ActionAid said women in Johannesburg and Cape Town were suffering an increase in homophobic attacks and sexual assaults which are seen as a form of punishment or “cure”.

Figures suggest there are an estimated 500,000 rapes in South Africa every year and for every 25 men accused of rape in the country, 24 walk free.

Dr Aubrey Levin worked as chief psychiatrist in the country’s military in the 1970s and 1980s. Most of his reported subjects were young white men, some of whom claimed they had been subjected to electric shocks and hormone treatment to ‘cure’ them of homosexuality.

Those who could not be ‘cured’ were instead given chemical castrations and sex changes, it has been claimed.

Levin was also accused of drugging conscientious objectors and soldiers who admitted to marijuana use.

He moved to Calgary 15 years ago and worked at the University of Calgary’s medical school.

He was arrested last week after a 36-year-old patient secretly filmed him allegedly making sexual advances to him and is now on bail.

Levin has been suspended from practising and faces charges of repeatedly indecently assaulting a 36-year-old man.

Police are now reviewing 30 other claims from patients and more men have come forward since the allegations were reported.

Attention will now turn to how he was able to enter Canada and continue practising psychiatry.

South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission was told that he was guilty of “gross human rights abuses” but Levin was able to suppress media attention on his past by threatening lawsuits against newspapers which attempted to delve into the claims.

He denies the human rights abuses and has said that he only treated those who wanted to be cured.

Levin is expected to appear in court of April 8th.