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The DA in eThekwini welcomes the passing of our motion for sensitization training, pro-active responses to combatting LGBTI+ hate crimes and challenges in the city.

After years of fighting for this to come into effect, this motion was presented and approved during a full council meeting on 29 September 2022.

The motion included the denouncing of LGBTI+ hate crimes in the city, sensitivity training for staff in the relevant departments as well as holding inclusive community engagements in the city, especially those with higher rates of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and hate crimes.

In the previous term we presented numerous motions to the Council along the lines of engagements with LGBTI+ organisations to combat the challenges faced on a daily basis.

We have pushed for this and sensitization training so that empathy is experienced by victims and their families when hate crimes are committed.

While the majority of our motions were either not added on Council agendas or the majority of Councillors voted against these, we are pleased that these appeals are now being agreed to.

DA public representatives receive numerous complaints of insensitive treatment by clinics and security services when seeking help. In a province and city with such high incidences of violence towards this community, this motion needs to be followed up with serious attention by the administration of this city.

We look forward to seeing action on this motion and a change in treatment of our citizens across the board.

The DA will continue the fight to protect the freedoms, rights to access of healthcare, safety of all citizens across all spheres of government.

We will monitor this council decision to ensure it is fully implemented. 

Issued by Councillor Caelee Laing - DA eThekwini Councillor