A transgender man has won a 10 year legal battle to be change his official documents from female to male. The victory is a landmark one for minority rights in the country.
Africannews reports that Justice Godfrey Nthomiwa said in his judgment that the government had violated the plaintiff’s rights to dignity, privacy, freedom of expression, equality and freedom from discrimination and inhumane and degrading treatment.
Speaking to the Human Rights Watch anonymously, he said: “I am overjoyed and humbled at the same time, to have finally found the legal relief I have sought for the past seven years of my life.”
Tashwill Esterhuizen of the Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) described the judgment as a “monumental victory” for the rights of transgender people in the region.
Many are optimistic that the ruling will be favourable for Tshepo Ricki Kgositau, a transgender woman,who has a pending case to have her gender marker amended. It is due to be heard in December.
