The U. S. Embassy The U. S. government pointed to Sandton district as a possible target, but the event came after the South African government insisted it was safe.
Thousands of others turned out Saturday for the Pride March in South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg, despite a warning from the U. S. Embassy about a possible terror attack.
The event was held with tight security in the upscale Sandton neighborhood, known for the U. S. Embassy. U. S. as a possible target.
The South African government was confident organizers would continue the march, returning after a two-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic.
President Cyril Ramaphosa called it “unfortunate” and said it was causing “panic” in the country.
“We are still fighting for visibility and we are still in danger, so I heard about the terrorist attack [warning], it didn’t even bother me,” Anold Mulaisho, an LGBTQ activist, told AFP. “Anyway, if I die , my circle of relatives has already rejected me anyway, so no one will miss me. “
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On Friday, State Department spokesman Ned Price praised security efforts in South Africa and Nigeria, where the United States issued a separate security alert that led to the evacuation of families of U. S. personnel.
“We deeply appreciate your efforts for your interests and therefore for our interests,” Price told reporters.
South Africa has one of the most progressive LGBTQ rights laws in the world. It is the first country in Africa to legalize same-sex marriage. But in practice, stigma persists.
Dr. Lethuxolo Shange, who also attended the 33rd Pride on Saturday, said, “Gay people . . . They are killed every day. We still have a long way to go, the law is there, but the practice and mindset in our network hasn’t changed. We are still functioning and hope for a better future.