The murder of a 22-year-old lesbian from Khayelitsha has left the LGBTI community there on edge, a gender activist said on Monday.
The woman was found dead on a footbridge near the Driftsands Nature Reserve on Sunday, with a gunshot wound to her body, sparking fears that she was targeted because of her sexuality.
Funeka Soldaat, the founder of FreeGender, said: "It is going to make most of the lesbians very uncomfortable because it is a small area. Everybody is a little bit scared."
Independent Online identified the murdered woman as Noluvo Swelindawo, and reported that she had been seen with a bruised eye on Friday, but that she had not explained in detail what had caused it. On Saturday night, she was apparently taken from her shack, and her body was found on Sunday.
Nobody has been arrested yet, but there are fears that her murder may be linked to her sexuality.
Soldaat said Swelindawo's murder highlighted an urgent need for a day dedicated to educating people about homophobia and how to stop it.
"Because if we don't, we are going to be in trouble."
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana urged anybody with information about the murder to contact CrimeStop on 08600 10111.
People sent condolences and expressed their anger and pain on social media: