1 February 2012
Last updated at 08:17 ET
The four men were convicted of Zoliswa Nkonyana’s killing in October last year
Four South African men have been sentenced to 18 years in jail for stabbing and stoning to death 19-year-old lesbian Zoliswa Nkonyana in 2006.
The court found that the men killed Ms Nkonyana because she was living openly as a lesbian.
A crowd outside the court in Khayelitsha, a Cape Town township, cheered and danced at the sentencing.
The constitution protects people on the grounds of sexual orientation – but homophobia is widespread.
Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sicelo Mase, Luyanda Londzi and Mbulelo Damba – who were convicted in October – were each given 18 years.
Their jail terms were each suspended for five years.
Five other people were acquitted.
Ms Nkonyana was stoned and stabbed nine times in February 2006, just metres from her home in Khayelitsha.
The four men were convicted in October.
The magistrate said it was clear the motive for the killing was
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