JOHANNESBURG: A 13-year-old girl has become the latest victim of ''corrective rape'' as the trend of violent attacks on lesbians shows no signs of letting up.

''The government condemns this senseless and cowardly act of criminality,'' a department of justice spokesman, Tlali Tlali, said in a statement.

''Gay and lesbian rights are human and constitutional rights which must be protected and respected at all times,'' he said, promising a police investigation and assistance to the girl and her family.

The latest victim was said to have been open about her sexuality and was raped on Thursday in Pretoria, presumably as an act of ''corrective rape'' - so called, when men rape a woman to try to ''fix'' her homosexual orientation.

Last month Noxolo Nogwaza, a well-known activist, was found murdered after an attack that appeared to have been motivated by her being a lesbian.