A lesbian was brutally murdered in South Africa over the Christmas holidays shortly after graduating high school.

The mutilated body of Motshidisi Pascalina, aged between 18 and 20, was found in an open field near her home in Evaton township, Gauteng province. She was last seen on 16 December.

‘Her body was discovered in a veld two days later. We suspect she was raped. Her body was burnt. Her eyes were taken out and her private parts were mutilated,’ Cedric Davids, a member of the Young Communists’ League working committee in Gauteng, told eNCA news.

‘Most of her body had sustained burn injuries. Her parents identified her by her tattoo on her leg, it was the only thing visible.’

Four men have been reportedly arrested in connection to the murder.

#MotshidisiPascalina trended on Twitter on Tuesday (12 January) as members of the LGBTI community expressed their shock and anger at the murder.

Homophobic murders need to end. Do we not deserve to feel safe & comfortable with our sexuality? #MotshidisiPascalina — Fighter (@Lindo_My_Baby) January 12, 2016

Her crime was not being born a black woman, but daring to love black women – the thing the world knows not how to do #MotshidisiPascalina — mama action (@missmillib) January 12, 2016