2014 June, 3^rd

Lindeka Qampi sharing her PhotoXP experience to Valerie Thomas

“I am proud of the Aurora visual project. It is a very powerful and strong project, if I were to compare it with previous projects I have co-facilitated before.

For me, photography needs to be included in the school curriculum, especially for those who will never have the opportunity to go to University. Indeed many teenagers are unemployed in the townships, because of their poor results in high school.   My daughter is an example of this circumstance.

In the townships, photography is a new concept. What I am doing is giving back what I have learned, to the people – my experience with photography. I don’t want to die without sharing what I know.

I was 36 years old when I started photography. It came by accident in my life: we never know our future.

 Katlego, a young traditional healer
© Sindisiwe Ncube

The proud lesbian traditional healer

Katlego Mofube is a 22 years old proud lesbian and traditional healer from the middle of Soweto Naledi East. She was born in 1992.

As all the traditional healers, she did not choose to become a Sangoma (traditional healer) but she believes it is a gift from her ancestors. They are the ones who give Sangomas the gift and this is not something you can run away from. If you try, it will haunt you until you die. Therefore, Katlego choose to accept the gift from those that have gone ahead.

The gift came unexpected and she fainted after her name was called by an ancestor.  She had always been described as different. She grew up wearing boy’s clothes, known as “tomish” (tomboy). Her parents ended up understanding that she was indeed homosexual. She cannot say her parents accepted it but they tolerate it. Her mother is like a sister her because they can talk freely about everything including her girlfriends. Katlego’s dad is furniture salesman and sells beds for a living. She is helping him by being a bookkeeper. She is using her gifts to give her father some direction on his business as well. She was never in the closet and she was very free to talk to me.

She is also a very talented soccer player. She played in a team called The Fair Ladies. We used to play together. Her dream is to play one day with the national team, bafana bafana. She is dating a 17 years old girl.

I learnt from this story that your sexuality must not stop you from reaching your goals and dreams.

I am now looking forward my next story, which is about the albino homosexual who married what others would consider a ‘normal black’ woman.

One of the informal settlement in Soweto
© Thando Methane

Few days after rain and the boys play in dirty water 
© Kamogelo Petlele

Public toilets shared by the informal settlement squatters
© Kamogelo Petlele

Public toilets shared by the informal settlement squatters
© Kamogelo Petlele

Goats grazing the fields…

Miriam cooking meal at home
© Thobekile Zwane

My story is about a Lady called Miriam, aka Kippie.

She was born on the 3^rd of November 1964 and she died at the age of 50, on the 4^th of May 2014.

The colored lady  (one of South African races), and very well known in Kliptown, living with black people in this area, in a very bad situation.

She lived in one room.  It was a kitchen, bedroom – her everything. One can see the dangerous stove smoking in the middle of the room. I tried to capture the lady and the smoke, through the keyhole: it shapes like half the picture. We photographed her in April when we met her. She was welcoming to us. We had the intention of meeting her again.  Unfortunately we found out she had passed away before we could go back. She was sick and  died in May.

She told us she had two children, whom she lived with alone, after her husband left in 2004. He died 6 years ago. He was not taking any medication. ­­­­Her children were young then. Today the eldest is 17 and the youngest 13. They are both still in school. She found out she was positive for about 10 years. At the bottom of her portrait there is a picture framing four kids. We did not ask who they were. We recognised the two younger ones.

She was not working. She could not take her medication because she could not afford to pay for the transport to go to the clinics where free treatments (ARV) were delivered. Those places were too far and it was too expensive to get there. She was not taking care of herself, of her sickness.

I met with her last born child named Given, when I went back to Kliptown. He was wearing a red T-shirt that day. He was the one who passed the news to us that she was very ill. He is now living with a father he does not know because they had been separated for a long time. He grew up without him. We did a short video of him. He was crying and we ended up all crying. I learnt a lesson that tomorrow is not promised. Do not leave any gap. If there is any thing you have in mind just do it.

The last image of her and her family is that of the lock used to close her shelter after she passed.  Those images are like stamps that no one can wipe away. It will always stay there and help the children remember that this person was once alive.

This is the power of images.

 The day we went back to Marie’s we were told that she died few days before and she was buried on the 3rd May 2014  
© Thando Methane

Boy playing with trash
© Thando Methane

Woman performing daily chores…
© Thando Methane

Kids reading in the veranda
© Kamogelo Petlele

Pupils at Aurora Girls High school where the learners are schooling
© Kamogelo Petlele

Angelo is a Grade 12 student at Aurora.
© Kamogelo Petlele

17 years old: Angelo, the teenage mother

I have called my stories “Apartheid then and apartheid now”

My first story is about Angelo. Angelo has experienced so many challenges in her life. She grew up, in an Orange Farm in Soweto, living with her aunt and her aunt’s disabled child. She had to live with them because of the poverty in her original home.

One afternoon, while she was feeding the child, he suddenly fainted and could not move. He suddenly passed in her arms. She ran out screaming and calling for help but the baby could not be resuscitated.  The aunt got very angry and started to believe that Angelo killed her only child. She sent Angelo back home immediately within a blink of an eye.

To make a living, Angelo’s mother was selling chicken heads and feet on the street. She is the main breadwinner. She was already stressed out and struggling to support the whole household. One day, she had to rush to the hospital because Angelo fainted in the classroom. They discovered then that Angelo was pregnant again. The mother called a family meeting and they decided on the route of adoption.

After a few weeks the grandmother who was living with them said otherwise: “children are a blessing” she said “no matter what the circumstances, the child has the right to live with her biological mother”. She convinced the whole family including her daughter, Angelo’s mother. Angelo’s was relieved and thrilled even if she knew nothing about motherhood. Angelo gave birth to a handsome baby boy.

She is now back in school. She found a job and she works in different provinces every weekend and during school vacation, to help contribute to the household. She is struggling with her studies but she is trying to strength her mind. The father of Angelo’s child is contributing as he can. They want to get married. But Angelo’s mother disagrees with a traditional marriage because then, Angelo will belong to the stepfamily …

When we interviewed her, she reflected on her history. She struggles with the same poverty that her mother faced. She is now doing her grade 12 and she will soon be finishing school.

Big challenges.

Her face tells it all
© Kamogelo Petlele

Wandering puppy in the hood
© Kamogelo Petlele

Oh boy…
© Kamogelo Petlele

Beyond 2010 World Cup, boys playing on goal post
© Kamogelo Petlele

The Making of (…) With Aurora’s learners I spent three or four sessions per week since March 2014. For instance on Sunday I was in Soweto at eleven in time to teach and we finished at 5 pm. If we go out on the field, we tend to spend even more time than that. We were in Kliptown for the national election and we managed to get some video of the school as well.

In the photographs and video wanted the students to appear in the background as a symbol of their roots. We have got images at school and the community of Kliptown,which is one of the oldest townships in Soweto.  It very much reminds me of my own childhood. We lived in what was more of a squatter camp.  There are new RDP houses now. Squatter camps are birthed the idea of RDP houses.

There are so many things happening there and its always interesting to observe the daily happenings and how life unforlds there. You can see happiness. An outsider may think the community is poor but there is happiness and a lot of love there. You can see that people are very creative and use whatever they have creatively.  The children make balls from trash, people live together – it all works to starve poverty away.

To face the challenges

For some students, this was the first time to go out explore, as witnesses of their own life.  At first they were shocked and overwhelmed because they saw busy streets, trashed toilets, boxes accummulating,etc – the effects of overcrowding.

I took them into their community so that they could come face to face with the realities and challenges being faced day in, day out.

It is not easy to go out and shoot people. Sometimes, you have to face the attitude of the people. I was almost attacked by a guy while I was filming a woman cooking pap.

Most university students do not know how to interact with the world. Those from the townships understand it more. I teach students to appreciate everything. For one to better know themselves, they must accept their situation first. Learning and acceptance are good values to abide by in life.  It helps them understand the value of respecting one’s body, being careful of the relationships they get into, drinking alcohol, doing drugs or embracing prostitution as a career and ending up raising children alone.

Most of these children grew up witnessing crime and sometimes being caught up in crime. There are different generations to navigate between children of apartheid and born frees, whom they majorly are. Some of what they witness does not make sense to them because they cannot relate to the yesteryear. They are clueless when they see what they see now. They photograph individuals with visible and invisible scars and wounds.  That does not take away from the fact that the place is still bustling with energy; you can hear the music of the drums from the church and others have their chairs outside and they are just hanging out.

You can always see the beauty of it.

I want to say to the world:

Poverty still exists.  We cannot runaway from that. But from the experience of poverty, comes flexibility to face all challenges. Hope is the key to dignity and happiness,

The JOY is THERE!

I want to continue similar projects with other schools because women are a priority right now.

Related articles

2014 July 12:   From Soweto to Paris for the love of photography

and

2014 July 13:  “Give children cameras not candies”

Featuring the  portrait of Siphiwe Mbatha, August House, Johannesburg, 2012
© Zanele Muholi

Previous lectures

2014 June 17:  Muholi’s Ryerson University (RIC) talk

and

2014 April 29:  Muholi to speak at UC San Diego

and

2014 March 21:   Photo of the day from Human Rights and LGBTI in Sub Saharan Africa class

and

2014 March 18:  Sharing South African Queer knowledge with students in America

and

2014 March 5:  More than an activist

and

2014 Feb. 4:  Black Queer Born Frees in South Africa

and

2013 Nov. 4:   From Market Photo Workshop to Bremen University

© Collen Mfazwe
23/06/2014

Previous articles

2014 July 13:    A sincere thank you to all my ex lovers

and

2014 April 30:  Good spirit dampened by my grandfather’s death

and

2014 May 24:   The special boy

My name is Refilwe Pitso but am popularly known as ‘Fifi’.
I was born and raised in Daveyton, Benoni in Johannesburg. I was born on the 27th of December 1991 and I was raised by my mother. She is a single parent but there were other guardians who helped raise me as well. I currently live with her and my younger sister.

My highest level of education is matric and I graduated with a B. I am employed at Ackermans as a shop assistant. I am also a treasurer on non-profit organisation called Team Dress Fresh, an organisation involved with street fashion. I love modeling very much.
In 2013 I won the Mr Uthingo pageant in Daveyton. The experience was fun but the competition was tight. I was competing against my best friend Meme. The first time I entered, I won the Mr Valentine title, as a 2nd Prince. When I entered this time, I was confident I would win. I knew I had the looks, I knew the challenges, the personality I needed to project and I know modeling as a whole. In the end I won best prize and there was a photo frame and man’s accessories included.

The future plans that I have for myself are to rise up in the real world, becoming something that people could never believe from a person like me. I would like people to know that when they’re looking at me they are looking at a man who is trapped in a woman’s body. Frankly what am trying to say is I am lesbian.

I was born this way and I cannot change the skin that I live in.
In terms of gender I identify as a female, a woman who likes the satisfaction of another woman. I identify as butch and to me this means that I am a masculine person in a relationship. This tends to denote a degree of masculinity displayed by a female individual beyond that typical of a tomboy.

My hobbies are playing soccer, reading novels, watching TV, and fashion shows.

My family and I went through rough patches these past few years. When I came out as a lesbian, it came as a horrifying shock to them. They thought that I was cursed. They thought that the devil was using me and that I had a demon in me. They started taking me to various churches to be exorcised, but nothing changed. I kept on telling them that the devil was not using me and this is who I was and nothing could change me. Time passed by and they started realising how I lived my life and they started gaining an understanding that people like me live by God’s will. Suddenly they were showing me real love
and real support.

I take relationships seriously, even though our generation takes love for granted. I am currently dating and I try by all means to love and cherish my woman. My parents are totally aware of my relationship, and so do the family of my girlfriend.

I live in a nasty township where unexpected deaths occur. Anything is possible there. Crime rates are very high. People went from being human to being animals and the law is not doing enough, especially around lesbian/gay crime.

As a black lesbian my life is always in danger on the streets, taxi ranks, clubs and even in schools. People are homophobic every day and so far nothing has changed. As the LGBTI community, we try
hard to educate people about who we are, what we are and what we do, but to them it is like telling them to hate us more.

If I were to become a leader or a politician, I would focus on hate crimes and finding solutions on how to overcome them. I believe they will not be completely eliminated but that more could be done to have them under control.

If given a chance to do something that will change my life, I would become the first lesbian president and my platform would be to champion equal rights. The true meaning of being young is to live happily, show love to my race, show people that I am more than who I am romantically attracted to and that I am human being who is equally capable to think and bring change to the world. The true meaning of being a woman means I don’t have to be ashamed of who I am and who I have become.

‘Fifi’ featuring in Faces and Phases

When I saw my picture on the wall I was amazed by the work Zanele Muholi was doing, I mean she chose me coz she saw something in me, and I felt happier than ever.
When my parents saw my picture my mum was like “ngwanaka you definitely a man.” She is now proud of me, am proud of taking that chance when I still got the time, and thanks to Zanele now people know who I am.

L-R: Meme Motaung, Shaz Mthunzi & Refilwe Pitso @ WAM opening on 29th Jan. 2014

Previous life stories

2014 June 25: I consider myself beautiful not handsome

and

2014 May 24: The special boy

and

2014 May 7: I don’t like being identified in terms and definitions

and

2014 May 18: Behind the beautiful face you see is a lesbian who is torn into a million pieces

and

2014 May 30: I was a boy who would one day grow up to be a man

and

2013 Oct. 22: I thought university was for the rich

and

2013 Oct. 16: I am a beautiful young dyke, a woman lover

and

2013 Oct. 12: I just feel she deserves much better

and

2013 Oct. 2: I am a normal transgender woman’

and

2013 Aug. 22: Am exactly where I’m supposed to be

and

2013 July 15: The virus has become a silent relative

and

2013 June 27: Who I Am

and

2013 March 10:  “I love women and they love me”

and

2013 February 28: I am not a Victim but a Victor

If you are interested in applying for this opportunity kindly email for application forms:
hoosain.khan@wits.ac.za

or call

+27 11 717 4239 

My name is Lebogang Mashifane, I’m 25 years old and I live with my mother in Kwa-Thema, east of Gauteng, South Africa.
I have recently relocated from Cape Town, South Africa.
I hold a Diploma in Multimedia Technology from CPUT (Cape Peninsula University of Technology). I currently freelance as a videographer and volunteer for Inkanyiso as a researcher and writer.

 
The transition of living in the township of Kwa-Thema for 12 years, to living in the suburbs of Cape Town for 12 years and back to the township of Kwa – Thema again has been quite an experience. I realise how the youth’s lives seem meaningless in the township. A girl still to be a teenager already has a dented future. The extreme indulgence of sex, drugs and alcohol has resulted in teenage pregnancy, poverty, crime, ignorance and unrealised dreams.
The youth of 1976 in South Africa fought very hard, not only for themselves, but also for the generations to come. I am fortunate and forever appreciative of their blood, sweat and tears that today I can have an education in English. Institutionalised racial segregation in South Africa was officialised in the 60’s right through to the early 90’s. I embrace the freedoms that we now possess as a rainbow nation. It is almost 4 decades since the student uprising in Soweto, 38 years to be exact.

 
The needs and wants of the youth of that era are slightly different from those of this era, such as electricity and housing, which is still a problem today. Nowadays we also want internet access as most of the youth access internet from their cell phones. The youth of 1976 wanted freedom from the oppressors, who were the invading Europeans. They also wanted their land back from the oppressors’ forceful ownership and wanted to not be taught in the language of the oppressor. Amongst those wants there were many other wants but the above mentioned were the main focal points.

 
I believe in liberation and equal rights for all. I want to have a shelter that would house people of all ages that are abused and homeless. I believe that this action will decrease some of the issues that we are faced with in the universe. The shelter would also serve as a job opportunity and/ or an educational opportunity. People will be able to learn as well as find employment, as the shelter would have a nursery for those with green fingers. The produce will be served as food for the shelter and excess sold at fruit and vegetable stores. There would also be opportunities of different crafts such as bead work, sculpturing, painting, etc. Art will be explored in all its forms, benefiting the people and maintaining the shelter.

 
I would also like to have my own media company which will also have the shelter residents as workers. The shelter residents will choose according to their interests as to which field they would like to explore. A clinic will also be part of the shelter as all the people that come to the shelter for assistance will most likely need counselling and medical attention for their health. As residents get better and heal from their various ailments, they would become peer workers, getting tarining – according to their interests – to run the clinic along with all other fields. There will also be a school which would teach people of all ages that need a basic education. Those who can qualify to apply for external educations such as college or university can do so and be assisted in getting bursaries from various companies.

 
Security is vital to every property therefore the shelter would also have a security company. It would also be a service offered to companies that require security. The shelter residents that would work in this field would undergo a criminal check as this is very crucial for this field. The same would apply for all other positions.
At the moment I am trying to research about the township that I live in as an adult with ideas, and no longer a child. I want to start an art movement that will also be a space for young people to find solace and refuge. This will be a space where poetry recitation, painting, drawing, singing, dancing, acting etc, will take place. We will also allow the members of this art movement to share their pain and frustrations. Some of the youth could be succumbing to drugs because they have no support at home and no one to talk to about their issues. Some end up as sex slaves or living with someone they are not in love with, because they feel the need to be loved.

 
My mother, as a parent to a gay daughter and her friend who is a mother to a gay son want to start a support group for parents who have gay children. I’m also helping my mother with preparations for this movement. I value this movement and I want to see it succeed. This is such a great idea to all family members including the entire community and fighting homophobia which is still a massive problem in South Africa.

 
I want to see myself as part of a great influence to change this world for the better. I want to see myself living in a world where no one will have to be out in the streets on cold and rainy nights. A world where no one has to be hungry, lonely, illiterate or with shattered dreams. Right now I am stuck with big ideas and no resources to make them happen. It kills me every day to see people suffer and others gloat about to the very same suffering people.

 
I believe in helping people that also try to help themselves. Other people just want to be spoon-fed, they need to get a wake up call. It is about time we rose together as a collective to empower each other for a better life now and forever.

Previous by Lebo Mashifane

2014 June 17: Uprising with EPOC and the black LGBTI community in Ekurhuleni

and

2014 May 26: EPOC (out)reaching effort

by Lerato Dumse

Seizing opportunities was the central message shared with more than 15 teenage girls at Aurora Girls High School, in Soweto on 1st August 2014.

The girls are part of the Siyafundisana Photo XP, a photography training project founded by Zanele Muholi.Muholi is in collaboration with Linda Mankazana, Lindeka Qampi and Valerie Thomas.

L-R:  Elisa Pica, Lindeka Qampi, Mfundi Vundla, Thobza Zwane and Lerato Dumse

Muholi who had arrived in South Africa that from Paris, France that morning, after being away for three months, said the event is how she wanted to start her Women’s month.

The award winning photographer reminded the girls that they are doing it for themselves, and they all have their own stories to tell.

Some of the young women’s families, teachers, project facilitators and various guests were present. Guest speakers were Phumla Masuku, former learner and co-founder of Chosen FEW soccer team, Nonkululeko Britton-Masekela, a journalist and poet and Mfundi Vundla, executive producer of South African soapie Generations assembled inside one of the classrooms. Mfundi shared his story of persistence and seizing grabbing an opportunity.

Reminiscing about how he was told to write a South African soapie, he asked his wife to buy soapie books in the United States of America, because he had never written a soapie.

Despite his lack of experience, Mfundi said he spent the next weeks reading up on, and watching soapies, before giving birth to Generations, which became an instant hit.

Nonkululeko started her day with the girls by doing an exercise where the girls had to imagine the future them, where they are in life, and how they are making a living.

Nonkululeko who wrote her first poem in Grade 11, told the young photographers that grabbing opportunities allowed her to be a paid journalist by the time she started her first year in journalism at the University of Johannesburg.

Each learner shared their vision of the future them. While some saw themselves in three years, others saw five years from now.

One of the learners Nomthandazo Sibanyoni (19) saw herself in ten years time.
At 29 Nomthandazo sees herself with an Honors degree in the Arts. Her biggest motivation at the moment is the fact that she is the first person in her family to reach matric.
Mbali Vilakazi and Nonkululeko Britton-Masekela shared their moving poetry in closing.

Related links

2014 July 16: Through the eyes of young women photographers

and

2014 July 13: “Give children cameras not candies”

and

2014 July 12: From Soweto to Paris for the love of photography

My name is Katiso Kgope, and I was born on September 18, in 1995.
I was born in Glen Wood hospital, Benoni my parents are Mandla Kgope and the late Mpho Kgope – Monyake.

I was given the name of Katiso by my mother, which originates from the Setswana term Goatisa which means Addition, basically an addition to our big family.

I speak English, iSiZulu and Setswana fluently.

From a very young age, mentally my mind was feminine. I did not know why at the time as I was still very young and did not have a clear understanding of the mental state I was in.

But for some reason I had always been attracted to all the things girls would be attracted to and wanted nothing to do with what boys would be attracted to.
I was told that when I was still a child, every morning when my mother got ready for work, I would always be in her bedroom playing with all her things such as her makeup, her jewellery, especially her shoes, I was in love with her shoes.

My father would take me and lock me up in the car when my mother got ready for work in a sense that they were hoping the longer I stayed away, the better chances of me losing interest in such things and little did they know that, that was just the tip of the ice berg.

I did not know what being trans meant when I was a child, I didn’t understand what I was doing but for some reason it felt normal to me.

I am a beautiful trans woman, and I strongly believe that we all come from God, and that perhaps sometimes He makes mistakes because I feel my original body parts were given to the wrong individual.

I consider myself to be a cordial person, as I have been told. I am a very friendly and a social butterfly and there is nothing I enjoy more than meeting new people, especially those who are just like me, because I find the different types of life stories of other trans women very fascinating.

I feel that just making new friends with other transwomen will be just a beautiful experience.
I also entered 2 pageants, I lost the title of Miss Gay Daveyton and the second pageant I entered I won Miss Valentine’s Second Princess along side Miss T as the third and first Princess and Cuteness as the Queen.

I wish to have a sex change when my financial situation allows me to. There is nothing that would make me happier than to be an actual woman.

To be honest I love how I look, but like anyone else, there are just a few things I would like to change; such as my smile, my narrow hips and my flat chest as well as getting a female organ. That would be the cherry on top.

I would have loved to be able to physically give birth but sadly we all know that will not happen.

My grandmother whom I lived with in a township called Daveyton, passed away on June 21.

My mother died when I was three years old and my father looked after me until I finished high school. My father has not fully accepted the fact that I am trans, and I highly doubt he ever will.

His hatred of my sexual preference has resulted in a huge rift in our relationship in such a way that, we hardly ever speak.
The only time we communicate is when school is involved; otherwise we have nothing to talk about. Basically there is no father-child relationship.

Its even worse that he has a new wife and a new baby girl, which gave my dad room to make excuses to not support me financially where school is not involved, but I love my baby sister anyway.

I attended a primary school called Lee Rand Primary School until grade 5 when I had to change to Pine Grove Primary School where I finished junior school.

I had to move to the different primary schools because the first school didn’t treat me well due to my sexuality. I then went to Springs Technical High school, and matriculated in 2013.
I did not study further than High School.

I have always dreamed of being a model, but everything I have tried to do has failed because my father was not supportive.

My first dream was to become an actor, I was hoping that I was going to attend the National School of the Arts but my dad said it was too expensive, so that failed like my modelling.

I then decided that I want to study fashion at any fashion college, and I heard the same excuse I have been hearing from him for any school I wanted, “that is too expensive, I cant afford”.
I had gotten so sick of that line so much that I decided to resort to my plan C, which was to attend a government college in Benoni called Benoni Ekurhuleni College.

When I applied it was full, so I had to settle for Springs Ekurhuleni College. I decided to study something that would please my father as he was willing to pay for something that was more on the “practical side”.

I am currently studying towards a Diploma in Marketing at Springs Ekurhuleni College. I wish to further my studies after receiving my diploma in marketing and studying what I have always wanted; fashion.

I have always had a dream of becoming a trans super model because I feel that so far the world is yet to see a transsexual woman take the title.

What I fail to understand is why trans women are never in adverts in South African magazines, as well as TV series and in movies.

Since no one had the courage to do so that is all about to change. I plan to be the first transsexual super model to make it big in the world and make a name for myself and most importantly to represent for all trans women that did not get a chance to let the world know who we are and what we stand for.

The world needs to learn that the LGBT community consists of human beings and we also have dreams and its time that all changed.

I wish to travel to New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Paris, London, Belgium and Greece to do things such as photo shoots, fashion shows, exhibitions and any kind of event.

I want to do a photo shoot in the Arc de Triomph, Eiffel Tower and in the neo-classic Haussmannian boulevards plus. Have a shoot in the beautiful Central Park in New York, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Times Square and most importantly in Hollywood, and the Hollywood walk of fame, the Myrtos Beach, Mykonos, and Santorini.

I wish to get the chance to meet famous idols such as Bonang Matheba, Somizi Mhlongo, Khanyi Mbau, Dineo Ranaka, and other international fashion designers such as Marc Jacobs, Stella MCcartney.

I would also like to meet Rupaul of Rupaul’s Drag Race, a famous tv series of drag queens and trans women, competing to see who is the best of the best.

‪ My name is Sphiwe Sesana Mbatha. I am a very funny person, I love people and I love happy endings. I am a very dedicated when it comes to work, and I’m a fast learner too.
I am ambitious and always ready to face the challenges that come my way. I was born at Boksburg Hospital on the 14th November 1992.

Simphiwe Mbatha, August House, Johannesburg, 2012

At home we speak isiZulu and I can also speak Sotho, English and a bit of Xhosa. I have a mother and a father and I have a little brother.
I live in Daveyton, with my grandmother, four aunts, five siblings, two uncles, and my mother. However my mother is always away because of her work.

I am unemployed, I am still hustling for a job. I went to Intuthuko day care centre, and a year after I started school at Kuzimisela Primary School, from standard one until standard five.
I enjoyed my primary school because I was active in sports especially in soccer and athletics. My grandmother had a small business, selling beers at home in order for us to survive. My father deserted me, he refused to take responsibility.

In 2006 I went to study at H.B Nyathi Secondary School from standard 6 until standard 10. I passed my matric with symbol B and went to further my studies at MSC Business College.
I was studying (IT) Information Technology but I had to drop out because of financial problems at home.

I want to be an IT Specialist, I would love to go back to college and finish up my course. I want to improve technology all over the world. I want to make world a better place, turn negative situations into positives. I like playing soccer and dancing.
I am a proud lesbian woman and I identify myself as a woman who is sexually and physically attracted to same sex gender. In 2012 I entered Mr and Mrs Lesbian Uthingo, Daveyton and I was the 1st prince.

In 2013 I entered Mr Lesbian Daveyton and I took a second prince position. I am a butch and masculine. I am not a lesbian by choice, it is because I am attracted to other women.
Being lesbian means a lot to me, especially being in an open closet, some lesbians who are in the closet wish to be like me.
They wish to have freedom like me, but they cant because of their families. I love the fact that as a lesbian couple, you get to talk about everything in your relationship because, you both females and you understand each other.

I won’t say my family is happy or sad about me being lesbian, they accepted me and they never gave me problems about my sexuality. I grew up mostly with boys, acting boyish since I was young and I never loved girls’ clothes.

I can say I was an open book since I was young. I’m in a relationship with a female, my family is still not aware about our relationship because its still early days and we not staying together, she lives with her family and I live with mine.
We are willing to make things work between us because she makes me happy. We all deserve to be loved and everyone deserves to be happy.
Last year September I dated a girl from Soweto, it was a long distance relationship and then early February I found the girl I loved for a very long time.
We got in a relationship and I decided to end the other relationship with the Soweto girl. After a few days the Soweto girl started stalking us, insulting us on facebook, smsses, whatsapp even calling us ten times a day just to insult us.
When she heard that we broke up, she was the first to celebrate. She’s making my life a living hell because she’s still insulting me, my family and friends especially my mom and grandmom.

I don’t know why she’s involving my family and friends. Everyday I receive 18 massages from her insulting me and my family and she makes sure my relationships don’t last.
This girl is making my life miserable.

We cannot stop hate crimes but we can prevent it. We have to educate people about the lgbti community and make them see that we are also people and we deserve to be treated like human beings.
If I were to be a leader or tv presenter I would focus on talking about traditional norms that we have to break because other lgbti people cannot follow them.
I will also focus on Gender Based Violence (GBV). I would like to go back to school, finish my IT course, graduate, and have a well paying job.

I would use the chance wisely so that I can benefit in future. The true meaning of my identity means being a daughter to my mom and a sister to my brother. I was once attacked by a group of boys.
I was coming from the shops around 8pm, they hit me with a iron on my left knee, searched my pockets and took my new phone, before they left one of the guys said ”stabane ndini uzofa mawungazibhekanga” I was shocked and scared to tell my parents.
From that day I learnt to be very careful because bad luck has its ways to come.

Being part of Faces & Phases is a great experience. I remember my friend took me to Zanele Muholi’s exhibition and I loved her work. I then told my friend that I would also love to be part of the project. Muholi took us for a photo shoot and I enjoyed every minute of it. I felt like a star and I was happy to be given the opportunity because I love being a model.
I enjoy working with Muholi, she’s caring and I respect her so much. I thank her for giving me such a great opportunity to make something for my life as a young female lesbian.

Previous life stories

2014 July 26: “I was born this way and I cannot change the skin that I live in”

and

2014 June 25: I consider myself beautiful not handsome…

and

2014 May 24: The special boy

and

2014 May 7: I don’t like being identified in terms and definitions

and

2014 May 18: Behind the beautiful face you see is a lesbian who is torn into a million pieces

and

2014 May 30: I was a boy who would one day grow up to be a man

and

2013 Oct. 22: I thought university was for the rich

and

2013 Oct. 16: I am a beautiful young dyke, a woman lover

and

2013 Oct. 12: I just feel she deserves much better

and

2013 Oct. 2: I am a normal transgender woman’

and

2013 Aug. 22: Am exactly where I’m supposed to be

and

2013 July 15: The virus has become a silent relative

and

2013 June 27: Who I Am

and

2013 March 10: “I love women and they love me”

and

2013 February 28: I am not a Victim but a Victor

At the forefront of our struggle, at this time of sadness… Activists from Gay Umbrella leading the way to the sport grounds before the Memorial service of Disebo Gift Makau...

Angry community members demanding justice for Disebo…

On the right is Mr P.de Wit from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) waiting for the memorandum to be signed.

Jabu Perreira, director of Iranti-Org aiming for the best shot of the marchers.

Salute comrades…

Ayihlale phansi ibambe umthetho

Member of the Gay Umbrella in Mafikeng at the forefront of the march entering the sport grounds.

Sekwanele manje is a Zulu expression which means ‘Enough is enough…”

Malusi John Tau in a white t-shirt (centred) by fellow comrades leading the march to the Ventersdorp Police Station

Fed up community members holding placards with strong messages…

Mildred Maropefele, head of Gay Umbrella organisation in Mafikeng…

Even policemen can be documenters…

Councillor Mapule Mataboge signing the memorandum before it was handed over to the NPA representative
… with Thabiso from Gay Umbrella.

 Col. H. Vermeulen in charge of the march…

After the march the protesters proceeded to the Makau home where the prayer meeting was held…

Photos by Lindeka Qampi
Text by Odidi Mfenyana

A month  before in the same Centre for the Book, almost in the exact same spot as Zanele Muholi sat on Wednesday 20 August 2014 for the Debate on Homosexuality in Africa hosted by Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR), stood the legendary Angela Davis.
Discussing the evolution of racism Angela Davis asked us to no longer be surprised by incidents of racism. Davis asked us to work steadfastly and comprehensively towards a non-racist society, knowing that racism exists n permeates our everyday existence.

Zanele Muholi a month later stood at the same place drawing attention to South Africa’s most fashionable hate crime of the moment “Corrective Rape”.

Not wanting to be drawn into an academic talk shop about the origins of African homosexuality, Muholi went for the jugular reality.

Zanele named all the high profile hate crimes since 2003 starting with the horrific mass murder at Sizzlers in Sea Point and ending with the recent gruesome rape and murder of Gift Makau in Ventersdorp.

No sooner had the “debate” come to its flaccid end when Muholi had my manager book me on the first flight to Jozi to join her covering the Memorial Service in Ventersdorp. It was time to roll up my sleeves n get stuck in.
Meeting at the boarding gate Thursday morning at 6am we landed n Muholi’s driver took us straight to Ventersdorp.

Ventersdorp already synonymous with racist White Supremacy n blighted by the legend of Eugene Terreblanche, now added the death of Disebo Gift Makau to its gothic accolades.

When we arrived at lunchtime Thursday, to my surprise a full media circus had rolled into town with the ruling party in full force of condemnation n indignation. ANC t-shirts were on almost every citizen. A new civil organisation under the Gay Umbrella was formed. A suspect had been apprehended. A union of Mothers of previously raped and murdered lesbians had come from Gauteng to lend support. Even CNN had come round for interviews.

The memorial service was more than well organised it was typical overreaction. Instead if homophobia, misogyny and poverty had been positively proactively been challenged, if previous cases had been properly investigated and successfully prosecuted we would not have been standing at another Memorial of a raped and murdered young woman in Women’s Month.

Again the LGBT community had to force its way onto the service’s programme after it seemed it was about to turn into an election rally.
“We want action! why must we still fight for rights”
Was the call from fellow women n lesbians
“we are tired of condemnation we want proactive action”

In Tshing, Ext. 2, Ventersdorp, people have grown tired of looking back in anger. People want a change for the better living the rights of our Constitution.

With that said it is time that Black Queer Artists take a stand and denounce the ongoing hate crimes in our townships. We need to produce work that focus mainly on these atrocities. We can’t rely on governmental mandates and foreign sympathy because it is WE (LGBTI community) who are being brutalized and murdered on daily basis.

Related article

2014 Aug. 19: Makau family mourns the brutal murder of their beloved

and

From Media24

Woman killed for being a lesbian – report

photo by Zanele Muholi featuring Odidi Mfenyana

… work in progress!!!

Related articles

2014 Aug. 19: Makau family mourns the brutal murder of their beloved

photo by Zanele Muholi featuring Odidi Mfenyana

… work in progress!!!

Related articles

2014 Aug. 19: Makau family mourns the brutal murder of their beloved

Lulama Rikhotso showing off her artwork…

Young photographers learning alternative artistic skills with Jammy-Lee…

Martha looking on…

Megan engaging with Ntombi…

Mthabiseni Mbhele & Thobekile Zwane doing it…

Thando Khumalo focusing on her portrait…

Where:  Wits University School of Arts

Who:  Young female photographers from Aurora Girls High School, Soweto, learning lithography offered by Megan Heilig and Jammy-Lee Brophy (both Fine Arts students at Wits…

Photos by Lindeka Qampi

 by Lebo Mashifane

On August 29, 2014, Lindeka Qampi, Zanele Muholi, Martha Qumba and myself visited Aurora Girls High School in Zola One, Soweto. It’s a school where Lindeka and Zanele are busy tutoring photography to some learners after school hours.

When we arrived there some of the learners were still in class and it was difficult to get a vacant classroom to occupy. The school had classrooms with broken windows and it was a very windy and cold day. Classrooms were freezing and the wind was blowing through the broken windows. And it is built on a field with water and it is located next to a cemetery.

Martha Qumba on the left glancing in the room where learners where practising their lithography artworks…

Martha a researcher from Cape Town interviewed some of the learners while I captured the interviews on video. It was interesting and insightful to hear how the learners spoke of their first camera experience. The most common issue they encountered when taking their very first picture was taking a blurry picture.

Busisiwe Radebe motivating young female photographers at Aurora Girls High School on the 29th Aug. 2014

We were later joined by Busisiwe Radebe and Makwele Makwele from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Busisiwe did a presentation informing the learners about opportunities that the DTI can offer them, such as incentives and internships.

The presentation also was very motivational. She was not only professional but she also talked about her personal experience as she expressed her love for the learners. Her message to the children was ”Each one Teach One.”

L-R: Thando Khumalo and Kamo Petlele, our young promising photographers… Photos by Lindeka Qampi

The visual work done by Lindeka and Zanele was very powerful. They have brought opportunities into the school for the learners. Not only have they ”given back to community” or take a girl child to school but they became pillars that carry these learners on an everyday basis.

Linda Mankazana, an educator Aurora and 2014 PhotoXP collaborator thanked the guest speaker for her special visit and mentioned that the school has 1300 learners and only 1 percent of the entire school is given opportunities that even past matriculants never had. She said these learners spend their month end weekend in a classroom developing themselves.

Previous by Lebo

2014 Aug. 9: My name is Woman

My name is Lesiba Mothibe also known as Lee. I was born on the 5 August 1984 in BBH
(hospital’s name) now known as Tambo Memorial Hospital. I’m the first born and have two siblings a brother and sister.

I matriculated in 2002 at Benoni Educational College, then in 2003 I attended FET the Ekurhuleni East Colleges. I graduated in 2004, obtaining the Clothing Production Diploma. During 2003 to 2005 I was also a Beauty Queen won 6 titles in 2 years. Including the most precious one to my heart as the first Miss Gay Daveyton in 2003, that’s when my life got exciting and I follow to enter other pageants in and around Gauteng.

Featuring in Black Queer Youth series, Parktown, Johannesburg (2013). 

 I’m currently leaving in Daveyton, renting a room. I’m working as a Collections Consultant in a bank, studying part time Project Management Degree at UNISA. I also run and organize the Miss Gay Daveyton.

I love my Daveyton I want to bring change and positivity in the LGBTIQ community in my neighbourhood too. Though I stayed in other towns and townships, I eventually came back to instil the change I want to see in our township.

I’m a game changer, leader and activist. I’m also an introvert, come across as shy sometimes, but I have the ability to shine in any given situation. I’m mostly motivated by the thoughts of being average and normal. I push boundaries and create opportunities for myself. 

I’m a founder of Uthingo (the rainbow) together with other gays and lesbians in Daveyton. I was selected as a chairperson for two years until I resigned in order to pursue my own visions. I’m proud to have been part of the organization and wish them the best.

Featuring in Beauties series… With Yaya & Mellisa in December 2013, in Durban South Beach… 

With my friends Funo & Akhona at Soweto Pride in 2012…     © Photos by Zanele Muholi

 
I have just turned 30, I’m loving it and thankful to the Lord for blessing me with such an interesting life. I grew up in a loving environment with both my parents. This would have marked their 30 years anniversary as they married a month after I was born. My father passed on when I was in matric, two weeks before I turned 18 and two months before I wrote my final exams. It was a traumatic year ever in my life as I lost my polar because we’re a close knit family. 
My mom was there for all of us, she’s a strong and powerful woman who stands and supports us at all times no matter what.

Everyone at home knows about my sexuality and they knew since I can remember.  My siblings have never discriminated against me in any form. My identity was always visual and I never had the pressure to hide and be in the so called closet. I’ve lived with my grandma mostly, she always told me how special and beautiful I was. She embraced me. I believe that helped everyone to appreciate and warm up to my uniqueness. The only discrimination I encountered was from the school, neighbourhood and church.

I like reading, going out for movies and drinks with friends, networking and implementing my ideas.

I believe there’s no time to rest while our community lacks knowledge and understanding, that’s why I haven’t moved out of Daveyton. I want to develop my township first and leave a legacy behind even though a lot of people always tell me that I’ve brought a change. I’m not yet satisfied with the little I have done. Hence they say charity begins at home. A good friend of mine said to me ” acknowledge and celebrate yourself, your achievements and congratulate yourself at all times because people won’t do that while you’re still alive. It motived me to write and tell my own story because I noticed it was true. We need to change our mindset and embrace each other while we still alive.

For a very long time I identified myself as a feminine gay man but I never found a sense of belonging and know myself. With lots of soul searching and learning more about different sexualities I’ve found my identity. I’m a proud feminine transgender, I endorse my uniqueness and caring myself with pride and dignity.

I have been dating my partner for nine years, he’s a bisexual man. I’m comfortable in dating bisexual man. Both our families know about our relationship, we seldomly go out to LGBTIQ events as he feels left out. We decided to separate our social life with our private life and its working-out perfectly. 
Love to me is pure and simple, beyond honesty and integrity lies trust which is the foundation of love.

Hate crimes are a nightmare to both homosexuals and their parents. We live in fear of being ourselves and embracing our being even though we have the most liberal Constitution in the entire world. We are not free, we face the same insults, get victimized all the time. We must make sure that our safety is in our own hands.

I have to be careful where ever I go and that’s not fair. How will killing me change anyone to be straight?
That’s why I believe we need the Justice Department which is disciplined.

My township is not different from any other South African township. I’m a hate crime survivor myself, the scars I have on my back shows how stronger I am. Even when it happened eleven years ago I still remember it like it was yesterday.

As a leader I would encourage homosexuals to stop discriminating against each other, that’s when heterosexuals get the strength to be homophobic. We need to stand up for each other and embrace our uniqueness. Let’s love one another. I would like to be part of a happier and successful LGBTIQ.

I would also like to open a gay Lifestyle Centre where I can be able to have variety of activities there, for instance a pub and grill, art gallery, theatre and a club. 

I’ve agreed to work on the Beauties Project because beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and any other form. I’m representing all the transgender man and woman who can’t celebrate themselves, not acknowledged and still fear to be themselves. The world needs to know that although we have the liberal and fair Constitution amongst other countries yet we are not free. The United Nations (UN) needs to intervene because our own laws are failing us.

Previous life stories

2014 Aug. 9: “I am not a lesbian by choice”

and

2014 July 26: “I was born this way and I cannot change the skin that I live in”

and

2014 June 25: I consider myself beautiful not handsome…

and

2014 May 24: The special boy

and

2014 May 7: I don’t like being identified in terms and definitions

and

2014 May 18: Behind the beautiful face you see is a lesbian who is torn into a million pieces

and

2014 May 30: I was a boy who would one day grow up to be a man

and

2013 Oct. 22: I thought university was for the rich

and

2013 Oct. 16: I am a beautiful young dyke, a woman lover

and

2013 Oct. 12: I just feel she deserves much better

and

2013 Oct. 2: I am a normal transgender woman’

and

2013 Aug. 22: Am exactly where I’m supposed to be

and

2013 July 15: The virus has become a silent relative

and

2013 June 27: Who I Am

and

2013 March 10: “I love women and they love me”

and

2013 February 28: I am not a Victim but a Victor

If you are interested in applying for this opportunity kindly email for application forms:
hoosain.khan@wits.ac.za

or call

+27 11 717 4239 

My name is Lebogang Mashifane, I’m 25 years old and I live with my mother in Kwa-Thema, east of Gauteng, South Africa.
I have recently relocated from Cape Town, South Africa.
I hold a Diploma in Multimedia Technology from CPUT (Cape Peninsula University of Technology). I currently freelance as a videographer and volunteer for Inkanyiso as a researcher and writer.

 
The transition of living in the township of Kwa-Thema for 12 years, to living in the suburbs of Cape Town for 12 years and back to the township of Kwa – Thema again has been quite an experience. I realise how the youth’s lives seem meaningless in the township. A girl still to be a teenager already has a dented future. The extreme indulgence of sex, drugs and alcohol has resulted in teenage pregnancy, poverty, crime, ignorance and unrealised dreams.
The youth of 1976 in South Africa fought very hard, not only for themselves, but also for the generations to come. I am fortunate and forever appreciative of their blood, sweat and tears that today I can have an education in English. Institutionalised racial segregation in South Africa was officialised in the 60’s right through to the early 90’s. I embrace the freedoms that we now possess as a rainbow nation. It is almost 4 decades since the student uprising in Soweto, 38 years to be exact.

 
The needs and wants of the youth of that era are slightly different from those of this era, such as electricity and housing, which is still a problem today. Nowadays we also want internet access as most of the youth access internet from their cell phones. The youth of 1976 wanted freedom from the oppressors, who were the invading Europeans. They also wanted their land back from the oppressors’ forceful ownership and wanted to not be taught in the language of the oppressor. Amongst those wants there were many other wants but the above mentioned were the main focal points.

 
I believe in liberation and equal rights for all. I want to have a shelter that would house people of all ages that are abused and homeless. I believe that this action will decrease some of the issues that we are faced with in the universe. The shelter would also serve as a job opportunity and/ or an educational opportunity. People will be able to learn as well as find employment, as the shelter would have a nursery for those with green fingers. The produce will be served as food for the shelter and excess sold at fruit and vegetable stores. There would also be opportunities of different crafts such as bead work, sculpturing, painting, etc. Art will be explored in all its forms, benefiting the people and maintaining the shelter.

 
I would also like to have my own media company which will also have the shelter residents as workers. The shelter residents will choose according to their interests as to which field they would like to explore. A clinic will also be part of the shelter as all the people that come to the shelter for assistance will most likely need counselling and medical attention for their health. As residents get better and heal from their various ailments, they would become peer workers, getting tarining – according to their interests – to run the clinic along with all other fields. There will also be a school which would teach people of all ages that need a basic education. Those who can qualify to apply for external educations such as college or university can do so and be assisted in getting bursaries from various companies.

 
Security is vital to every property therefore the shelter would also have a security company. It would also be a service offered to companies that require security. The shelter residents that would work in this field would undergo a criminal check as this is very crucial for this field. The same would apply for all other positions.
At the moment I am trying to research about the township that I live in as an adult with ideas, and no longer a child. I want to start an art movement that will also be a space for young people to find solace and refuge. This will be a space where poetry recitation, painting, drawing, singing, dancing, acting etc, will take place. We will also allow the members of this art movement to share their pain and frustrations. Some of the youth could be succumbing to drugs because they have no support at home and no one to talk to about their issues. Some end up as sex slaves or living with someone they are not in love with, because they feel the need to be loved.

 
My mother, as a parent to a gay daughter and her friend who is a mother to a gay son want to start a support group for parents who have gay children. I’m also helping my mother with preparations for this movement. I value this movement and I want to see it succeed. This is such a great idea to all family members including the entire community and fighting homophobia which is still a massive problem in South Africa.

 
I want to see myself as part of a great influence to change this world for the better. I want to see myself living in a world where no one will have to be out in the streets on cold and rainy nights. A world where no one has to be hungry, lonely, illiterate or with shattered dreams. Right now I am stuck with big ideas and no resources to make them happen. It kills me every day to see people suffer and others gloat about to the very same suffering people.

 
I believe in helping people that also try to help themselves. Other people just want to be spoon-fed, they need to get a wake up call. It is about time we rose together as a collective to empower each other for a better life now and forever.

Previous by Lebo Mashifane

2014 June 17: Uprising with EPOC and the black LGBTI community in Ekurhuleni

and

2014 May 26: EPOC (out)reaching effort

By Lerato Malibe-Ntlatlane

As we know that August is women’s month. We celebrate who we are as women; we celebrate the battles we have won. We celebrate the strength that God has given us, despite the pains. We celebrate women who fought against the apartheid system in this country, we celebrate our mothers, our sisters and our daughters.

This month as the LGBTI community, we celebrate women who stand fearlessly against injustice. We are celebrating women who are standing tall against homophobia. We are celebrating women who are saying enough is enough and will not hide who they are because of ignorant people.

This month I celebrate mothers who have accepted their gay children, who support and love them endlessly. This month I celebrate lesbian mothers, who against all judgement do not hide their children and raise them with love. This month I celebrate women.

This month I remember women who died in the hands of men who think they are God. I remember victims of hate crime, whose blood have been shared in the name of intolerance and hate. I celebrate all survivors of hate crime; many have been raped in the name of making them straight. Women who are standing tall and say despite all, we will not live a lie. I remember mothers who have buried their beloved children, children who were brutally murdered because of being gay.

I remember women who are hated, who are judged and mocked because they look like men. I celebrate women who have answered to natures call for their lives. I celebrate all our single parents, those who came out strong from being abused by people who once loved them. I celebrate women.

I celebrate women who have made it through the rough times, who broke through the pains, who put the pierces of their hearts together, who despite physical pain wiped their tears and marched on.

I remember those who coach us, who hold us by the hand when it gets tough, those who constantly remind us that the journey of life is not an easy road.

The world calls us by names, some say we are possessed, some same we are crazy, some say we are desperate – but no, we are true to how we have been created.

I may be mocked for marrying a woman, talked about for having a kid- yet I stand tall and many like me… I celebrate.

Author’s bio

Lerato Malibe-Ntlatlane is a freelancing columnist, a Performance Management Specialist and a Law student who aims to focus on human rights. She is the founder of Divine Image Ministry, a ministry that focuses of the spiritual growth specific all for gay people.
Previous by Lerato

 
2014 March 5: Lesbian Femmes and Bags

Aurora High School girls are challenging the male dominated industry by taking extra photography lessons. These Grade 10 and 12 learners from impoverished communities want to become photographers so that they can document their own stories.

The visual pilot project for high school youth began in February 2014 is made possible by four facilitators: Linda Mankazana, Valerie Thomas, Lindeka Qampi and Zanele Muholi who are all experts in various fields.
Muholi introduced photography at the school to empower a girl child. They said it is important for a girl child to have access to photography to pave a way for other girls.  It started in February 2014.

L-R: Thando & Kamo…

Noluthando Khumalo – Grade 9

I stay in Zola and I’m doing Grade 9. I didn’t know anything about photography before Zanele and Lindeka came to introduce it here at my school.

I always see men as photographers not women and I thought it’s for them only. I never even thought of doing it or at least holding a camera with my hands.
I didn’t know that girls can become photographers. My first time holding a camera was here at school with Lindeka and I was excited and shaking. It was such a nerve wrecking experience to hold it but I did manage. I was holding it in a wrong way and I didn’t know what to do.  My first photo was about goats, water, a dumping site too.

It was not good but Lindeka helped me to make it right.

I would like to continue with photography, I want to shoot soccer games, fashion and orphans. I want to tell my my people about what’s happening in their community. I don’t have a mother only my dad sometimes it’s difficult not to have a mother. I want to tell orphans’ stories because I know how is like not to have parents.
Lindeka is like my mom, she motivates me a lot. When you want to give up she tells you not to.
She’s so inspirational.  She has inspired me a lot. It would be bad if she can left us and returned to Cape Town.

Lulama Rikhotso – Grade 10

I’m a Grade 10 learner and I stay in Dobsonville.
Linda Mankazana, one of my teachers, told us that Zanele and Lindeka would come and do photography with us.
I didn’t know anything about photography and  didn’t even care about it. All I wanted to do was to become a fashion designer because I love fashion.
When I see TV personalities  I always get fascinated by their clothes, they always wear nice clothes.

I was so nervous the first time I held a camera. I held it right but I pressed the wrong button. I took my very first picture of my cousin’s clothes and I was excited about it. My challenges are different angles, focus and framing but I’m getting there. I am confident about my camera skills now I can even shoot the Minister of Education.

Mthabiseni Mbhele  – Grade 11

I’m from Braamfischer and I do Business Management and Tourism here at school. I like traveling it keeps one active and it’s important to me.

In my life I’ve never touched a camera it was my first time touching it here school with Lindeka.
Again I never thought of myself becoming a photographer. I took my first photo of … I made some mistakes. It was blurry and I cut others. It was hard to focus and for the second time it was better. Holding it was not a problem because I took a cue from others then I held it in a right way.
Lindeka told me of my mistakes and afterwards I felt happy and confident.  I would want to own a camera one day so that I can always shoot everywhere I go.

Lindeka has taught me a lot, she’s patient, she takes us out to shoot things that we never thought  of shooting. She let us know our communities and stories within it.  People and my friends from my community  never thought that a girl can take photos.

I can combine my photography and tourism because I see that there is a link between the two professions. Tourism is about traveling and when I travel I see places.
I now see photography as very important in my studies.

Tshireletso Mochuise – Grade 11

I got exposed to camera from a young age  because my uncle is a photographer and he has a camera. I used to take care of his camera at home. I never touched his equipment though because he was very sensitive about it.

I didn’t know about photography. I didn’t know about a camera too until Lindeka came to school and taught us about it. She taught us how to shoot, frame a picture, position focus and the importance of taking a photo and how to get a good picture.

At first it was a bit complicated but I manage to do it. One other day we went to shoot outside of the school yard and Lindeka saw grannies playing soccer, she asked us to take a picture. It was interesting photographs because it is rare to find grannies playing football in our townships.

I then started felling in love with it. I love telling stories through photography. At this stage I feel very good about taking pictures also I want to further my studies in Media Studies so that I can become a good and well known photographer. Grabbing this opportunity I want to prove people  wrong. They think girls or women can’t be photographers. I am happy to be with Lindeka…

Elisa Pica – Grade 10

I am from Zone 2 Zondi and I live with my parents. I never had an interest in photography I thought it was for only boys. I never saw a black woman holding a camera or taking pictures. I once saw a white woman taking photographs and I thought it’s for only them until Zanele and Lindeka came to us.

Zanele taught me how to shoot and take videos.

For my first picture I took cows and we’re out in the community shooting with Lindeka. I was shaking and nervous at first. She said it was a nice picture though I didn’t feel happy about it because my zooming and focus were wrong. I didn’t specifically use focus and it was out of focus. On my very first picture I was nervous because I never hold a camera till that day.

I want to continue with photography to show the people that I can do it. I also I like drama, telling stories thus I want o continue with it. I’m so fortunate about this opportunity because I’m the only one at home in my community too. Others didn’t have it and the person to guide them too I understand.

I would like to own a camera one day so that I can continue shooting. I would be happy if my parents can buy me one I can shoot everyday.
I sometimes tell them about this photography I’m doing here at school. Lindeka is a very good person, I learnt a lot from her. Now I can even say I’m a professional photographer.

Nompumelelo Mali – Grade 9

I’m a Grade 9 learner and I come from Zolani North. I like taking pictures. When I was in Grade 7 my parents bought me a phone and I was taking pictures of myself, events and my friends.  I never thought of myself being a photographer or photography can be studied.  At that time I was just taking photos because I was just enjoying it but my friends were so impressed about my photos.

The day Lindeka and Zanele came to school my mind changed and I learnt more about photography. I always wanted to be a journalist I didn’t think that journalism and photography are intertwined until they told us about it.

I didn’t know what to press and I was scared.  I knew nothing about focus.  A camera is completely different from a phone camera because one just press but with photography there’s focus, zooming and angles.

My first photo was a portrait, it was wrong and blurry.  I was very scared, confused and it was very difficult on my first time. I thought it would fell because it was heavy. I pressed the wrong button also I hold it in a wrong way but Lindeka was patient to teach me about it. She then told me what I must do and the way I should do it.

I can take a photo now I can just take a camera and shoot. I feel confident, happy and proud of myself.  As a result I want to continue with photography alone.

I never thought girls can become photographers or either can take photos. I wish I can have my own camera and take photos anytime. Lindeka can show you what’s wrong and she teaches us well.

Kamogelo Petlele – Grade 10

I live in Zola North with my parents and my sibling. I want to become a civil engineer.
I haven’t thought of me being a camera person or holding it or for instance stand behind a camera. It was my first time to hear about photography when Lindeka explained and taught me.

I became more interested in it afterwards.  My first shot was kids playing  in a dam. It was hard at first but I took it. Prior to that I thought photography was only for men. Though I have started late but I’ve managed to catch up. I was not present when Lindeka and Zanele came to do an introduction session.

I learnt that in photography you don’t talk a lot pictures must talk. I am great that I’ve started it at an early age and I wish other girls could have this great opportunity too.

I’m proud of Lindeka, I give her honour. She taught me how to hold a camera, she taught me the right things. God has sent her to teach me.  She takes a lot of time. When she explains something she does it thoroughly. She’s got a good heart with kids.

I’m now confident about a camera because of her. I want to continue with it and combine with civil engineering.  I don’t feel good about the fact that girls don’t know anything about photography and it’s a very big challenge. I would want to teach girls as well kind of giving them some skills. I would want girls to start photography at my age.

Nonhlanhla Maluleka – Grade 11                     

I live with my parents in Zola 3 and at home I’m the only one who got the opportunity. My parents too never got the opportunity. I’m happy to start photography at the early age and young.

I feel so special and good about myself for taking pictures.
My mother supports me a lot.  The first time I was shaking, a camera was heavy.

I took a picture of a gay man who was raped twice, I didn’t believe myself. Lindeka said it’s a good picture. I want to document people everywhere because photography is about traveling. I have taken many photos and I would want to continue with photography. I see myself as a professional artist.

I haven’t seen a woman photographer until I research Zanele Muholi’s name on the internet. I felt so special when I saw her work. Photography is all about men taking pictures and women are not there. There’s a lot of gender stereotyping in photography.

The reason why I do photography I want people to see it not for only men but for everyone.  It’s important for girls to do photography so that they can document their stories.  My friends ask me all the time about photography. They always ask me ‘how did you get it’. They also want to do it.

Before I thought you can only do photography at tertiary. I feel grateful about Lindeka. She’s patient, she can deal with us. I would feel so unhappy if she could leave us and go to Cape Town. She’s always with us she tells us to feel a camera, think about your picture no one should think for you.

Thando Methane seated in front row, far left…

Thando Methane – Grade 12

I live in Mapetla, Soweto with my parents. I learn a lot from photography I found family and friends.  I’m much more close to Lindeka. I didn’t know how to take a picture before Lindeka and Zanele came to our school. It was interesting.
I never thought of photography until Lindeka did her presentation.  Lindeka gave us photography basics she told us about a view finder, hold your camera ,  put a camera around your neck and arm.  She also told us about different angles and sides as well. It made a lot of confusion when I heard about them for the first time.

I want to study Journalism and I only thought about it not photography. When Zanele started the training with us I then thought of combining journalism and photography. I never thought journalism also needs photography.

My interest is to document women’s stories, our own history, linking apartheid with what’s happening in people’s lives. People need to understand that black people are still poor.

Lindeka asked us to take pictures of each other and it was great to see that person’s reflection. I felt proud and I asked myself whether I was able to do it. That process was revealing new Thando in me.

My uncle is a photographer he just takes them to make ends meet.
He never inspired me. I wanted to get an inspiration.

I would be happy if I can have a camera to see myself as a photographer.

When I researched Zanele  on the internet, I was like ‘damn this woman’.
I got inspired by Lindeka.  Now I am confident because of her. She really played a role in me. She is my mom, she’s very supportive, cares a lot,  she’s got a big heart.
She tolerates and patient with us.
She’s amazing.

Sindisiwe Ncube – Grade 12

I live in Mndeni South with my parents. Ma’am Linda Mankazana told us that there would   be people doing photography at our school and I became very interested.

I used to take pictures with my phone and I used to take different places and environment.  I decided to do photography because I like Media Studies and I can be behind the scenes.

Before Lindeka and Zanele came to school to tell us about photography I didn’t know anything about it.

I didn’t know what to do on my first time taking a picture but Lindeka told me to focus all the time. I shot a bus, a dirty place, goats and a cemetery. I was not sure of myself but Lindeka helped me.  She said using focus all the time is very important for your picture.

My mother was not happy about it when I told her that I’m doing photography at school. She thought it will make me tired and distract me from my books.
When ma’am Linda Mankazana came home and explained to her then she became soft. I also make sure I do everything in the house so that she can allow me to go and practice photography.

It was my first time to see a woman photographer. There are mostly men in photography and I believe as women we’re capable of doing everything, there’s no women’s or men’s work.

I am happy about photography also I learnt that a person is capable of doing anything you wish to do. I am confident about myself.

Lindeka is a very patient person. Our teachers get tired of us. She makes sure that you understand, she repeats it all the time. It’s really a good opportunity for me.

My friends from my community are surprise that I’m doing photography. It’s not something common in our communities to see a woman holding a camera.

Thobekile Zwane – Grade 11

I come from Jabulani, Soweto.
I live with my brothers. My mom passed away in 2005, I was still young at that time.

I feel so fortunate to be involved in Lindeka and Zanele’s group. I didn’t know Zanele before.  What she wants from a girl child is for her to know people, to communicate through photography. I was a soccer player before and I loved football. I didn’t know anything about photography at all and I didn’t bother …

The first time I shot a portrait, it was easy but shocking.

It’s interesting to do photography it has made me to understand things, see new things everyday, understand it as a career. I think about it all the time and I even told my brothers at home they are very supportive.  You can wake me up at 2am telling me to shoot, I will just slowly open my eyes then I will take the camera go and shoot.

I love shooting nature because it has four different seasons and in them you see different things. I feel very fortunate about this opportunity as a young woman from Soweto it has really changed me. I used to have bad friends but through photography I’ve managed to leave them and focus on me.

My brother has promised me to buy a camera and I’m happy. I will shoot everyday.

Lindeka is a mother to me. She understands us and she explains things thoroughly. 
I don’t want her to go I know her kids are in Cape Town.

I would like photography to be introduced as a subject in schools so that girls can have an opportunity to know about it. In my community some girls do ask me about photography and they want to be involved too.

Teacher Mankazana is my mom. I can say she’s my second mom because my mom died in 2006.
She gives me love that I don’t get.  She does things for me and she doesn’t get tired.
I love her.

Ntomb’futhi Shabalala – Grade 10

I live with my mom and my siblings in Dobsonville. I knew a bit about photography through my neighbour who is a photographer. We used to chill out and talk about it. He used to tell me that photography is about colour, capturing memories, people and things around you, also you going out.

There’s nothing wrong with my first picture because I’m a perfect and extra ordinary and I like extra ordinary things as well. I had to find a perfect position, focus because without focus there’s no picture.

Zanele and Lindeka came to introduce photography at my school to empower us girls. It’s a great opportunity for us here. I would like other girls to grab these kinds of opportunities.

I’m a painter and drawer and I’ve found a third love in photography and I consider myself as an artist.

Lindeka is my mother to me and she’s good in what she’s doing. My dream would to collaborate wither at some point.

Zanele has got fortitude; she bears whatever comes on her way.
I would like to own a camera but I know my mom won’t afford it.

Related links

2014 Sept. 8: Manku and her niece buried next to each other

by Lerato Dumse
Photos by Kamo Petlele

and

2014 July 16: Through the eyes of young women photographers

and

2014 July 12: From Soweto to Paris for the love of photography

and

2014 July 13: ” Give children cameras not candies”

and

2014 Aug.1: InterGenerational conversation with current and future stars

and

2014 Aug. 30: Young aspiring photographers experimenting lithography

and

2014 Aug. 30: Insightful analysis from the guest speaker

and

2014 Aug. 28: Fine Artists on importance of being creative

and

2014 Sept. 8: Manku and her niece buried next to each other

My name is Ayanda Masina, popularly known as ‘Ayanda Kiss’ or Kgokgo to some friends.
I have a lot of nicknames. I guess it goes with the level we at with our friendship.

On a beautiful day on April 25 in 1991 I was born in Tsakane, and I have been residing there since.
I was raised by my mom’s older sister and her husband, however she has since passed on, then I had to move in with,my mom.

So I currently stay with my mom, four siblings, granddad and my uncle. I’m the oldest of five children from my mom and the fourth of nine kids from my dad.
He was never a father to us until the day he passed on, because he was never present.

I started my schooling at Shadrack Mbambo Primary School in Tsakane. Times were hard, because my mom was unemployed. I remember one cloudy day when the man who was supposed to be my daddy carried me on his back to school.

I had not yet been bought a proper school uniform so I was wearing all black and takkies (the only memory I have of him as a child) every child there had on their proper school uniform and shiny black shoes with their school bags.

I felt so left out, being the odd one out. I wanted to run out of there, but I couldn’t.  So to pass time I’d run to the toilets till lunch time or go to my Mam’khulu’s (aunt) house.

I would cry and eventually go back. I became a,learner when I finally received my proper school uniform and shiny black shoes.
In Grade five I was part of the debating and public speaking team at school and I made class monitor and was part of the top 5 English student in school life was great.

I then proceeded to Tsakane Secondary School were I was part of the drum majorettes team and part of the best biology and English learners. By Grade 10, I’d proven to be a smart child. Although it was odd that I never took interest in boys but I had a crush on a girl instead.

Ayanda Masina (2013) is currently featuring in Faces and Phases (2006-2014) book by Zanele Muholi, that was launched in Ulm, Germany last night…

I would see “tomboys” but never really understood what was going on till I moved to college. It was then that I understood that there are lesbians in the world and after all I was normal.

I was studying Information Technology (IT) but due to unforeseen circumstances I had to leave college.
That didn’t put me down, it really broke me. I needed to be something I have to be something. Since there was nothing to do and I was seeing the crimes perpetrated on lgbti persons, I joined the Equality Project (which has since closed down) and I was later elected as a co-ordinator for the Tsakane and KwaThema groups.

I always wanted to be on life changing and advocacy part of life, so it was an opportunity for me. It was sad when equality project closed down, then I moved to EPOC as only a member. You would find me in every march, workshop, and picket there was.

I had never seen myself in the spotlight and showcasing my looks and fashion sense, but in 2012 my then girlfriend asked me to join a pageant I wasn’t so keen on joining but she kept begging and telling me I could make it.
I eventually joined in the rehearsals I actually liked it on the final day I was crowned 1st Prince, and I was pleased by then.  I knew I would love being a model and stand in front of the camera.

I always felt my family knew about my sexual orientation due to my Identity but I later learnt that orientation doesn’t determine identity. I was surprised when I appeared on Shift in 2012 April few days before I turned 21 and family member asked my mom why I didn’t tell them I was lesbian.

I was surprised because I thought they knew but even after that I never wanted to explain myself, I never felt I should.

Even on the day I brought my first girlfriend home, there wasn’t any harsh or ill-treatment, instead she was like a daughter and sister to my mom and siblings.
At times I’d get jealous thinking she was taking my place and even now with my current girlfriend I have support.

However, as we all know there’s homophobia and there are those who aren’t lucky enough to dodge the hate perpetrated by homophobes. But change will come and I’ll help bring it about.

We are currently working on building partnerships and forming allies with community members, which I feel will bring about great change.
Seeing that lgbti persons face a lot of violations and it is bad when you go to service providers and receive secondary victimisation.

So I’m working with our little group in Tsakane, which I’m co-founder empowered by the Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) and RAAP we will try and bring about the change we want to see.

I was super thrilled when Zanele Muholi called and asked to do a background on my life and knowing she’s a photographer, and doing advocacy through it. I knew I was going to be part of a great project for advocacy as part of my everyday life. Taking a different route in doing it was a great achievement and much of a pleasure.
Previous life stories

2014 Aug. 30: I’m a game changer, leader and activist

and

2014 Aug. 9: “I am not a lesbian by choice”

and

2014 July 26: “I was born this way and I cannot change the skin that I live in”

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2014 June 25: I consider myself beautiful not handsome…

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2014 May 24: The special boy

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2014 May 7: I don’t like being identified in terms and definitions

and

2014 May 18: Behind the beautiful face you see is a lesbian who is torn into a million pieces

and

2014 May 30: I was a boy who would one day grow up to be a man

and

2013 Oct. 22: I thought university was for the rich

and

2013 Oct. 16: I am a beautiful young dyke, a woman lover

and

2013 Oct. 12: I just feel she deserves much better

and

2013 Oct. 2: I am a normal transgender woman’

and

2013 Aug. 22: Am exactly where I’m supposed to be

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2013 July 15: The virus has become a silent relative

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2013 June 27: Who I Am

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2013 March 10: “I love women and they love me”

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2013 February 28: I am not a Victim but a Victor