Although there is a gap between policy and implementation, South Africa ranks high in Africa in terms of LGBTQIA+ rights. To celebrate Pride 2025, we take a look at some of the gay and lesbian politicians in the country.
On 1 March, Cape Town’s LGBTQIA+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer, questioning, intersex, non-binary, asexual, polysexual, genderqueer and gender variant people) took to the streets in the CBD to raise awareness of issues affecting them and campaign for the freedoms that will allow them to live their lives on a genuinely equal footing.
GAY AND LESBIAN POLITICIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA
In 2022, South Africa ranked in the top 50 countries throughout the world and also emerged as the safest in Africa. It was also awarded a B grade as the 21st safest country in the world on the list.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is the leading political party with prominent gay members who are also members of Parliament.
In June 2024, Meyer was appointed the first-ever openly gay MEC in KwaZulu-Natal. He told MambaOnline that wearing his Pride tie and being called on stage and announced as an MEC during Pride Month gave him a special feeling of pride and responsibility,
The MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure said he thought of the giants who came before him – those brave LGBTIQ+ activists who fought against discrimination from the National Party government and ensured that their rights are enshrined in the Constitution.
“I also couldn’t help but think of all those people, men and women, killed, even now, in our province, purely because of who they are and who they love. I stood on that stage because of them, but also for them. I was awed into silence by the weight of it, but also overjoyed that our country is one where people like me can be elected to office,” Meyer told the publication.
The Umngeni Local Municipality mayor won the hearts of many South Africans as a Zulu-speaking and openly gay mayor who strives for excellent governance.
In September 2023, Pappas was named in the TIME100 Next 2023list of future leaders. The list which is put together by world experts recognises rising leaders in health, climate, business, sports, the arts and more who have achieved peak influence in the various fields.
Macpherson, who is a DA member and the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, is another openly-gay politician.
In July 2024, Macpherson’s Tinder profile went viral on social media. Tinder is a popular dating app with over 530 million downloads worldwide.
According to The Conversation, the app has built a reputation for being more of a way to search for casual dating or short-term sexual partners than a means to find lasting love.
The African National Congress (ANC) member is a founder of Access Chapter 2, a South African advocacy group. The lesbian member of Parliament was appointed the Deputy Minister of Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities.
Letsike previously served as the co-Chair of the National Task Team established by the Department of Justice to address Hate Crimes and Gender-Based Violence.
In addition, she also co-Chaired the Commonwealth Equality Network and served as the deputy chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC).
In 2014, former President Jacob Zuma appointed Lynne Brown as the Minister of Public Enterprises. She made history as the first lesbian politician appointed to the Cabinet.
Brown previously served as the premier of Western Cape until the ANC lost control of the province to the DA in 2009.
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