By Samukezi Mrubula-Ngwenya
Samukezi Mrubula-Ngwenya is a social justice activist and scholar who advocates for the rights of lesbian, bisexual, and queer communities. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Limpopo and a Master’s in Women and Gender Studies from San Francisco State University, where she was a Fulbright scholar.
Her research focuses on gender politics, democratic activism, social movements, African sexualities, gendered violence, feminist foreign policy, and lesbian, bisexual, and queer narratives.
Mrubula-Ngwenya says: “Even though South Africa is the only African country where same-sex marriage is legal and constitutionally protected, LGBTQIA+ people still face significant social exclusion and a lack of full visibility.
“Individually, yes, spaces are opening up, and we are witnessing a somewhat ‘accepting’ society. For instance, having a deputy minister who is proudly queer. But at most, and especially in rural spaces, there is still a lot to do in advocating full social inclusion.”
Mrubula-Ngwenya is able to advance conversations on:
Intimate partner violence in same-sex relationships
The need for a conversation and that listens to men’s voices talking about violence, depression, suicide, and all other issues that are often geared towards women. She says, “This is not dismissing the scourge targeted at women, gender non-conforming and children, but to win this war on violence, we need all voices heard.”
