Pride Month in Mzansi: South Africans raise the flag in unity [watch]

Pride Month in Mzansi: South Africans raise the flag in unity [watch]The first-ever Pride event in South Africa took place in October 1990. Here's everything to know about Pride Month in Mzansi.

by Naledi de Wee

30-09-2022 11:53

in LGBTQIA

Pride Month in South Africa is celebrated every year in October. Image via Pexels

2022 marks 32 years since the first Pride Parade in South Africa. On 13 October 1990, the first Pride March - organised by the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of the Witwatersrand (Glow) - took place in Johannesburg. The purpose of the event was to provide a wider platform to voice various political concerns.

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ALSO READ: SA Pride Month: The meaning behind these eight LGBTQI flags [photos]

THE HISTORY OF PRIDE MARCHES IN SOUTH AFRICA Beverly Ditse, who is described as the woman who helped liberate lesbians everywhere was one of the speakers at South Africa's first Pride March. Other speakers included activists Justin Edwin Cameron and Simon Nkoli who passed away in November 1998.

I am black and I am gay. I cannot seperate struggles. They will all be one struggle, Nkoli said at the historic event.

Since then, Pride Marches have taken place across the country in places like Soweto, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein and Gqeberha.

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Just wanted to remind you guys that October is also a pride month in South Africa to commemorate the first South African and African Pride event. pic.twitter.com/6EkFhH0Ppv

Vitamin Cee (@__Celo_) June 30, 2020

Did you know: June is #InternationaPrideMonth, however South Africa typically celebrates Pride Month in October. The first Pride March in South Africa was on the 13th of October 1990 #JoburgCares ^NS pic.twitter.com/E68X0hPgF9

City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) June 24, 2021

SIMON NKOLI'S IMPACT Simon Nkoli had a remarkable impact on the LGBTQI community in South Africa. According to MambaOnline, Nkoli also fought against HIV/AIDS and was one of the first openly HIV positive gay men in Africa.

During his activism years, he was one of the first queer people to meet former president Nelson Mandela. Nkoli was also the subject of Beverly Ditse's documentary, Simon & I.

The documentary takes a deep dive into the LGBTQI movement in South Africa. The film features interviews and archive footage.

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WATCH SIMON & I' HERE

ALSO READ: LOOK: Nedbank lights up its head office in support of Pride Month SA

HOW IS SOUTH AFRICA CELEBRATING PRIDE? Following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Johannesburg Pride is returning to the City of Gold on Saturday 29 October. The event will take place in Sandton on Rivonia road and entry is free!

More details are set to be announced soon.

ALSO READ: Heritage Month: How the youth can embrace their cultural identity

DINNER INVITATION: Join TheSouthAfrican.com reader focus group dinner at Montecasino on Monday 10th October. CLICK HERE

LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/lgbtqia/pride-month-south-afri...
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