For the first time, South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) National Candidates List for the upcoming elections features three openly queer candidates who may well secure seats in Parliament.

Among them are Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, Eugene Manana, and Palomino Jama, described as seasoned activists in the social justice movement.

Letsike, the director of LGBTIQ+ rights group Access Chapter 2, was in January 2023 co-opted into the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC), marking a significant milestone.

Manana and Jama, both accomplished student leaders, were recently elected as additional members of the ANC Youth League National Executive Committee.

In a Facebook post, Jama wrote: “While other African liberation movements are intensifying homophobic rhetoric and laws, while other parties domestically are using homophobic populist views to campaign, the ANC of Nelson Mandela is deliberately sending queer activists within its ranks to Parliament and legislatures.”

The ANC-aligned Embrace Diversity Movement (EDM) hailed their inclusion as a significant step towards greater queer representation in politics.

“This is a step forward, it a step towards placing the LGBTIQ+ agenda on top of government’s priority,” said EDM Secretary-General Mpho Buntse in a statement.

“We are confident that these candidates, with their leadership experience and dedication to social justice, will be a resounding voice for queer representation in the National Assembly.”

Buntse also welcomed the inclusion of Thandokazi Stefani, another member of the LGBTIQ+ community, as a candidate on the ANC’s Gauteng Provincial List.

However, he voiced disappointment that ANC bodies in other provinces failed to field queer candidates.

“We are aware that some provinces, with the exception of Gauteng, elected to not consider the clause on LGBTIQ+ representation as set out in the Nomination Guidelines by the Electoral Committee,” said Buntse.

He called on the committee to explain the shortfall in queer representation on the provincial candidates lists.

Arguably, the Democratic Alliance (official opposition party) has historically fielded the most vocally out LGBTIQ+ MPs in Parliament, although the ANC appointed Lynne Brown as Minister of Public Enterprises from 2014 to 2019.

South Africa goes to the polls on 29 May 2024.

Death to all LGBTQ community.

That is ur corntree gene ratio nal pro ble m bro...we don't have problem with how u choose to ruin or better ur corntree for ur generations unborn


Excess freedom comes with a price sha....u will pay the price later

But for now, let the parliamentary members keep stroking ur pre si dent a s s with their ever dripping gbola at the upper chamber

Awon weyrey

longetivity:
Death to all LGBTQ community.

Too late, as a Nigerian man death is already upon you in SA.

MzansiCoolio:


Too late, as a Nigerian man death is already upon you in SA.

This is the reply ur fish 🐟 brain can come up with?

tonicyril:
That is ur corntree gene ratio nal pro ble m bro...we don't have problem with how u choose to ruin or better ur corntree for ur generations unborn


Excess freedom comes with a price sha....u will pay the price later

But for now, let the parliamentary members keep stroking ur pre si dent a s s with their ever dripping gbola at the upper chamber

Awon weyrey

They would've learnt from your Nigerian chambers - when not otherwise thinking of corruption.

longetivity:
This is the reply ur fish 🐟 brain can come up with?

Mountain goat mentality deserves fish brain responses. Anything more will be elevating you to an undeserved status.

MzansiCoolio:


They would've learnt from your Nigerian chambers - when not otherwise thinking of corruption.

Ok fine, keep the good work of stroking and tearing the black orifices with reckless abandon at the upper chamber

Remember to apply lubricating oil okay

MzansiCoolio:


Mountain goat mentality deserves fish brain responses. Anything more will be elevating you to an undeserved status.

Thank Jesus u acknowledged u have a fish brain. Fo0lissh H high V boy

tonicyril:
Ok fine, keep the good work of stroking and tearing the black orifices with reckless abandon at the upper chamber

Remember to apply lubricating oil okay

We'll try our hardest best - thanks for the recommendation, it's clear that's common practice in your Nigerian chamber (speaking from experience). I thought you only engaged in fantastical corruption in your chambers over there but clearly there's extra curricula activities.

MzansiCoolio:


We'll try our hardest best - thanks for the recommendation, it's clear that's common practice in your Nigerian chamber (speaking from experience). I thought you only engaged in fantastical corruption in your chambers over there but clearly there's extra curricula activities.

This new u brought when last did u hear anything similar room Nigeria??

Lucky Dube needed to teach u guys but unfortunately u guys k!ll.ed him

tonicyril:


This new u brought when last did u hear anything similar room Nigeria??

You tell us. You're the one with the gay sex in upper chambers obsession.

MzansiCoolio:


You tell us. You're the one with the gay sex in upper chambers obsession.

But it's ur government that keep legalising gayism upandan

longetivity:
Thank Jesus u acknowledged u have a fish brain. Fo0lissh H high V boy

My apologies for mentioning goat and fish meat while you're in your current chronic state of nigerian hunger 😢😢😢

tonicyril:
But it's ur government that keep legalising gayism upandan

Why shouldn't it? It's a basic human right to choose who you love. You on the other hand have an obsession with MPs having public sex in the chambers. Care to explain?

MzansiCoolio:


Why shouldn't it? It's a basic human right to choose who you love. You on the other hand have an obsession with MPs having public sex in the chambers. Care to explain?

Imagine ur mister senate president wanting to drill the A nus of mister president

tonicyril:


Imagine ur mister senate president wanting to drill the A nus of mister president

That's what your mama senate president and papa president do when they're not carving Nigerian national budget for themselves. You obviously learnt the bonking that happens in parliament from watching them.

On a serious note though, have you eaten today? Its heartbreaking your homophobia hasn't prevented your country from experiencing its current hunger crisis🥲🥲🥲