Lubabalo Mashiqana is not afraid to stand out. Despite growing up in the rural Sheshegu village near Dikeni (formerly Alice) in the Eastern Cape, the 28-year-old loves fashion. More specifically, he loves make-up and wears it everyday.   

His flamboyance earned him the nickname UnodoliOyikwekwe. Loosely translated, this means “the doll that’s a boy” in isiXhosa. The nickname was meant to be an insult, a dig at Mashiqana’s homosexuality. But instead of taking offence, Mashiqana embraced the name and included it in a campaign to promote Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ+) rights organised by The Lubabalo Mashiqana Foundation (TLMF). 

Mashiqana started the foundation in May 2020 to advocate for the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community, something he feels is largely overlooked in the Eastern Cape. 

“Initially what pushed me to be an activist is a story that was posted by a friend of mine on Facebook about initiates from my village who were sexually abused in initiation schools.’’ 

Mashiqana was studying Journalism at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in East London in 2015, and the news from home pushed him to speak out about his own rape ordeal he survived at the age of 14. Thereafter, he was overwhelmed by messages from other survivors. 

‘’I felt like I needed to do something. I kept on getting messages about the painful and cruel things that were being done to young boys, in churches, soccer clubs and schools etc, it honestly became too much,” he recalls. 

He stresses that the LGBTIQ+ community being a minority group during initiation seasons is a notable challenge as there is a distinct prejudice against gays, including the rapes that occur behind the scenes and wants to nip these inhumane acts in the bud.

Facing trauma and discrimination

Speaking briefly about his rape ordeal, he says, ‘’I only spoke about it many years after it happened. I buried it, I never reported it, same as large percentage of males who experience rape do, especially being part of the LGBTIQ+ community. You do not feel part of the community you live in because you’re not a boy enough, equally you are not a girl enough. This moulded me to work twice as hard in everything I do.”

Rape is an under-repoted crime, with survivors often experiencing feelings of shame and self-blame. Most research in this area has focused on women, but deeply embedded patriarchal notions have been could also deter men from reporting rape.  

Mashiqana has also attributed starting his foundation to the ongoing  discrimination and  lack of access to healthcare services mostly in townships and rural areas due to stigma and homophobia in public health institutions, particularly concerning enquiries about their sexual health. He says many LGBTIQ+ members also default on HIV or TB treatment due to the discrimination and victimisation which they encounter in local clinics.  

The third edition of the Ritshidze report released in 2023 shows that 4% of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, 20% of people who use drugs, 25% of sex workers, and 21% of trans people interviewed were refused access to health services. These groups are known as “key populations”, as they are among those at a higher risk of acquiring HIV. 

To address some of these issues, the TLMF runs programmes such as skills development training, diversity training, and educational programmes. These programmes are in partnership with the Human Rights Commission, Commission for Gender Equality, Department of Social Development. 

Leading the change 

“I believe largely that it is critical for us in LGBTIQ+ advocacy to shine the spotlight on the challenges leading to the high rates of HIV infections, considering that accessing healthcare remains a challenge. Between 2020 and 2022, the Commission for Gender Equality assisted us in training and upskilling more than 40 volunteers in stigma reduction and human rights. The volunteers were equipped with knowledge and skills to run these programmes in Alice and Mdantsane.”

Member of TLMF Esethu Nyovane, 27, says Mashiqana has helped with her personal growth and confidence. ‘’He is a great leader. One thing I’ve learnt from him  is that he always wants people around him to learn from him, he gives people a chance to explore their abilities.

“I joined the NGO in 2020 because I wanted to grow in community work, to be involved with shaping the young minds. Being part of the organisation helped me personally to be able to organise events, how to work with people and to actually play my role. I loved how we added value to the lives of young people, helping the schools with books and machines so that these learners may not lack resources. The foundation awakened the helping part in me that I never thought it was there,’’ she says. 

Paying it forward

Nathi Sundu is a teacher at Dalubuhle High School, where Mashiqana discovered his passion for activism, and where among the founders of the highschool newspaper, Dalubuhle News.

’”This paper covered many different topics, issues such as abuse of children, encouraging good student behaviour and focusing on their studies. He also helped with fundraising for the school,” says Sundu.

Sundu says his school has benefited immensely from the TLMF. In 2022 they received a donation of grade 12 textbooks. Additionally, Mashiqana has continued with his motivational talks with learners to encourage them to study further and be knowledgeable about their rights.

“The foundation is currently in the process of getting our school a printer, because ours broke down a few months ago,’’ the teacher says. 

Mashiqana says that his foundation will be hosting a wide range of outreach events to educate young boys and men on mental and sexual health which have been grossly neglected and have huge stigma attached to it, making it difficult for men to speak out about it.

“I would greatly appreciate strategic partnerships, corporate stakeholders, people who are resourceful and the government to aid the foundation so that we can reach out to the communities, do outreach programmes and invite key community stakeholders to have a dialogue about issues of mental health and sexual health, basically the healthcare system as a whole,’’ he adds. – Health-e News