Leading LGBTIQ+ activist Sibonelo Ncanana-Trower has been elected the new Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Co-chair of the National Task Team (NTT) on SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics) Matters.
Ncanana-Trower follows in the footsteps of Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, who left the position in 2024 to take on the role of Deputy Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities. Ncanana-Trower will now lead the NTT alongside co-chair Andries Nel, the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, representing the government.
“It is both an honour and a daunting responsibility, especially as I step into a role once held by the Honourable Deputy Minister Steve Letsike,” says Ncanana-Trower. “The shoes I am asked to fill are immense, and I approach this work with both anxiety and determination, knowing the trust that the community has placed in me.”
He has his work cut out. The NTT was created in 2011 as a partnership between civil society and government with the primary objective of addressing violence against LGBTIQ+ South Africans. It later expanded its mandate to cover a wider range of human rights challenges faced by LGBTIQ+ individuals.
The NTT, however, has come under fire for a lack of accountability and transparency about its work and impact. Ncanana-Trower previously expressed support for making NTT reports public as “a positive and transparent step forward,” noting that, “It would help rebuild trust and allow more organisations to engage meaningfully with the process.”
A Vision for Inclusion and Impact
Representing OUT LGBT Well-being in the position, Ncanana-Trower draws on three decades of the organisation’s legacy in advancing the rights, dignity, and safety of LGBTIQ+ people in South Africa. “To bring this organisational legacy into the NTT is both humbling and inspiring,” he reflects.
Ncanana-Trower’s vision for the NTT is clear and deeply rooted in community realities.
“I want to ensure that our work isn’t just about policies on paper. It’s about building a safer, more inclusive environment where the LGBTIQ+ community can thrive every single day,” he explains.
Ncanana-Trower is particularly committed to uplifting LBQT women and trans persons, often the most vulnerable and overlooked groups, and to strengthening grassroots networks that can create lasting impact.
Collaboration as a Pathway to Change
While the challenges ahead are significant – with funding limitations, global anti-gender movements, and threats to hard-won rights – Ncanana-Trower’s approach is strategic, collaborative, and determined.
“We must leverage partnerships, amplify advocacy, and ensure that every resource is directed toward initiatives that create real, measurable change,” he says.
“Stronger coordination, economic empowerment, and community-led initiatives are the keys to building networks that are accountable, resilient, and transformative. When we lift each other, we create a future where equality is not just a promise, but a lived reality.”
Under Ncanana-Trower’s leadership, civil society has a new opportunity to revitalise the work of the NTT toward a future where South Africa’s LGBTIQ+ communities can flourish with dignity, safety, and hope.
“I take this responsibility seriously, not for recognition, but for the people we serve, because their lives, their safety, and their dignity are worth every effort,” says Ncanana-Trower.
