Features

South Africa LGBTIQ+ Rights Watch: December 2025: An overview of LGBTIQ+ rights violations, hate speech incidents and updates in South Africa in December 2025, compiled by MambaOnline.

Regina Blaque Is Dragging the News — and Refusing to Let Queer Lives Be Erased: Regina Blaque brings drag, wit and activism to MambaOnline with Drag the News — reclaiming queer stories and refusing to let lives be forgotten.

Op-Ed: Sacred, Not Sinful – Why LGBTIQ Identity Is Rooted in West African Spirituality: As West Africa passes new anti-LGBTIQ laws, Nana Davis Mac-Iyalla explores how Indigenous spirituality affirms queer identity and challenges colonial homophobia.

In Pictures: Tropical Disko Turns Cape Town’s Inner City into a Queer Dance Floor: Tropical Disko lit up Cape Town with a 12-hour queer-friendly disco festival featuring drag, house and electronic music. Check out the photos!

Opinion: When Power Puts Its Hands on a Child: Conversion therapy doesn’t only happen in clinics. This article exposes how churches use faith to harm LGBTQ+ children in South Africa.

Queer Stories That Defined 2025: MambaOnline’s Most-Read Articles: A look back at MambaOnline’s most-read LGBTQ+ news and opinion pieces of 2025, a year of backlash, loss and defiant queer voices.

A Queer-Friendly Guide to Safe Holiday Romance & Dating: A queer-friendly guide to safe holiday romance and dating in South Africa, with tips on consent, online dating safety, sexual health and queer joy.

Opinion: Addressing Africa’s Hostility Towards the LGBTQI+ Community: Africa’s hostility towards LGBTQI+ people is rooted in colonial laws. Thapelo Moeketsi argues for repeal, education, and community inclusion.

In Pictures: Bearfest South Africa 2025 Celebrated Bear Pride in the Bush: The 2025 edition of Bearfest South Africa, was jam-packed with fun in the sun with old friends and new and the crowning of a new Mr Bearfest.

South Africa LGBTIQ+ Rights Watch: November 2025: An overview of LGBTIQ+ rights violations, hate speech incidents and updates in South Africa in November 2025, compiled by MambaOnline.

Home for the Holidays? Your LGBTQIA+ Holiday Survival Guide to Navigating Homophobic Family Dynamics: A queer festive survival guide with expert advice from Queerwell’s Tinashe Kushata on navigating homophobic family dynamics during the holidays.

Opinion: From Awareness to Accountability – The Most Powerful 16 Days of Activism to Date: This year’s 16 Days of Activism amplified the fight against GBVF in South Africa, urging government action, intersectional protection, and sustained accountability.

Queer Health: South Africa Unveils First Chemsex Guidelines to Reduce Harm and Save Lives: Groundbreaking chemsex guidelines launched to save lives and reduce harm among gay, bisexual and transgender communities in South Africa.

Queer 101: What It Means to Be Pansexual: What is pansexuality? A quick guide to attraction beyond gender, key terms and how pansexuality differs from bisexuality.

Deputy Minister Steve Letsike Honours Eudy Simelane in Powerful Memorial Lecture: Deputy Minister Steve Letsike delivers moving tribute to Eudy Simelane, urging action against hate crimes and gender-based violence in South Africa.

Queer, African and Proud: Inside the Third Buffalo City Inclusive Pride March: Saturday's 3rd Buffalo City Inclusive Pride March asserted that queerness is African. Here's why visibility matters now more than ever.

Op-Ed: World AIDS Day 2025 — A Perilous Moment for SA’s LGBTQ+ Community: World AIDS Day 2025 marks a troubling moment as LGBTQ+ communities in South Africa face unfriendly services and rising HIV risks.

Queer Love Meets African Culture: Celebrating “Cutest Couple” Crosby Jodwana and Sean Nhlapo: From a viral wedding to facing hate, Crosby Jodwana and Sean Nhlapo’s story celebrates queer African love and culture and unwavering pride.

Queer Icons 101: Simon Nkoli — A Revolutionary for All Freedoms: Simon Nkoli is often mentioned as a pioneer in the fight for queer rights in South Africa. So who was he, and what is he most remembered for?

Gender is Not an Ideology – But Conservative Groups Know Learning About it Empowers People to Think for Themselves: Anti-gender campaigns in US education are part of a wider effort to restrict rights, censor learning and weaken democracy.