Miss South Africa marks 32 years of Pride at rainbow flag raising

mambaonline.com:

Thami Dish and Miss South Africa Ndavi Nokeri were among those who helped raise the rainbow flag in Johannesburg Miss South Africa 2022 Ndavi Nokeri joined LGBTIQ+ activists on Thursday to raise the rainbow flag at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg to mark Pride Month and the anniversary of Africa’s first Pride event. The flag-raising ceremony, held alongside the announcement of the 2022 Feather Awards nominees, commemorated the first Johannesburg Pride march which took place 32 years ago on 13 October 1990.

A small group of activists and allies, including Virginia Magwaza from the Gauteng Premier’s Office, Dr Dulcy Rakumakoe, Thami Dish, and the reigning Miss South Africa, Ndavi Nokeri, gathered on a rampart overlooking the Constitutional Court and Old Fort for the ceremony.

Magwaza, who is also the founder of Parents, Families and Friends of South African Queers (PFSAQ), noted the symbolism of holding the event at the site of the Constitutional Court which ensures that the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people are protected. “This flag symbolises the unity and the hard work of those who come before us and worked hard in making sure that we have an opportunity to gather like this,” said Magwaza. “Let us also think about those who cannot gather like us in our neighbouring countries and on the continent at large.” Dr Rakumakoe said she was honoured to be at the event and reminded the audience that while South Africa has the best constitution in Africa “the implementation on the ground is most important,” and that “people’s lived experiences must reflect what is said in the Constitution.” Her words were tragically pertinent, coming on the heels of news this week that Tankiso Tawanyane, a 34-year-old lesbian woman, was gang raped