Izibuko Zethu

25/02/2026

12/02/2026

At Izibuko Zethu, we believe that community means no one is left behind. Our q***r migrant and refugee siblings are part of our reflection. Their safety, dignity, and belonging are tied to our own.
The Draft Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection is not abstract policy. It will decide who gets to belong, who gets protected, and who is pushed further into the margins.
We are calling on our communities to respond with care, courage, and action. Read the draft. Share your voice. Add your submission. When we speak together, we disrupt harm and make space for justice.
Izibuko Zethu is a mirror. What we reflect today shapes the future we all must live in.

25/01/2026

Izibuko Zethu is calling on q***r communities to act. The draft Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Regulations will shape how our lives are protected or ignored. Silence leaves gaps. Participation closes them.
Read the draft and make a submission before 28 January 2026.
👉https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/notices/2025/20251128-gg53729gon3650-Hat-Crimes-Draft-Regulations.pdf

20/01/2026

The law is being written and our communities cannot be left out.
The Department of Justice is drafting new hate crimes and hate speech regulations that will shape how violence, harm, and dignity are recognised in South Africa. These regulations will directly affect q***r people, feminists, and marginalised communities, especially those living and organising at community level.
Izibuko Zethu is calling on community members, activists, and civil society to show up and ensure our lived realities are reflected in the law.
If we remain silent, others will speak on our behalf.
Join this important webinar on 23 January 2026 at 11 AM as we unpack the draft regulations and support communities to prepare powerful public submissions that truly count.
📢 Our lives are not up for debate. But the law is.
✊🏽 Make sure our communities are in it.
🔗 Microsoft Teams link:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MWFjYTFhZTYtYWZkOS00MDk1LTk1MTMtNjViZGI3NWIzYTEz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22e4bd59ff-4cc6-43b1-acc1-32c422e76276%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%227be17c54-c432-4d55-8bdd-a1132f5277bb%22%7d
Please share widely and invite your networks.

17/12/2025

As we approach the festive season, we pause with full hearts and heavy reflections.

This year has carried both light and deep pain for our communities. We celebrate moments of courage, visibility, and solidarity, but we also mourn the lives we have lost to hate crimes. We honour them by remembering their names, their humanity, and by continuing the work they deserved to live into. We hold survivors with care and strength, recognising the resilience it takes to keep going after violence and loss.

For many q***r people, Christmas is not always a safe or joyful time. Our homes are often the first places where we experience rejection, silence, and q***rphobia. If this season feels heavy, triggering, or isolating, please know that your feelings are valid and you are not alone.

To those attending Imigidi and family gatherings, we urge you to be safe and to remain aware of your surroundings. Protect your body, your spirit, and your truth. You owe no one an explanation for who you are.

If you experience any form of hate crime, intimidation, or violence, please report it to LGBTIQ organisations in your area so that support, documentation, and action can follow. Reporting matters. Your safety matters.

Above all, remember this
You are not a mistake
You belong
Your life has value

From all of us at Izibuko Zethu, we send love, strength, and solidarity this festive season.

02/12/2025

Izibuko Zethu is honoured

Today our hearts are full. Izibuko Zethu proudly received a Certificate of Appreciation from BC Pride, and we are deeply grateful.

This recognition is more than a certificate. It is a reminder that our work in communities matters and that our commitment to creating safe, affirming spaces for q***r people in the Eastern Cape and beyond is seen and valued.

We thank BC Pride for acknowledging our contribution and for continuing to build a Pride that represents courage, community, and true visibility.
We also salute every volunteer, partner, friend and supporter who stands with us every day. You are the reason our work remains grounded, powerful and relevant.

Together we continue to bridge communities, uplift q***r voices and build the South Africa we all deserve.

Siyabulela BC Pride. Izibuko Zethu stands with you. 🏳️‍🌈🌈