Hello Jabulani!

Thank you so much for writing to us. First, I apologize for the delayed response and if your situation has changed, don’t hesitate to write to us again to let us know. From what I understand, you’re originally from Zimbabwe but are now in South Africa, because you faced rejection from your family, and you’re looking to relocate to another safer country. I want to say that I am sorry for what you went through, it must have been very hard, and I hope that you’ve found some peace in Capetown for the time being. No one deserves to be discriminated against or to suffer violence, because of their sexual orientation. Remember that you’re not alone in this and that there are resources available to help you. 

I have to say that I’m not very familiar with what the situation is like in South Africa, and Capetown in particular, for gay people. Here are some resources I found, which may be able to support you and provide you with information and a sense of community. You might be able to speak to someone about your experience and meet people who have gone through similar things. I also want to warn you that relocating to another country might not be easy and might take some time and resources. If that’s still something you want to do, some of these resources could help you:

PASSOP is a non-profit organization devoted to African LGBTI+ asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. They’re located in Cape Town, and you can call them at 0214182838 or visit their website to know more about their services and if they might be able to help you.

Pride Shelter Trust offers, amongst other things, short-term accomodation for LGBTQ+ people who need it, but they also have different programs to support LGBTQ+ people. You can call them (021 423 2871) or visit their website for more details. 

Triangle Project is another Cape Town based organization that provides different services to LGBTQ+ people, including professional counseling sessions. You can visit their website or call their helpline (0217126699) for more information. 

OUT LGBT Well-being is one of the oldest LGBTQ+ organizations in South Africa. Their head office is located near Johannesburg, but you can check out their website or call them (012 430 3272) for more information about their services. They’re located in Cape Town.

The South African Queer Resource Group is a Facebook group for queer/LGBTI+ people living in South Africa. It’s a place where you could find advice and share your experience with people who may have lived through similar things and might be able to help you find more resources. You can join the group here : https://www.facebook.com/groups/saqueerresourcegroup 

I hope I was able to help you and I wish you well on your journey. 

Once again, don’t hesitate to write to us again if you have other questions

Béatrice (elle/she/her), volunteer for AlterHéros