# Simon Nkoli

Simon Tseko Nkoli (also spelled Simon Nkodi; 26 November 1957 – 30 November 1998) was an anti-apartheid, gay rights, and AIDS activist in South Africa. Active in the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), the United Democratic Front, and the Gay Association of South Africa (GASA), he was arrested as part of the Delmas Treason Trial in 1984. After his release in 1988, he founded the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of the Witwatersrand (GLOW) and organized South Africa's first pride parade. His activism influenced the African National Congress (ANC) to enshrine gay rights in the South African constitution. One of the first South Africans to disclose that he was living with HIV/AIDS, Nkoli founded the Township AIDS Project. After his death from AIDS-related complications, his colleagues established the Treatment Action Campaign.

## Early life and family

Nkoli was born on 26 November 1957 in Phiri, Soweto, to a seSotho-speaking family. Because of the apartheid-era pass laws, his parents were considered squatters, and Nkoli periodically had to hide them from law enforcement. He later wrote about this experience in an essay entitled "Wardrobes".
After Nkoli's parents separated, he moved to Orange Free State to live with his grandparents who were tenant farmers to a white landlord. He worked with his grandparents and attended primary school. To avoid having to leave school to work on the farm full-time, Nkoli ran away to live with his mother, Elizabeth, in Sebokeng. Elizabeth was employed as a domestic worker and later a sales clerk, while his step-father, Elias, was a hotel chef. He had three siblings. Nkoli's family was poor, and their home was small and overcrowded.
As a young adult, Nkoli met his first boyfriend, a white bus driver, by responding to an ad for a Black pen pal in a teen magazine. Nkoli's mother, Elizabeth, disapproved of their relationship and consulted multiple sangomas (traditional healers), some of whom said he was bewitched while others found nothing wrong with him. Elizabeth also brought Nkoli to a Christian clergyman and a psychologist in an attempt to change his sexual orientation. To her surprise, the psychologist was also gay and suggested that Nkoli pose as his boyfriend's servant so they could live together without arousing suspicion. Eventually, Elizabeth accepted Nkoli's sexual orientation. She supported him throughout his life, including his many arrests and the police harassment she experienced due to his anti-apartheid activism.

## Anti-apartheid and gay rights activism (1974-1984)

In high school, Nkoli was involved with an organization called Young Christian Students. After imprisoned activist Johannes Matsobane died at Robben Island in 1978, they helped with funeral arrangements by raising money and organizing local businesses to close for the day. Nkoli also spearheaded a petition opposing Afrikaans as the language of instruction at his school.
While attending secretarial college in Johannesburg, Nkoli joined the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and became secretary for its newly formed Transvaal branch. His high school friend Gcina Malindi served as chair. COSAS worked closely with the United Democratic Front (UDF), a coalition of anti-apartheid organizations. Nkoli spoke at meetings and participated in marches, boycotts, and sit-ins. Additionally, Nkoli worked at the South African Institute of Race Relations and organized food and legal aid for prisoners through the Detainees Support Committee.
Frequently arrested for his anti-apartheid activism, Nkoli was held for three months in 1976 and seven months in 1981. The police often showed up to arrest Nkoli at his home in Sebokeng. If they did not find him, they would threaten to arrest his mother and kill him. Malindi has described informing Nkoli's family about his arrests; Nkoli's distraught mother would "interrogate" Malindi about Nkoli's location and shout: "But you were together at this meeting, how come my son is detained and you are not?" Malindi tried to reassure Nkoli's family by telling them that his activism would help achieve freedom for Black South Africans.
Nkoli came out to his fellow COSAS activists. Due to the homophobia of some members, the group held lengthy discussions about whether Nkoli should give up his position as secretary. Ultimately, 80% of the group voted against it. Around 1982, Nkoli joined the Gay Association of South Africa (GASA), a mostly white organization which considered itself to be "apolitical". Others have called it "accommodationist", "apartheid-friendly", and "looking for gay power within the current racist political structure". When Nkoli joined, GASA held its meetings in white-only spaces, a practice he persuaded them to change. In an attempt to create more Black-friendly spaces within GASA, Nkoli founded the Saturday Group and placed an ad in GASA's newsletter seeking a diverse membership. The group included members from Johannesburg and the townships.

## Delmas Treason Trial (1984-1988)

In response to rent increases, protests known as the Vaal uprising began in the townships on 3 September 1984. Nkoli organized and spoke at rallies in support of rent strikes. Later that month, student activist Joseph Sithole was killed. At Sithole's funeral, the local authorities attempted to restrict the number of mourners and forbade freedom songs, banners, and marching. The police attacked the mourners by shooting, beating, and firing teargas at them. About 600 people were arrested, including Nkoli, for attending an "illegal gathering".
Around the time of Nkoli's arrest, his step-father died. For at least 9 months, he was held without charge, mostly in solitary confinement. He was interrogated about his political views and asked questions about his sexuality such as: "Why do you like fucking white men?" In June 1985, Nkoli was charged with treason, murder, and terrorism. Falsely accused of killing someone by throwing a stone at a protest, Nkoli was denied bail. A potential sentence for these charges was the death penalty. Twenty one other political leaders were also charged, including Gcina Malindi, Terror Lekota, Popo Molefe, Tom Manthata, and Moss Chikane. Collectively known as the Delmas 22 or the Vaal 22, most were affiliated with the UDF. Their years long trial was called the Delmas Treason Trial, and their legal team included George Bizos, Zak Yacoob, Priscilla Jana, and Caroline Heaton-Nicholls.
While imprisoned together during the trial, some of his fellow defendants expressed homophobic beliefs. In the ensuing discussion, Nkoli came out as gay. Some of them feared that his sexual orientation would decrease their support and advocated for him to be tried separately, but they eventually agreed to be tried together.
As news of the trial spread, Nkoli gained supporters in Europe and North America and inspired anti-apartheid activism, especially in the gay community. A group of Canadians, including Tim McCaskell, founded the Simon Nkoli Anti-Apartheid Committee in Toronto. European anti-apartheid activists, many of whom were gay, sent Nkoli over 150 Christmas cards in 1986. Despite Nkoli's growing fame as the "gay Mandela", GASA declined to support Nkoli or advocate for his acquittal. Although Nkoli had been at a GASA meeting when the alleged crime took place, GASA declined to corroborate his alibi. GASA did not make an official statement about his trial until 1986 during which they appeared to justify his imprisonment. Because of GASA's behavior towards Nkoli, some members of the international gay community criticized them as racist and advocated for their expulsion from the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA). At ILGA's annual meeting in 1986, GASA representative Kevan Botha made a speech defending their decision not to actively support Nkoli. He spoke about GASA's "multiracial work" and stated that they were apolitical. Initially, Nkoli advocated against ousting GASA, but he decried their lack of support, especially after Botha's speech. At their 1987 meeting, ILGA voted against expelling GASA but decided to suspend their membership, and GASA disbanded soon after.
Nkoli was released on bail in June 1987. The following year, Nkoli and ten of his co-defendants were acquitted, while the other eleven were found guilty and sentenced.

## Gay rights and AIDS activism (1988-1998)

Following Nkoli's acquittal in 1988, he co-founded the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of the Witwatersrand (GLOW) with Beverley Palesa Ditsie and Linda Ngcobo. GLOW was the first "non-racial" and first township-based gay rights organization.
While in prison, Nkoli had been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Nkoli noticed a need for HIV education for Black South African communities; according to Nkoli, the apartheid government did not provide HIV education materials in Black South African languages and denied that AIDS existed among the population. Community-based HIV prevention efforts targeted white men. Nkoli and GLOW helped to establish the Township AIDS Project (TAP) which provided HIV prevention and education programs, especially in the townships.
After his release from prison, Nkoli had been contacted by supporters around the world who asked him to visit. Between July and September 1989, Nkoli travelled to 26 cities throughout Europe and North America raising money for TAP and speaking about apartheid, gay rights, and AIDS in South Africa. He began his trip at the ILGA conference in Vienna and ended it at the Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center in New York City. San Francisco, Manhattan, and Atlanta honored him with Simon Nkoli Days. In Chicago, he spoke at a conference called "From Stonewall to Sharpeville", where he told the audience: "Freedom is what we want in that country; and that is what we are going to get!" The tour was coordinated in part by the Simon Nkoli Anti-Apartheid Committee and James Credle from the National Association of Black and White Men Together. By the following year, TAP had received enough donations to officially open offices in Soweto.
In July 1990, Nkoli reported that the police had raided the Glowbar, the only Black gay bar in Soweto and the meeting place for GLOW. According to Nkoli, the owner was arrested, and the new owner told them he did not want gay clientele.
The following month, Nkoli spoke at the opening ceremony of the third Gay Games in Vancouver, Canada. Nkoli spoke in support of the Gay Games' ban on South African athletes, even though it meant that he could not participate as a runner. He also talked about his desire for the end of apartheid and for South Africans to be able to compete at future Gay Games.
Along with fellow activist, Beverley Palesa Ditsie, Nkoli organised the first pride parade in South Africa in October 1990. He led the march of about 800 people through Johannesburg chanting "Out of Closets— Into the Streets" and "Not the Church, Not the State— We Ourselves Decide Our Fate." Some participants wore paper bags over their heads to protect their identities but later recounted taking off the bags once it started raining. Edwin Cameron gave a speech against the criminalisation of gays and lesbians. In his speech, Nkoli stated: "I am black and I am gay. I cannot separate the two parts into secondary and primary struggles. [...] So, when I fight for my freedom, I must fight against both oppressors."
Around 1990, Nkoli publicly disclosed that he was living with HIV, becoming one of the first openly HIV-positive African gay men. He founded "Positive African Men", a support group for Black men living with HIV in Johannesburg.
In 1994, Nkoli co-founded the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality (NCGLE). The following year, an NCGLE delegation, including Nkoli and Ian McKellan, met with the newly elected President Nelson Mandela to discuss the ANC's commitment to gay rights. Nkoli assisted in the NCGLE's campaign for the inclusion of the "gay rights clause" in the South African constitution's Bill of Rights. The campaign was successful, making South Africa, in 1996, the first country in the world to explicitly prohibit discrimination against gay people in its constitution. However, discrimination against LGBTQ people persisted in South Africa. Nkoli and the NCGLE also campaigned against the sodomy law, which was repealed in the last year of his life.
As the ILGA board member for the African region, Nkoli advocated for the ILGA conference to be held in South Africa. It was held in Johannesburg in 1999, after Nkoli's death.
Nkoli vocally criticized the South African government for its response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. According to Nkoli, 25 members of GLOW died of AIDS-related causes between 1988 and 1998. In an interview, he advocated writing letters to the Department of Health, saying "people are dying anyway without action. Why not die with action?" He planned to go on hunger strike in protest.

## Death

For 12 years, Nkoli lived with HIV and was seriously ill during the last 4 years of his life. Although effective HIV treatment became available in 1996, Nkoli was unable to access it. He went into a coma on 30 November 1998 and died.
His memorial service was held on 4 December at St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg, and his funeral was held on 10 December at the Mphatlalatsane Community Hall in Sebokeng. His coffin was draped in a rainbow flag and flowers, and many people spoke in tribute of him, including AIDS activist Prudence Mabele and his Delmas Treason Trial co-defendants Terror Lekota, Popo Molefe, and Gcina Malinde. In obituaries, Zackie Achmat called him a "gay martyr" and Mark Gevisser called him: "A leading light of gay and AIDS activism in [South Africa]".

## Personal life

Nkoli's longtime partner was Roy Shepherd whom he later recalled meeting at the GCC or Gay Christian Community. During Nkoli's trial and imprisonment, the two exchanged letters, and their relationship "sustained" Nkoli. A collection of their letters was published as part of the GALA Queer Archive under the title Till the Time of Trial: The Prison Letters of Simon Nkoli. Excerpts from these letters were also published in the book Yes, I Am!: Writing by South African Gay Men. In the last five years of Nkoli's life, he was in a relationship with Roderick Sharp.

## Legacy
### LGBT Rights and HIV/AIDS Activism in South Africa

Nkoli's imprisonment and subsequent coming out have been called "a watershed in gay politics" in South Africa: it challenged notions of anti-apartheid activists as exclusively heterosexual men and required "anti-apartheid activists to consider the place that gay rights would hold within an ANC-led government". His co-defendant, Terror Lekota, later stated: "How could we say that men and women like Simon, who had put their shoulders to the wheel to end apartheid, should now be discriminated against?”
Nkoli is credited with influencing the attitude of the African National Congress towards being more supportive of gay rights. As an openly gay man and anti-apartheid activist, he assisted in linking the two movements together, saying: "I cannot be free as a black man if I am not free as a gay man." Through his work with GLOW, he helped to ensure that gay rights were explicitly protected in the South African Constitution.
In an essay entitled "Wardrobes", Nkoli compared his experiences of racism to his experiences of homophobia:
   the closet I have come out of is similar to the wardrobe my relieved parents stepped out of when I unlocked them after the police left. If you are black in South Africa, the inhuman laws of apartheid closet you. If you are gay in South Africa, the homophobic customs and laws of this society closet you. If you are black and gay in South Africa, well, then it really is all the same closet, the same wardrobe. Inside is darkness and oppression. Outside is freedom. It is as simple as that.
As one of the first openly HIV-positive African gay men, Nkoli has been credited with influencing later AIDS activists to also disclose their status in an effort to fight HIV-related stigma. Nkoli died due to a lack of access to effective HIV/AIDS treatment, unlike fellow activist Edwin Cameron, who did have access and so was able to live longterm with HIV/AIDS. Zackie Achmat observed this difference and co-founded the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), soon after Nkoli's death. TAC successfully lobbied the government to provide South Africans with the HIV/AIDS treatment that Nkoli was unable to access. In his obituary of Nkoli, Achmat wrote: "the Delmas Treason Trial shows that lesbian and gay equality is integrally linked to struggles for bread, condoms and freedom around the world!"

### Representation in Media

Nkoli has been the subject of several films including John Greyson's A Moffie Called Simon (1987), Melanie Chait's Out in Africa (1989), and Beverley Ditsie's Simon & I (2002). Greyson's 2009 film Fig Trees, a hybrid documentary-opera about Zackie Achmat and Tim McCaskell, includes references to Nkoli's activism. In 2017, gay Xhosa musician Majola released a song called "Nkoli" on his album Boet/Sissy, and Athi-Patra Ruga created a sculpture called Proposed Model for Tseko Simon Nkoli Memorial.
At least two theater productions have been created in honor of Nkoli. Robert Colman's Your Loving Simon (2003) focused on Nkoli's imprisonment and the hundreds of letters he wrote during that time. The production featured two actors—one in the role of Nkoli and the other as a character representing all 21 of his co-defendants. In November 2023, Nkoli: The Vogue Opera premiered at Johannesburg's Market Theatre. Developed as GLOW: The Life and Trials of Simon Nkoli, the production began in 2020 as a workshopped collaboration between South African composer Phillip Miller, the cast members, and various consultants who had known Nkoli (including his mother, fellow activist Beverly Ditsie, and defence lawyer Caroline Heaton-Nicholls). The final product incorporated opera, voguing and other aspects of Ballroom culture, hip-hop, rap, anti-Apartheid protest songs, and other elements. It was written by Miller and South African musician Gyre, and directed by British actor Rikki Beadle-Blair.

### Honours

During Nkoli's post-acquittal speaking tour in 1989, several US cities declared Simon Nkoli Days, including San Francisco, Atlanta, and Manhattan. The following year, Nkoli spoke at the opening ceremony for Gay Games III in Vancouver, Canada. In October 1995, Nkoli and Phumzile Mtetwa were given an Equality Award for their gay rights activism at Stonewall's annual fundraising gala at the Royal Albert Hall.
In the year following his death, Nkoli was given the Felipa de Souza Award by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. He was also honored at the gay pride parade that he had founded in Johannesburg. A street corner in Hillbrow was named after him, and his partner, Roderick Sharp, spoke at the dedication ceremony.
In the 2010s, the Simon Nkoli Centre for Men’s Health provided HIV services at the Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital in Soweto. On World AIDS Day 2017, Stellenbosch University renamed the building housing their Equality and Disability offices after Nkoli. The university's museum held an exhibit about Nkoli entitled: "Black Queer Visibility: Finding Simon" in 2019. The exhibit was co-hosted by the Simon Nkoli Collective which also sponsors a Simon Nkoli Memorial Lecture. The annual Feather Awards includes a Simon Nkoli Award which recognizes individuals for their contributions to the LGBTQ community. Winners have included David Tlale, Thandiswa Mazwai, Edwin Cameron, and Gloria Bosman.

## Writing

* "Wardrobes: Coming out as a black gay activist in South Africa". In Cameron, Edwin; Gevisser, Mark (eds.). Defiant Desire: Gay and Lesbian Lives in South Africa. Routledge, 1995.
* “This Strange Feeling.” In Krouse, Matthew; Berman, Kim (eds.). The Invisible Ghetto: Lesbian and Gay Writing from South Africa. London: Gay Men's Press, 1995.
* "August 1987 A Letter from South Africa". Speaking for Our Lives. Routledge, 2005.
* Till the Time of Trial: The Prison Letters of Simon Nkoli, GALA – Queer Archive, 2007.