Advancing Transgender Human Rights
MEET OUR TEAM
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Dorian Basson is an LGBTIQA and HIV activist. He founded the NPO, Red Ribbon Foundation in 2014 following the overwhelming success of the HIV/AIDS Awareness Ball he hosted with the assistance of the Fairheads Social Group, on 06 December 2014 at the River Club Ballroom. He decided that every night, this inaugural HIV/AIDS Ball became known as the Red Ribbon Ball, would be a platform for HIV-positive individual to tell their story and be celebrated for their bravery and strength. He is an accountant and has worked in the financial industry for 13 years before embarking on his social work studies. On 05 December 2023, Dorian will celebrate 18 years of living with HIV, following a traumatic sexual assault in 2005. Dorian counsels individuals, facilitates HIV/AIDS Education and Wellness Workshops, and speaks at numerous events to break down the stigma that still surrounds this manageable chronic condition. Dorian uses crucial conversations as a basic approach to addressing issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. His fresh, innovative, and energetic approach to facilitating a workshop leaves attendees understanding topics logically. As a person living with HIV for 18 years already, his practical guidance and advice are a testimony that you can live a long and healthy life.
Dorian Basson
Senior Finance Officer
Khanyisile Phillips is the current Education Programme Manager at Gender Dynamix. She is a transgender woman of colour, born and raised in the Cape Flats. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Honours Degree in Community Development.
Her work as a social justice campaigner draws on various black queer feminist ideological inspirations such as Audre Lorde and Alice Nkom. She is a passionate intersectional feminist who advocates for socioeconomic, racial, and gender justice, particularly the importance of codified policies and legal frameworks in higher education institutions in South Africa and the region to embed an approach of gender self-determination and self-identification, in order to promote and support policies and practices that recognise the agency and personal autonomy of trans and gender diverse students towards increased access to a quality, inclusive education system in which historically discriminated groups can exercise freedoms of speech, association, and expression.
Khanyisile Phillips
Education Programme Manager
Gita November is a South African trans activist who has been fighting for gender-affirming healthcare in her country. She has been vocal about the struggles of transgender people in South Africa to access adequate healthcare, as gender-affirming treatments are not covered by national health insurance agencies.
Gita has also been involved in campaigning for the implementation of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health guidelines in South- Africa. In recognition of her advocacy work, Gita was named one of the Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans in 2016. She has also been featured in numerous publications for her work in South African newspaper The Daily Maverick. Overall, Gita November's fight for gender-affirming healthcare in South Africa highlights the need for progress in trans rights advocacy around the world. Her courage and determination serve as an inspiration to other trans activists fighting for equality in their countries.
Gita November
​Health Advocacy Officer
Liberty is the former Legal, Policy and Education Advocacy Officer of Gender DynamiX, joining the team as Executive Director on 1 February 2018. Identifying as a trans non-binary person, she/they is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and holds a Master’s Degree in Law (cum laude) focused on non-discrimination and marriage equality for transgender persons (University of the Western Cape). Liberty also holds qualifications in Project Management, Leadership, Financial Management and Strategic Business Management (University of Cape Town).
She/They can be defined as a community-centred, critical-thought, human rights and social justice activist whose passion in fighting for dignity, equality and freedom for trans and gender diverse persons drives their/her dedication to achieving positive change. In her/their spare time she/they enjoys hiking outdoors, reading and writing, exercising and spending time with loved ones, particularly in their/her hometown of Darling.
Liberty Matthyse
Executive Director
With a passion for Accounting and community work, being able to do what you love and love what you do, has been his greatest motivator to enter the non-profit sphere. As a person of colour and a member of the LGBTIQ+ community, collaborating with GDX has been a great milestone for him. With 6 years of finance experience, he is also diverse in HR, IT, Tax and is currently pursuing registration with CIMA. With a meticulous work ethic and an eye for detail, his methodology is always to exceed the needs of the organization and so the community, by going beyond his ordinary scope of duties. Developing systems and strategies that best suits a specific project and maximizes the output, is one of his key strengths.
Neviron Meyer
Operations Manager
Princess has been appointed as the Finance Intern at Gender DynamiX. She was born and grew up in Thohoyandou, Limpopo. Princess obtained a BCom Degree at the University of Venda. She also went on to obtain a Business Information System Certificate at the University of Venda and is still planning to further her studies by enrolling for her Honours next year. Princess has been an activist for the LGBTQIA+ Community and people living with disabilities. She is fearless, brave, professional, efficient and accountable.
Princess Munyai
Finance Intern
Gleo Booysen is a woman living a trans experience. Born and raised in the heart of South Africa, Bloemfontein, Free State. She completed the Young African Leaders Initiative Southern Africa program (YALI), a flagship program initiated by former US president Barack Obama which was held at UNISA School for Business Leadership and graduated as a Civil Leader in 2017.
She is a fashion model and passionate activist for transgender persons thus having organised the Free State LGBTIQ Pride between 2015 and 2019 to raise awareness around transgender topics. Her administration experience boasts over 15 years having worked in both corporate and the NGO space.
Gleo Booysen
Operations Officer
Wilma serves as the Receptionist at Gender Dynamix, she is responsible for internal maintenance and the office environment. Wilma was born and raised in Porterville and lives in Cape Town for the past 20 years. She identifies as a transgender woman. Wilma’s working experience extends to the agricultural sector, retail sector and NGO sector.
She has a matric qualification and plans to study towards an office administration qualification.She is passionate about people and often advises transgender individuals on the process of transitioning. Wilma’s hobbies are listening to music and she loves participating in beauty pageants as well.
Wilma Kok
Receptionist
Hape Peshoane joins the Gender Dynamix team all the way from Lesotho. She is well versed regarding regional and international human rights instruments and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Women & Gender Studies at the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
Hape also holds a BA Honours Degree in Women & Gender Studies (UWC), Postgraduate Diploma in Gender Studies (University of the Free State), BA Degree in Pastoral Care & Counselling and Diploma in Pastoral Care & Counselling (National University of Lesotho).
Hape Peshoane
Regional Programme Manager
"Born and raised in Cape Town, I have always been interested in marginalized communities. After pursuing my Undergraduate Arts Degree, I furthered my studies and acquired my Honours Degree in Psychology (UWC), in the hopes of better understanding people's views and allowing me to see the world through their eyes. My curiosity finds me furthering my studies, currently acquiring my Masters in Research Psychology. With a growing interest and passion to explore issues around the LGBTQ+ community. I look forward to learning and growing every day. May my journey be filled with knowledge, wisdom and positive impact."
Cameron Lawrence
Junior Research Coordinator
Melody Seherrie is a Transgender Woman from Petrusville, Northern Cape. She is passionate about Activism and Advocacy and have journeyed through the course of her life actively advocating for LGBT+ and the rights of Transwomen in various communities and Tertiary institutions. Her passion for people and advocating for the rights of the marginalised and oppressed led her to study Social Work at the University of the Western Cape. Melody have been in support of multiple NGOs over the past 13 years as Student Social Worker and Administrative Support.
Melody also won the Ms Gay Northern Cape title in 2013. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, reading books, creative writing and spending time with her loved ones.
Melody Seherrie
Community, Media, Marketing & Communications Manager
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Finance Officer
Zimbabwean-born Dzoe Ahmad is a tremendously accomplished Regional Advocacy Coordinator at Gender Dynamix (GDX). She is a multidisciplinary, multifaceted Transgender human rights defender, Content creator through fashion photography/ Influencing, with studies in Executive Secretarial and Business Management. She is a member of Young-Key Population on international platforms, where she is the spokesperson on struggles and success of an African Young Transgender, a board member of African Women on Sexual Health (AWOSHE). Dzoe Ahmad has collaborated with the UNICEF in conducting AYKP online toolkit on resources to help plan and scale up HIV prevention programs for adolescents and young people aged 10-24 years.
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Further collaborated with the Center for Civil & Political Rights [CCPR] on UN Advocacy mechanisms which impacted the writing of the International Convent on Civil & Political Rights - OHRC report in 2020 for Zimbabwe. All geared towards advocacy and affirming the resilience of survivors of injustice. Miss Ahmad submitted the International Convection on Civil and Political Rights report that gave an in-depth highlight and injustice, inequalities that the broader LGBTI persons face in Zimbabwe. Dzoe Ahmad works proactively in fighting for/and creating visibility for the transgender constituency and speaking in the representation of the marginalized community by standing as one, activism, social media influencer, brands endorsements, coordinating. Currently pursuing her digital career and further her studies in Business Management.
Dzoe Ahmad
Regional Advocacy Coordinator
Leah Grace Turner is the Community engagement Intern at Gender DynamiX.
She was born and grew up in Cape Town. Her passion for Trans rights began at a very young age as she noted the inequalities her fellow transgender community members were facing.
Leah actively strives for the inclusion of her community members as she believes in freedom, fairness and equality.
Leah Turner
REACTOR
Belinda Qaqamba Ka-Fassie (also known as Abenathi Makinana) is a South African genderqueer (art)ivist, activist and drag artist that creatively intertwines her cathartic artistry with her Xhosa identity, wearing cultural garments traditionally worn by one gender. Her drag is a protest of the homophobia, transphobia and racism that permeate South African society, as well as the lack of understanding and language to describe queerness in Xhosa communities. This award-winning performer is also the co-founder of the World Press Award winning project, #blackdragmagic, a project born out of stories of black trans and gender diverse persons who navigate their daily lives in the townships of Cape Town.
They hold a BA Humanities majoring in Sociology and Social Anthropology, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, BEd Honours Education Development and Democracy (Cum Laude) and is currently a Master of Education in Policy Studies at Stellenbosch University.
Belinda is a social justice warrior devoted to praxis and approaches centred in Intersectional Feminism, decoloniality and trauma informed. They have proven experiences facilitating robust engagements among young and old people in communities regarding issues of racial justice, human dignity, gender justice and belonging.
They were also actively involved in the #FeesMustFall and #OpenStellenbosch student movements, leading the queer collective that formed part of the movement in Stellenbosch University contributing indelibly to trans and gender diverse recognition in the institution.
Belinda is also a multi-pageant winner with titles such as Miss Cape Town Pride 2016, Miss Humanitarian 2015, Miss Drag Ambassador 2016 and Miss Gay Western Cape 2016 (now Miss Sovereign Western Cape) and Miss Drag South Africa 2019.
Belinda has vast experience in education, strategic leadership, community engagement and ground activism.
Belinda Qaqamba / Abenathi Makinana
Legal & Health Programme Manager