The name Access Chapter 2 (AC2) is based on the South African Institution – the Bill of Rights: Chapter. AC2 was first registered as a Section 21 Non-Profit Company (NPC) under the Companies Act 2008, then later as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO).

AC2 was initiated to promoting the human rights and empowerment of women and girls, and LGBTI+ people (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) in all their diversities, facilitate participation of civil society organisations at a local, national, regional and international level by creating space and coordinating platforms for engagement on governance, policy and accountability processes and by developing innovative and active empowerment for transformation knowledge for community systems strengthening and build solidarity within civil society and other various sectors.

VISION

A world where LGBTI+ people in their diversity have equal access to human rights

 

MISSION

AC2 works to improve the rights of women and LGBTI+ people locally, regionally and globally. Access Chapter 2 will achieve this through the values of ubuntu, informing public policy, fostering change and promoting human rights and inclusion through provision of direct services, legal support and advocacy, education, research and community engagement.

AC2 strategic approaches

01

Direct Service

02

Capacity Building and Awareness

03

Legal and Advocacy

04

Research/ Monitoring and Evaluation

Our Director

Steve Letsike

Executive Director

Steve is a human rights advocate. Steve Founder and Executive Director of Access Chapter 2 (AC2). Steve is a prominent leader, with high level international policy and human rights experience for over 15 years.

Currently she serves as the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) Co- Chairperson, a portfolio currently co-chairing with the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, mandated in her capacity as the chairperson of SANAC National Civil Society Forum. Furthermore, she is the Co-Chair of the National Task Team established by the Department of Justice to address Hate Crimes and GBV. She is also Co-Chairs the Commonwealth Equality Network with over 53 commonwealth country members. Furthermore, she serves as a member of the Global UN Women LGBTI reference group, and the Southern Africa UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group, the Women4 Global Fund Network, as well as the Queerwell board, appointed by Minister of Health on the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Social and Behavior aspects of Covid-19 response in South Africa including serving as a Councilor on the South African Pharmacy Council.

Steve is a seasoned Leader, Feminist, a Human Rights Advocate and an Entrepreneur.

Our team

Denise Zambezi

Legal and Research Manager

Ms. Denise Zambezi is the legal and research manager at Access Chapter 2. She has law background with a master’s in law (LLD) in Multi-Disciplinary Human Rights from the University of Pretoria and currently pursuing her PhD. Her work includes advocacy and the monitoring and management of hate crime and discrimination cases, specifically those towards LGBTI+, women and girls in their diversity. She leads qualitative and quantitative research development at Access Chapter 2 and additionally manages various projects including the LGBTI+ migrants, refugee and asylum seeker and transgender programme.

Drs. Patrick Mthombeni

Development, Policy and M&E Manager

Drs. Mthombeni he is the Development, Policy and M&E Manager for Access Chapter 2. His research interests cover diverse topics that have direct policy implications such as gender and sexuality, protection of LGBT human rights, sexual citizenship, ageing sexualities, and LGBT social identities. He is a Ph.D. Candidate at Ghent University (Belgium) studying the social identity formation of older gay men who reside in Northeast of England. He received his MA degree in Sociology and Social Research at Newcastle University in England, United Kingdom investigating the division of labour in same-sex (lesbian) families, published by the Journal of GLB Family Studies.

Sbusiso Diale

Professional Nurse

RN. Sbusiso Diale is a registered Nurse at Access chapter 2. He is born and breed in Soweto Johannesburg. He holds a National Diploma In Nursing Science and Midwifery from a Ann latsky Nursing College and a Postgraduate diploma in Nursing Management and adminstration from University of Stellenbosh as well as short course certificates in HIV Management, Fertility care and conception and infection control.

Lee-Ann Ramashala

Receptionist

Ms. Ramashala she is currently the receptionist and the Project Coordinator for the Elingagobeki Transgender Project at Access Chapter 2. Ms. Ramashala possess extensive experience in HTS and HIVSS counselling and screening, Gender-Based Violence, and Adherence. She also hosts transgender support groups in Gauteng and North West focusing on the issues and challenges that are faced by the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming persons.

Khululekani Subuyi

Mpumalanga Provincial Coordinator

Mr. Sibuyi is currently the Mpumalanga provincial coordinator for Access Chapter 2 on Advocacy project for adolescent girls’ young women (AGYW), Men who have sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender (TG), comprehensive prevention, treatment, care and support services for HIV, TB, STIs and ART. Mr. Sibuyi is a Qualified Social Worker graduated at the University of Venda in 2017, volunteered 4 years on advocacy for Univen LGBTI organization while was a student. worked at imperial cold logistics in 2018 as stock managing auditor, 2019 I administrated 400 contractors of Siyatetela project for Department of Public Works.

Shaun Makweya

Gauteng Provincial Coordinator

Mr. Makweya currently serves as the Gauteng Provincial Coordinator for Access Chapter 2 on an Advocacy Project for adolescent girls & young women (AGYW), Men who have sex with other Men (MSM), Transgender persons (TG), and people living with HIV (PLHIV). Mr. Makweya is a qualified Motor Mechanic with a trade certificate acquired at AA Technical College in 2018. Having worked in the Motor Industry, he also has NQF Levels 2, 3, and 4 certificates in Automotive Repair and Maintenance from Orbit TVET College, making him a competent queer mechanic; a rarity in the field. A former Peer Educator for the organisation working in the outreach project in 2019, he is also a qualified and certified HIV Testing Services counsellor, with an additional certificate in Rapid Testing Continuous Quality Improvement (RTCQI).

Hilda Senyolo

Peer-Educator and Cleaner

Ms. Senyolo is currently working for Access Chapter 2 as a Peer-Educators’ Team leader /Peer Educator. She also provides assistance with administration work and data capturing. She has a certificate in HIV testing, counselling, and adherence. Her work includes outreach, leading and coordinating the HIV testing and counselling outreach team, conducting community health talks with women and girls. She is also capacitated in dealing with matters of Gender-based violence perpetuated toward key & vulnerable populations.

Lonwabo Mlabatheki

Project Associate

Ms. Lonwabo Mlabatheki is a young LGBTI+ activist from Soweto. She has been doing activism work in areas of humanitarian work and advocacy. She is passionate about LGBTI+ rights and young women and young girls rights. She currently works at Access Chapter 2 as a Project Associate. Her role is to spot opportunities that bring about new programmes and activities within the organization, ensure implementation takes place and an ongoing relationship with various stakeholders is maintained. She enjoys organizing and being innovative when it comes to LGBTI + movement. She’s also known as a selfless change maker who goes all out to see change when it comes to narratives of disadvantaged LGBTI+ persons.

Raphael Dou'a Akame

Migrant, Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Project Coordinator

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Macmillan Ngobeni

Finance manager and Executive Assistant

Mx. Ngobeni is currently the Finance Manager of Access Chapter 2, an activist, leader, mentor, and vibrant human rights advocate. Mx. Ngobeni possess experience and qualifications in finance and bookkeeping in the NGO world. He has been part of a number of youth upliftment campaigns. Maccmillan has also served as a facilitator for the Love Life National Youth Camp and the Provincial LGBTI Youth Camp which was a 1st in the Province and working at Access Chapter has also brought experience in the field of Health and Wellbeing as he has been part of the Annual Health and Youth Summit, is currently the Chairperson of the Gauteng LGBTI+ Sector at the Gauteng Provincial AIDS Council and also served as a volunteer to an LGBTI organisation in the Limpopo Province. He has previously worked with: Pan African ILGA as a volunteer for the 3rd Annual PAI Conference in South Africa which was hosted at the Birchwood Hotel, OUT LGBT Well-Being as a bookkeeper for an MSM and TG project under the Right to Care project, Iranti as collaborative partnership in creating dialogues and media training, Limpopo LGBTI Proudly Out (LLPO) as the Provincial Coordinator which included Civil Society and State engagements, Love Life and government Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation as a Facilitator for the Annual Camp in 2017.

Notshayina Skepe

Eastern Cape Provincial Coordinator

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Portia Serote

Professional Social Worker

Ms. Serota is currently the professional Social Worker for Access Chapter 2. Ms. Serote graduated with UNISA in 2019. Studied HIV/ AIDS and the law with WITS, HIV/AIDS and psychology with UNISA, studied lay counselling, care and treatment with FPD, Facilitation skills with EXCHOCH and Sales, Marketing and business management with Damelin business school. Ms. Serote is currently doing her master’s in social work specializing in Social development. She has worked at Treatment action campaign from 2006 as a treatment literacy practitioner within the district of Ekurhuleni, District organiser and provincial organiser and was later promoted into being provincial Treatment literacy practitioner.

  1. Board Chair – Claire Mathonsi 
  2. Executive Director (Ex Officio) – Steve Letsike 
  3. Board Member – Dr. Ntlotleng Mabena
  4. Board Member – Rebecca Dikgale 
  5. Board Member – Wencesslous Azania Maseko 
  6. Board Member – Adv. Daniel Sibanyoni 
  7. Board Member – Motlatsi Mkalala 

Board Members

Dr. Ntlotleng Mabena

Dr. Ntlotleng Mabena is a medical doctor who is a women’s health and rights advocate. She was born and raised in Mamelodi, Pretoria. Dr Mabena is a visionary, who has worked with various local NGOs in the filed of HIV, Sexual and Reproductive Health and LGBT advocacy. Her passion lies in working with marginalized women, and making sure that all women, especially those at the margins of society, have access to quality primary health care services. She prefers to be referred to as a healer, and not a doctor, since she firmly believes that she was born with the gift of healing, which transcends western medicines. Her healing practices are diverse. She believes the western medical model, traditional healing practices, and psycho-social support model, can be used interchangeably, tailoring them to suit diverse individuals who come under her care. In addition to her Medical Degree, she also holds a Masters in Public Health (MPH) degree, Diploma in HIV Management, Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Forensic Medicine and a Post Graduate Certificate in LGBT Health Policy and Practice from George Washington University, USA. Dr. Mabena has also been closely involved in the National Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) program in South Africa over the years, having implemented various systems that are key to the success of the male circumcision program in the country and in the region. Her advocacy issues include rape care, abortion care, substance abuse and mental health, amongst others.

Advocate Daniel Sibanyoni

Professional Social Worker

Advocate Sibanyoni is currently an Admitted Advocate of the High Court of South Africa. Have various corporate experience within the Financial services industry. Advocates for the promotion of human rights and inclusion of the LGBTI+ community in all their diversities, and to build solidarity within our societies.