Facing up to gender challenge

Rhodes student wants to be first black transgender woman SRC president

A 21-year-old Rhodes University student could make history by becoming the first black transgender woman to be elected president of the student representative council.

Phumelele Nkomozake has set her sights on leading the university students after Friday’s campus elections.

The East London-born psychology student is currently the activism and transformation councillor in the SRC.

She said she was inspired to run for SRC president because of the challenges transgender people continued to face.

Nkomozake said even before she could speak she felt that she was a girl rather than a boy.

“It was only in primary school that I realised the impact of my difference when I had to wear a boy’s uniform instead of a girl’s uniform,” she said.

“In primary school I knew that I was different but I did not realise the impact this would have on my life.”

According to Nkomozake, being transgender means she was born in a body with which she does not psychologically and emotionally identify.

She said if elected SRC president, she planned to bring change to the campus culture.

“I want to create spaces that are culturally diverse and inclusive for all people regardless of gender, race and class,” she said.

Nkomozake said people who identify with other genders are excluded from spaces such as bathrooms and university residences that they identify with.

“Representation is important in leadership positions. Currently Somizi is the only custodian for the community.”

She said her family was supportive of her identifying as a transgender woman but that it had been a difficult journey.

The family first found out that she was transgender through the media when a story about her being elected to the current SRC was published last year.

“When I was growing up I always stood out as hyper-feminine, so they thought I was gay. It was a completely daunting experience,” Nkomozake said.

She said though she has been living as a woman she is only planning to formally start transitioning into a woman after she graduates from university.