Daily Dispatch

Buthelezi celebrates her love for a woman

- CHRIZELDA KEKANA

She makes me happy. I’m happy to an extent that I’m living again

Nomsa Buthelezi recently made public her love for her woman and has opened up about why it took her so long to do so.

Taking to Instagram last week‚ Buthelezi celebrated her partner Zandile by flaunting their love for the first time on social media.

Her post was captioned: “Today I celebrate us. I celebrate our love and let mama universe keep us together. Happy birthday Zandile. I love you‚ my king is a woman.”

Buthelezi confirmed that Zandile was her romantic partner and even though their relationsh­ip was fairly new‚ she was madly in love.

“It’s been over six months. I’ve never shared anything about my love life because I’m a very private person. And I know most people think that me dating a girl has been a secret but it’s not a secret. I just haven’t been flaunting it.”

Buthelezi‚ who most people know as the bubbly OPW presenter, explained that it was only after her parents assured her of their love for her regardless of who she dated that she decided she could take on the opinions of the world.

“My parents said to me‚ ‘No‚ Nomsa we support you‚ you don’t have to hide and be somebody that you are not’.’”

She said people who were close to her had known for a while but she had never made a public declaratio­n because she had observed the insults and abuse members of the LGBTQ community went through daily. “I have been lesbian for many years. I’ve been dating women for years.

“But because I once had a partner who was a guy it was hard for me to reclaim who I am publicly. Usually coming out as a woman who dates other women is not easy‚ especially in townships. We are always scared of the reaction.

“But I decided this month I’ll share my love and also encourage other women.”

Buthelezi said more than that, all she wanted to share was how in love she was.

“I want to stand tall and say‚ ‘Hey‚ my name is Nomsa Buthelezi and I am dating another woman and there’s nothing wrong with that’.

“In this moment‚ I am so happy. She makes me happy. I’m happy to such an extent that I am living again. I never thought I would be this happy.

“I want to show off my love and the closet doesn’t have enough space to host my celebratio­n of love.”

 ?? Picture: FILE ?? IN LOVE: Bubbly OPW presenter Nomsa Buthelezi says it was her parents’ words and love for her that encouraged her to speak openly about her romantic relationsh­ip with another woman.
Picture: FILE IN LOVE: Bubbly OPW presenter Nomsa Buthelezi says it was her parents’ words and love for her that encouraged her to speak openly about her romantic relationsh­ip with another woman.

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