OUR HEROES CELEBRATING

For the past three years Cape Town Pride has presented the Hero Awards in recognition of those people in the community who have done exeptional work in a variety of fields ... This years hero awards will be celebrated at a gala evening at the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! in Cape Town

The glamorous evening will include a 3-course buffet-style dinner with live entertainment and a charity auction with the proceeds going to the Nkoli House Project - an Outreach Africa initiative to establish a community centre with emphasis on the “silver” seniors as well as a youth crisis centre. The City of Cape Town have been approached regarding a property that will be suitable but unfortunately to date none have been confirmed. Negotiations are on-going and we they to have something concrete to report in the near future.

Each year there are 10 heroes who are recognised and celebrated. This year an 11th award - a lifetime achievement award has been added to the list of honourees.

Without further ado, lets introduce you to this years award winners ...

The Hometown Hero Award

Barry Reid

Barry has for many years worked tirelessly for both Pride and the wider community and is especially well-known on the pageant circuit in the city hosting and organising a number of pageants throughout the year including the annual Mr & Miss Cape Town Pride ...

OUTSTANDING SUPPORT FOR CAPE TOWN PRIDE Award

Mathias Bogaert

Mathias Bogaert is the Consul General in Cape Town for the Embassy of Belgium.

Since the Covid pandemic, Mathias on behalf of the Embassy of Belgium in South Africa, has volunteered to enable Pride events, by making the Consular residence in Newlands available for the last two Pride launch events.

Mathias personally intervened with the City of Cape Town to enable these events to take place and is dedicated to inclusivity and diversity for all the citizens of our city..

For his unfailing support of our community and invaluable help, and a true ally, we have great pleasure in honouring his commitment with this award.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO CAPE TOWN PRIDE Award

Günther Kriel

Günther Kriel approached Cape Town Pride and offered to redesign and relaunch its website in the name of cptpride.org. He is the director of Rueko Studio, an awardwinning design studio that specialises in graphic design, website design, and legal design.

Günther offered his services and web-design costs free of charge, which often escalates into the six-digit costs. He also dedicated several hours of his time in making the website a pleasure, user-friendly site that will take Cape Town Pride to new heights in the cybersphere.

For his outstanding effort, talent, time and willingness to help Pride go from strength to strength, we are proud to give this award to Günther who has made the effort to go the extra mile.

LGBTQIA+ ACTIVISM IN THE COMMUNITY Award

Belinda Qaqamba Ka-Fassie

A deserved recipient of this award, Belinda Qaqamba KaFassie is a genderqueer (art)ivist and activist.

Belinda is a social justice warrior 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.

Belinda comes with vast experience and knowledge in education, student leadership, community engagement and handson field activism.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO YOUTH ADVOCACY Award

Limpho Makapela

The Gender Equity Unit’s activities and programmes are geared towards making sure that no one is discriminated against, harassed or hurt because of their gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, and to facilitating the empowerment of particularly women and other marginalised groups, both on campus and within society at large.

The Gender Equity Unit promotes Women and Gender equity and social justice through feminist research, education and advocacy in the University of the Western Cape and beyond.

Limpho is the Student Projects Officer at the Gender Equity Unit department. and for their resolute work in promoting gender equality, particularly in regard to young people in disadvantaged communities, Cape Town Pride wishes to recognise their effort and dedication with this award.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY HEALTH Award Herman Samuels (Lalla)

Herman Samuels aka Lalla works for Wits RHI where they provide HIV testing and counseling education for the transgender and sex workers community in regard to the use of Prep.

Lalla also assists at the clinic with HRT follow-ups and deals with new clients interested in HRT.

Through Wits RHI, they also educate, distribute and encourage the use of condoms and lubes in the LGBT+ community

In recognition of the dedication for the work Herman does in the community we are proud to give him this award

OUTSTANDING WORK IN EDUCATION IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES Award

Jevonn Cloete

Jevonn Cloete is a teacher at Rusthof School for Learners with Special Educational Needs, specialising in teaching learners with severe intellectual disabilities and autism. He also works part-time as a facilitator at the Cape Teaching Leadership Institute under the Inclusive Educational section, where he handles the training with topics such school based support team functioning. These trainings are aimed at disadvantaged schools in low-socio economic development areas.

It is for his passionate dedication to education, particularly in disadvantaged areas and with students with learning disabilities, that we feel that Jevonn is a worthy recipient of this award

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR Award

Jarrad Ricketts

Well known to Cape Town audiences, Jarrad Ricketts is a steadfast supporter of our community. Jarrad, who grew up in Athlone in Cape Town is a tireless ambassador for the city and it’s diversity, both in the people who make the city the most tolerant and welcoming on the continent, but the city’s natural beauty as well.

Jarrad who is always willing to perform at LGBT+ events, has been on the Pride stage in the past. He stepped in at the last minute at the Pride Proms last year, receiving a standing ovation fro his rendition of Barcelona with Lynelle Kenned.

Most recently, Jarrad performed at the Launch of Cape Town Pride 2023 ... Jarrad was nominated for this award in recognition of his unfailing support of our community, his amazing talent and willingness to show his support for the LGBT+ people of our beautiful city.

BEST NEWCOMER IN ENTERTAINMENT Award

The TRANS-formaers

The TRANS-formers have been selected as the best LGBT+ newcomers in entertainment.

The trio will be performing on the Pride stage this year ...

The group strives to be transformative and to be vehicles for change through performance art, visual art, cabaret and dance. The group is grounded in the cornerstone of Sisterhood. This is important as it creates strong connections, whilst also bringing a sense of belonging and trust within the group dynamic, which is the secret behind the Transformers success.

We hope that this award will encourage them to go from strength to strength in a field which they are passionate about succeeding in.

CONSISTENT SERVICE TO CAPE TOWN PRIDE IN ENTERTAINMENT Award

Three Divas

Three Divas (3D) first performed on the Pride stage 13 years ago after winning a talent night. Since then, this trio - Kat Gilardi, Angel Lalamore and Jayde Kay Johnson,

The trio, branded the Destiny’s Child of Cape Town have perfected their routines, with flawless choreography, perfect lip-syncing, a highly energetic and hugely entertaining performances which always have crowds on their feet calling for more.

Well known on the entertainment circuit in Cape Town it gives us great pleasure in acknowledging their contribution to the LGBT+ community of the city with this award.