In 2025, a quiet revolution began at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). Out of conversations once confined to private circles emerged SMU Pride Connect — the university’s first student-led queer structure. Founded by a group of determined students led by Freddy Kunene (Chairperson) and Phozisa Gumede (Secretary), Pride Connect was born from a shared conviction: queer students at SMU deserved to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
“For years, queer students were visible yet unseen,” recalls Kunene. “We were part of the community but not represented in its spaces or policies.” That absence became the spark. What began as honest conversations among friends evolved into a movement that redefined inclusivity on campus.
From its inception, SMU Pride Connect has stood for advocacy, community, and celebration. The structure’s mission is simple but powerful — to make SMU a safer, more inclusive home for LGBTQIA+ students. Within months of its founding, Pride Connect made history with its March 2025 Awareness Campaign, introducing the university community to a vision of belonging that left a lasting impression. The campaign was followed by game nights and safe spaces, giving queer students and allies room to connect and express themselves freely.
June 2025 marked a turning point. The group hosted SMU’s first-ever Pride Celebration Picnic — a colourful, joy-filled gathering that doubled as the structure’s official launch. “Seeing students dancing under rainbow flags felt like liberation,” Gumede says. “For many, it was the first time they felt free to exist openly on campus.”
Then came October’s Pride Month March and Panel Talk, a bold milestone that sparked campus-wide dialogue about identity, inclusion, and visibility. The event brought together students, staff, and university leaders — proof that Pride Connect’s advocacy was inspiring genuine cultural change. For its groundbreaking work, the group was named Vice-Chancellor’s Society of the Year 2025, a recognition that cemented its place in SMU’s evolving story of transformation.
Behind these milestones is a committed leadership collective whose dedication drives the structure forward. The 2025 executive committee includes:
Freddy Kunene (Chairperson), Hlonipho Leshilo (Deputy Chairperson), Phozisa Gumede (Secretary), Esther Msiza (Deputy Secretary), Masala Kutama (Treasurer), Tumisho Manyama (Media Officer), Sibongile Molefe (Media Officer), Dimpho Pilusa (Counselling Officer), Thuto Matsie (Counselling Officer), Lehlogonolo Mathete (Events Organiser), and Alex Chokwe (Events Organiser). Atholl Valdon Kleinhans and Eunice Modiba serve as Technical Advisors.
Each plays a vital role in advancing Pride Connect’s mission of visibility, equality, and empowerment. Together, they ensure that every initiative — from awareness campaigns to policy dialogues — reflects the diverse voices within SMU’s queer community.
Leading a queer organisation within a health sciences context has not been without challenges. From navigating bureaucracy to confronting social stigma, the founders have faced their share of resistance. Yet, their resilience continues to drive them. “Education and dialogue are our tools,” says Gumede. “We’re turning misunderstanding into empathy, one conversation at a time.”
Looking ahead, Pride Connect plans to launch a Queer Health Education Series, strengthen mental health support systems, and expand its Pride Month activities into a full Pride Week celebration in 2026.
Their vision is bold: a campus — and ultimately, a country — where inclusivity is not an aspiration but a norm.
“Pride,” Kunene concludes, “is love without apology. It’s courage, compassion, and community — and at SMU, it’s only just beginning.”
By Tumelo Moila
