The First Openly Gay Black MP in Africa

Zakhele Mbhele has become the first openly gay black MP to be elected in the continent of Africa.

This week, Mr Mbhele, 29, has been officially sworn in as a Member of South Africa’s Parliament. He represents Democratic Alliance, the country’s main opposition.

He said: "I know what it means as a historical milestone but I’m not walking around thinking of myself as the first openly gay black MP in Africa or singularly defining myself by it".

The new MP also believes the South African Government should have publicly condemned Nigeria and Uganda for earlier this year passing tougher anti-gay laws.

Remember that South Africa became the first and so far only country in Africa to legalise marriage rights for same-sex couples in 2006. 

Mandela's country is the only African country

where gay weddings are legal