LGBT rights in South Africa

===Portrayal and representation in the media and society===
[[Television in South Africa|Television]] and [[Cinema of South Africa|film]] produces programmes which also focus on gay life. Multiple [[soap operas]] showcase/have showcased LGBT life, some of the more notable have been the long-running and now cancelled soap opera ''[[Egoli: Place of Gold|Egoli]]'' which featured a long-term gay relationship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mambaonline.com/article.asp?artid=43 |title=Mind the Soap |publisher=MambaOnline |date=2000-01-01 |access-date=2017-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304232809/http://mambaonline.com/article.asp?artid=43 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[SABC 1]] has shown itself to be comparatively representative of the [[Demographics of sexual orientation|LGBT community in South Africa]] in its programming. The [[sitcom]] ''City Ses Top La'' features a gay character for which [[Warren Masemola]] received a [[South African Film and Television Awards|SAFTA Award]]. One of the highest-rated soap operas on SABC 1 to feature [[LGBT characters]] was ''[[Generations (South African TV series)|Generations]]'', with the characters of star-crossed lovers Senzo (played by [[Thami Mngqolo]]) and Jason, who later married and had a child. In the soap opera's current reincarnation as ''[[Generations:The Legacy]]'', there is a [[transgender]] woman character by the name of Wandile and her host of LGBT friends and associates. The [[telenovela]] ''[[Uzalo]]'' also features a gay character by the name of GC (portrayed by [[Khaya Dladla]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/local/khaya-dladla-has-recovered-from-covid-19-51214652|title=Khaya Dladla has recovered from Covid 19|website=www.iol.co.za|publisher=iol.co.za|accessdate=2021-02-22}}</ref> who was embroiled in a church dispute about his sexuality, illustrating the rural and urban demographic perceptions about sexuality in South Africa. The channel has also seen other successes in shows with LGBT characters such as ''Society'', ''[[Intersexions]]'', and ''[[After 9]]'' amongst others. Other soap operas to feature major LGBT characters have been: Steve (played by Emmanuel Castis) in ''[[Isidingo: The Need]]'', Thula (played by Wright Ngubeni)<ref>{{cite web|title=Wright Ngubeni can't get bond right|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sundayworld/news/2019-02-26-wright-ngubeni-cant-get-bond-right/|date=2019-02-26|publisher=www.sowetanlive.co.za|accessdate=2021-02-22}}</ref> in ''[[Rhythm City (TV Series)|Rhythm City]]'' and Jerome (played by Terrence Bridget, a gay actor) in ''[[7de Laan]]''. The 2016 [[Dstv|Mzansi Magic]] telenovela ''The Queen'' features [[Sello Maake Ka-Ncube]] playing a gay character.

''Somizi and Mohale: The Union'', which began streaming on [[Showmax]] on 24 February 2020, is a four-episode special focusing on the wedding of [[Somizi Mhlongo]] and Mohale Motaung.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/somizi-and-mohale-the-union-showmax/|title=Somizi and Mohale's 'The Union' breaks viewing records on Showmax|website=The South African|date=27 February 2020|author=Eren Oberholzer}}</ref> The first episode broke Showmax's viewership record as the show for the most views ever on its first day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2020-02-27-what-a-hit-somizi-and-mohales-wedding-special-breaks-streaming-record/|title=What a hit! Somizi and Mohale's wedding special breaks streaming record|website=Sowetan Live|date=27 February 2020|author=Kyle Zeeman}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/tv/streaming/somizi-and-mohale-share-why-they-did-the-wedding-special-44797750|title=Somizi and Mohale share why they did the wedding special|website=iol.co.za|date=15 March 2020|author=Kedibone Modise}}</ref>