Pieter Visser – Kahuna Bodyworker
Where do I begin? Born in the ‘60s as the youngest of five, my life has been a journey rich with stories and experiences.
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Where do I begin? Born in the ‘60s as the youngest of five, my life has been a journey rich with stories and experiences.
Pieter le Roux is an IMAGO Clinical Therapist as well as a qualified Business and Life Coach.
I’m Sean Claase, owner of Automotive South Africa, a dealership I started in 2015, based in Randburg.
Founder and Partner at Zeelie Professional Accountants SA.
Henri Nieuwoudt (30) hails from the sun-scorched plains of the Kalahari in the Northern Cape.
After trading a career in finance for hair styling more than 20 years ago, André Dercksen (46) hasn’t looked back.
As editor of eNuus, South Africa’s first alternative Afrikaans television news bulletin, Paul Dunn (49) has more than 22 years of experience in television journalism and broadcasting.
Passion drives Deon Hattingh and he is passionate about all things: people, ballet, art, music, and now more importantly; optometry.
“By day, I’m a .NET Developer, but by night, I transform into a Ninja of exploration.
“To create art is my biggest passion.” Michael Heyns 1992
Hendrik Baird is an accomplished professional who has made significant contributions in various fields.
Born in 1977 and residing in the West Rand ever since, I came out just before I turned 21 with the most loving, caring and understanding mom anywhere in the world.
Stian is 43 years of age, working as a certified massage therapist living in the beautiful Mother City, Cape Town.
Cover pic: ‘Die Boy van George’ designed by Nicholas de Klerk was banned in 1985!
From a very young age Corné du Plessis was fascinated by cameras and photography. He bought his first SLR camera at the age of 21 and is self-taught, photography having been part of his life’s journey as a hobby.
My journey to winning the coveted Mr Gay World title was a long roller-coaster ride. Nobody told me the road would be easy, but I was up for the ride in the name of my dreams.
There is much power in young people looking to make a change in the world; and that’s what Tony McPherson (21) is looking to achieve during Namibia Pride Week 2021.
After graduating with a Bachelor of German Studies, I read for and obtained a master’s degree in political science and International Studies from the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, and I prepared my thesis at the Heinrich-Heine University in Düsseldorf, Germany.
“Many moons ago I went to the incredible Mrs Henderson’s where everyone was transformed in the magical atmosphere with spectacular lasers. I was introduced to Stuart H, a blonde boy looking about twelve behind the DJ Box from where he performed his magic, elevating us all into a musical trance. Decades later Stuart still looks only a tad over twelve and has kept all of us forever young with his rejuvenating therapy!” – Rubin van Niekerk, Editor
Chris is a Democratic Alliance Councilor for the City of Johannesburg.
Henri Nieuwoudt (28) was born and raised under the ultra-sun of the Northern Cape, developed a passion for literature and writing through reading the only text that was prominently placed in every room in the house – the Bible – and was on countless occasions presumed missing for the sake of “finding himself”. Go figure…
Kodie was born on New Year’s Day 1990 in Quezon City, Philippines to a Filipino-Spanish mother and full Filipino father.
When I received a call from the Head of Dr Mpho Phalatse’s Democratic Alliance Mayoral Campaign team asking me to run social media for the campaign, I was honoured to be considered, but knew very little about Mpho or what she stands for.
Chris de Villiers’ fight for equality, his philanthropy, his untainted eye for talent and his active involvement with various LGBTQI+ projects, NGOs, and fundraisers – to name a few – makes him, as Mika sings, a good guy that chooses to see the stars when being confronted with the grim of the gutter.
Dr. Igor Scheurkogel, a community leader charting the way in the heart of the Free State, Matjhabeng Local Municipality is taking service delivery to a whole new level in a dysfunctional and mismanaged municipality.
Trained as a landscape architect in the ‘90s, Donovan is the creator of Soul Oasis Urban Retreat, Mnandi, Centurion.
Donavan’s career started in financial services and during this time he obtained a number of qualifications such as Higher Certificate in Short Term Insurance, Class of Business, Certificate in Compliance Management, Compliance Assessors Skill Programme and he passed various Regulatory FAIS exams.
Ross has spent a number of years specialising in the corporate world of recruitment, with his main focus being on head hunting senior positions specialising within the Telco industry.
Philip Steele (1996) was born in Zagreb, Croatia of an Irish father and a Croatian mother. He has been a permanent resident of South Africa for most of his life. He was raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Henry Bantjez holds a Masters Degree in Psychology and has a history of consulting major multinationals in various countries on change management and talent development
Meet Ezekiel Molefe, he is from Warrenton, and 25-years-old. He is a part-time social media media brand promoter for the northern cape tourism.
Ruhan is 27-years-old. He is born in Virginia, Free State, and is a proud International Accredited Personal Trainer and Mentor, Entrepreneur and Fitness Model.
Markus loves fitness, healthy eating, animals, nature and has put a high value on friendships and chooses his friends carefully with the aim of making strong connections with like minded people.
Richard is 34-years-old and is a spontaneous, lively and proud gay man from the countryside Concordia Namaqualand with big dreams.
MOLWENI! My name is Shanon Kannigan I am a Proudly Gay, Cancer Surviving, 28-year-old from the city of Benoni in Johannesburg. Over the last nine years I have had a flourishing career in the Banking Industry and have obtained qualifications in relation to banking and finance.
Louw Breytenbach is a 31 year old entrepreneur and mental health activist. As a businessman he is the Director of the National Arts Association of South Africa, and owner of the LALT House of Growth, a community theatre school he started at the age of 21.
Gevaughn is 24 years old and from Krugersdorp in Gauteng, a student studying towards a Degree in Education & working as a programmer for a proudly South African Franchise.
Mostly known as Bongs, a 36 year old actor, reality show star, fitness trainer, a qualified online video editor. A recently certified digital marketer with a passion for mental health.
Kelvin is a 26 year old Klerksdorp resident, openly gay since the age of 16, plans to leave his mark by supporting and uniting the LGBTQI+ community.
Stian is 42 years of age, working as a certified massage therapist, in training for psychotherapy and living in the beautiful Mother City, Cape Town.
Cape Town Born Deen, grew up in a musical household. His father a DJ & Producer, his mom taking the roll of manager. Deen has a BACC in corporate communication from Varsity College.
Graduated with an international diploma in Fashion Design and Management at the Gordon Flack Davison Academy of Design.
Model, actor and aspiring Gay Pages cover model.
International Performer, model and cover model to the Gay Pages Special Collector’s Edition 2020.
The fact that I am a proud gay man of Indian extraction is merely incidental or ancillary to my identity.
Wade Cooper has specialised in talent management solutions and project management for the past 20 years in South Africa, Africa, Middle East, and international markets, working with small and large employers both in the public and private sector, aligning employee performance with organisational strategy.
Senior lecturer in Sociology, North-West University (Potchefstroom)
A trained artist who can paint a partner or loved one from a photograph
Dr Marc De Villiers has spent a lifetime focussed on the role hormones plays in the aging process and how it affects our moods and feelings. Changing your life is in your hands.
Reiki offers incredible potential for healing and spiritual development.
Mikao Usui is the father of Reiki and successfully healed thousands of people with physical, spiritual, and emotional problems.
Reiki has become popular in South Africa during the past 20 years but has been around for 80 years.
A young Johannesburg based sketch artist that creates hand-drawn detailed sketches inspired by his life experiences. His motivation and illustration ideas came from how the world perceives the models of today, but with a vintage twist in fashion choices
Linda de Jager has worked as a personal assistant for many years and during lockdown she saw the need for personal assistants to go virtual. This led her to found her company LDJ VA.
My name is Dr. Igor Scheurkogel, married to Ting Chun Huang (Benny for short) almost two years, but after the lockdown it will be officially ten years. I am a person that believes and tries new things all the time to my husband’s despair.
Michael de Pinna is an English-born South African actor, singer, dancer and television presenter best known as the leopard-skinned yuppie in the “Yebo gogo” Vodacom commercials.
David Vance is an international icon with success in advertising, editorial and portrait photography, shooting campaigns and photographing celebrities.
Lawyer, founder and trustee of the Three Bears Tertiary Education Trust.
Juan Pinnick was Mr Gay South Africa in 2017, he’s a Bloemfontein-based photographer and a total heartthrob!
PROFESSIONAL MEDIATION Avalene and Annale are both psychologists in private
PSYCHOTHERAPY I’m fascinated by the human mind, the potential of
ENGLISH LITERATURE, PROJECT MANAGER & PHOTOGRAPHER
Kevin du Plessis has recently been appointed as the newest member of staff at Gay Pages magazine. He will be doing the magazine layout and design as well as contributing towards content, copy editing and articles. “I have always loved the magazine and I am very passionate about the work I’m doing now. I’m hoping to grow my career towards working with the LGBT community,” he said. Kevin has an Honours degree in English Literature, and comes from a background working in the South African visual arts field as a project manager and designer. He is also an award winning photographer.
SENSIBUS CONSULTING
Niel Stander is the owner of Sensibus Consulting. “Working with people has always been a passion. I am proudly South African and have extensive international experience in the military, leadership roles, consulting, and emergency medical care in areas that include Europe, Africa, and the Middle East,” says Niel.
“I work as an independent consultant specialising in organisational change around the topics of healthcare, decision making under pressure and VUCA, Diversity and Inclusion and Trauma Recovery and Resilience. I am very interested in co-creating and holding safe and inclusive spaces in which people can perform at their best. I use online and offline solutions to harness participation and to achieve change.”
When not working, Niel is a family man and recreational ultra-endurance athlete.
www.sensibusconsulting.com
REWARDED WITH A GOLD
No sooner had the fiftieth episode of Evita’s Free Speech entered the internet highway, when the most famous white woman in South Africa – and now arguably on the continent itself – also received a gold medal. Not like Caster Semenya for an Olympic win, but to celebrate the first year of her weekly YouTube reality newsflash. Originally inspired by the planned 3 August municipal elections, Tannie Evita used her weekly three- to four-minute video-chat with the world to put South African politics and society into a nutshell, with the accent on optimism and truth.
Underlining her freedom of expression that is guaranteed by the South African Constitution, Evita’s Free Speech has reached the ends of the world and beyond, with reactions coming from Siberia, Alaska, the Antarctic, Australia, Los Angeles, Yokohama, Tibet, Nkandla, Somalia, Mali, St Helena, Camp David, The Hague, Tripoli and even the International Space Station. Filmed at Evita se Perron in Darling every Sunday morning at 07h30, Mrs Bezuidenhout faces the world with the headlines of the moment, as well as her personal comments on the state of her nation and mankind. Produced by Skolliewood Films, the episodes are filmed, edited and distributed by Stefan Hurter.
Evita’s Free Speech is entering its second annual output in the service of anyone who needs to believe that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, even though most of today’s political tunnels are curved. Her weekly episodes are on the Evita-se-Perron YouTube channel and also carried by Daily Maverick, ZA News among international internet and media clusters.
ENTREPRENEURAL VENTURES AND BUSINESS LEADERSHIP
Dale Pudney is passionate about entrepreneurial ventures and business leadership. Having achieved success in his business career, he is re-investing that success into LGBT business leaders through The Shambhala Organisation that he founded.
He spent many years as a management consultant focusing on rapidly growing, often technology based, businesses, as well as turnarounds of struggling companies (that need fast growth to survive). He built a reputation as a professional entrepreneur, strategist and business leader. For the last few years, he has been the Managing Director and co-owner of a business that optimises electrical power quality and transmission capacity and grew the business exponentially in a few years.
In late 2014, he founded The Shambhala Organisation, which is a network of initiatives focussed on promoting and supporting proudly LGBT business leaders. This includes providing scholarships for future LGBT business leaders, private equity funding for LGBT owned and managed entrepreneurial businesses and the coaching and mentorship of these business leaders to improve human performance. “The scholarship program is the philanthropic part of the business and it’s my way to give something back to the community in a way that supports my passions,” says Dale.
“I believe that acceptance of LGBT rite of passage is largely education (and income) dependent. And therefore, especially at the lower end of the education and income spectrum, LGBT people still face discrimination. And it follows that LGBT youth would face more discrimination. And this discrimination tends to affect the youth who have professional career objectives more.”
Proudly LGBT business leaders and professionals need good role models to aspire towards and learn from. There are almost no such LGBT role models and mentors. As a result, the only aspect of the community that is in the public eye is the ‘gay scene,’ which detracts from the image that we as a community need.
“I would like to rectify this through developing proudly LGBT business leaders and professionals and shift the focus away from the “scene” and bring more balance into the community, which would naturally improve the community’s image.”
PHOTOGRAPHY
Vernondo Boshoff is fast becoming a photographer of choice in South Africa. It takes more than just a nice camera and desire to take pretty pictures to be successful in this creative yet technical and professional field and Vernondo seems to have found the balance.
Vernondo obtained his diploma in photography from the Photographic Institute and received further training from one of the most sought after photographers in South Africa and abroad, Brett Florens.
Not only is he one of the most professional photographers to work with, he also has the essential qualities that sets him apart from the rest. These include creativity, an eye for detail, excellent technical skills and the ability to capture the perfect shot.
Vernondo specialises specifically in high fashion and commercial modeling photography. He’s the photographer of choice for Supermodels SA Magazine and has captured some of the biggest fashion events in the country including SA Fashion Week and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
Among the celebrities that he has worked with is television presenter and model, Shashi Naidoo, South African beauty pageant titleholder Melinda Bam (Miss South Africa) and the latest to the fashion industry, K2 Twins.
www.vernondoboshoffphotography.com
Email: vernondo@me.com or louisdouglas@me.com
PSYCHOTHERAPY
I’m fascinated by the human mind, the potential of it, but also how a person’s mind can sometimes be detrimental to prevent them living up to their full potential and enjoying life. Also, I’m madly in love with people – I have a tendency to focus on the best in everyone, so psychotherapy and studying psychology was an obvious choice.
My clients enjoy coming to me because it makes them feel better, but at the end of the day they do the work. I assist them, I listen to them, and I guide them and sometimes ask questions they might not have heard before or that they were too afraid to ask themselves.
Coming to me for counselling, I think, feels like a mix of going to the doctor and visiting a good friend. Except you get all the attention and the focus is on you and not your friend, without having to feel guilty that it is all about you.
I find that most clients appreciate the open-mindedness, confidentiality, and safe space that I provide for them combined with my holistic approach and at times humorous attitude to life.
You might ask what brought me to Cape Town? I came to South Africa from Copenhagen more than a decade ago on a contract for an international company. I fell in love with South Africa and just never left again and I am grateful for the opportunity to live in the Mother City. It is a truly amazing place.
Tel: 084 555 9986
Email: tlmsorensen@hotmail.com
PROFESSIONAL MEDIATION
Avalene and Annale are both psychologists in private practice, with over forty years of combined experience. They are also life partners.
“It is a wonderful privilege to be in a life partnership and to share the same career,” they say. “Sometimes we can use each other’s council in advice as colleagues, or reason fiercely about concepts and clinical interpretations as partners.”
Avalene and Annale also own and run a healing sanctuary and conservation centre high up in the mountains overlooking the Hartebeespoort Dam in Gauteng in the Cradle of Humankind. There they facilitate Relationship and Designer Living workshops. “This is also our own sacred space where we refuel from, in the quietness and beauty of nature.”
Avalene says, “We have recently shifted our time from work on the ‘couch’ exclusively to mediating conflict and divorce/partnership resolution, forming a mediation company that has become our new passion. Here we aim to prevent exorbitantly costly legal interventions with their accompanying hostile and negative energies that consume people’s lives. Our motto is that emotion lies at the heart of every dispute and that conflict can be resolved with integrity and honour. Our work remains our passion and our calling and we feel blessed that we can celebrate time together on this amazing and mysterious journey called life!”
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
Lance was born and raised in East London. He is a graduate of University of Fort Hare, with experience in the Educational and Psychological services industries. He currently serves as a Democratic Alliance Proportional Representative Councillor at Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality.
As an elected public representative he serves on several government bodies including the Municipal Public Accounts Committee and the Board of Directors of the Frere Hospital Complex. He has previously served on the Health and Public Safety Standing Committee and the Special Programmes Strategic Committee, which deals with programmes around HIV, women, children and the disabled.
Lance is a dedicated human rights activist and has been invited to speak at international events on the plight of the South African LGBTI community. He was won the Mr Gay South Africa title in 2011 and was voted first-runner-up at Mr Gay World.
Lance is a devoted supporter of the Eastern Cape Gay and Lesbian Association, an organisation that seeks to promote and protect the rights of the LGBTI community by means of education, medical advice, legal support, counselling services and social programs.
PHOENIX GUEST HOUSE
Peter was born in the UK and then raised in Arabia and always wanted to return to where the people and the sun shines. He trained as a chef for many years, for which his friends are eternally grateful. He left the food industry to become a steward for British Airways, which he hated and left after six years. Following that, he went on to open a small flower shop in greater London which went on to “run me” for sixteen long years. It eventually became a four story emporium with nine staff. “My clients would fly me and a team round the world to do events and decor in Chateaus and on luxury ships!” says Peter.
In 2002 he moved permanently to SA after arriving on a one-way three week passage on an ocean liner with no idea what he was going to do. “I just followed my heart to this stunning country.” He started off in Cape Town and bought a house in Wilderness on a whim while visiting for a few days in 2007, intending to fix it up a bit and resell, as it was being sold off so inexpensively. It was a real mess and it took three years to put it all right and in that time Peter fell completely in love with the area and all it has to offer.
“Together with my amazing garden, the wildlife that visit, as well as an wonderful network of friends. From the long and sometimes scary three years of complete restoration, semi demolition, rebuilding and redesigning, the Phoenix rose from the rubble and is now an elegant, contemporary guest house.”
Phoenix Guest House, Wilderness.
KOSIE HOUSE OF THEATRE
Kosie Smit hails from Fauresmith in the Free State. The platteland setting gave an innovative, creative and curious boy the opportunity to acquire a wide variety of skills.
After completing his national service (1997) as singer and artistic creator, lighting designer and consultant for the National Air Force’s famous Canaries choir, he enrolled as a student at the then Pretoria Technikon’s Department of Entertainment Technology. Studying all the technical rudiments required for theatre, he later specialised in lighting design. His talent as set designer, artistic conceptualiser, producer and complete visual and creative all-rounder was quickly noticed.
Kosie boasts an impressive list of over a hundred and fifty production designs and thirty productions produced – ranging from local theatre, television, film and corporate work to international productions. These projects include artistic collaboration with some of the biggest names in our arts and entertainment industry.
Since 2006 Kosie has focused his talents on producing for the stage and productions such as Vettie Vettie, My Fat Friend, Twee Vir Die Prys Van Een, Altyd In My Drome – Die Musiekblyspel, DOP, Karel se Oupa, Cheaper than Roses, Black and Blue and more.
PERSONAL TRAINER & SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPIST
Here is someone who can make you the best you, you can be. Warren Bronner is an HFPA certified personal trainer and qualified sports massage therapist with fifteen years working experience. Prior to his personal training career he was a fire fighter/paramedic at the old Sandton Fire Department and Johannesburg Emergency Management Services.
His hobbies and activities include skydiving, trail running, obstacle course races, mountain biking, and abseiling.
Warren specialises in weight loss, muscle gain, fitness, and generally helping his clients reach their goals. Whether that means trimming down or buffing up, maintaining that hot bod, or reaching a race oriented goal, he will help you!
“I have always believed that physical fitness not only helps the body but the mind as well,” says Warren. He also offers sports massage therapy and he works out at the Virgin Active Sunninghill and is willing to travel on request.
PHOTOGRAPHER
From a very young age Corné was fascinated by cameras and photography. At the age of sixteen, he won his first camera in a competition and this was the start of his exploration into the art of imagery. Corné has had a varied career from the corporate sector, to owning a franchise store that was part of an international brand. Since he bought his first SLR camera at the age of twenty-one, photography remained part of his life’s journey, although only then as a hobby.
In 2013 his life journey once again took a new direction when he decided to sell the business and pursue his passion for photography as a career. Corné‘s passions are reflected in his photographic choices in the fields of automotive, product and portrait photography. He enjoys the challenges each of these fields present, due to their varied natures on so many levels. Most importantly, Corné aims to make his subject look the very best possible.
DRESSAGE RIDER
Andre is a highly acclaimed and exceptionally talented dressage rider who is recognised both locally and internationally. He has won numerous national championships at all levels in dressage.
In 2016 Andre decided to take his beloved horse Zucca Dice across to Holland to train with top trainer Johan Hamminga where they are being trained and groomed to qualify for, and compete in the USA, at the World Equestrian Games 2018, being the largest and most influential of Equine sporting events in the world.
“This will be the stepping stone to my ultimate dream to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, representing SA,” says Andre.
Together with his partner, the world acclaimed SA Show Jumper, Ronnie Lawrence, he is based in Summerveld in KwaZulu-Natal. Andre travels to Holland every month, returning home for two weeks in between to train his local horses. As a potential rider for SA, he is required to continue competing in the country. “I have to stay in peak physical and mental condition.”
In addition to his equestrian talent, Andre is a qualified opera singer, and maintains his training and still performs.
MD FOR SAFETY SOLUTIONS AFRICA
A recent migrant to Johannesburg, Neil heads up the Gauteng office of Safety Solutions Africa – a fully registered risk management company specialising in Health and Safety, Food Hygiene and HACCP legislative requirements.
After a nine-year career in the dance industry, Neil decided to “go back to school,” studying Environmental and Occupational Sciences at CPUT. “Being the oldest ‘kid’ in the class was an interesting, and challenging experience”, Neil says, “and especially after being a teacher myself for so long, then having that role-reversal definitely added an interesting element.”
Working up to four jobs at a time to put himself through university, Neil graduated top of his class and began working with Safety Solutions Africa. He was given the opportunity to become Managing Director for SSA in Gauteng, and has been living in Johannesburg since the end of 2016.
“What most motivates me is the core aim of our various Acts and Regulations – to protect people. I find the human element of my work to be the most rewarding.”
Tel: 062 922-3054
COUTURIER
Yihan Brönn is a modern-classic, stylish but edgy couture designer who has a heartfelt passion for taking people out of the mundane. He tries to incorporate a client’s personality into his work.
After studying fashion design at the Technicon of Pretoria, Yihan started his brand Y NOT Designs and gained acclaimed celebrities and ambassadors for his brand before he decided to kick-start his own modelling career, where he modelled for international clients such as Diesel, Hugo Boss and DKNY. He travelled the world and worked in Dubai, London and Europe within the fashion industry in search of inspiration.
Yihan Brönn Couture design was born after this and now after twenty years of specialising in women’s haute couture, Yihan launched his men’s range. He has dressed the likes Bobby van Jaarsveld, Theuns Jordaan, Elvis Blue, and Thabise Khambule.