Mmapaseka Steve Letsike Wins Emerging Leader Award at WorldPride

Officials said the award should be viewed as recognition of the broader efforts taking place across South Africa and Africa to advance human dignity and equal rights.

South Africa's Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has received the Emerging Leader Award at the International Pride Awards during WorldPride Amsterdam 2026, earning global recognition for her work in advancing the rights of LGBTIQ+ communities and promoting equality.

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities welcomed the award, describing it as recognition of Letsike's years of activism and her continued efforts to promote inclusion, human dignity and social justice through public service.

Award Recognises Leadership for a New Generation

The International Pride Awards, organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ILGA World, honour individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing equality and creating safer spaces for LGBTIQ+ people around the world.

According to the department, the Emerging Leader Award celebrates people who are helping shape the future of LGBTIQ+ rights at a time when many countries are facing growing challenges linked to discrimination, misinformation and organised campaigns against gender equality and human rights. The recognition reflects Letsike's transition from decades of community activism to leadership within government institutions.

Recognition Built on Years of Advocacy

The department said Letsike has spent many years advocating for the rights of LGBTIQ+ people while also highlighting the links between equality, gender justice, economic inclusion and the fight against discrimination. It added that her work reflects the belief that protecting human rights requires addressing broader social and economic inequalities.

Accepting the award, Letsike said the honour belongs to generations of activists who continued their work despite facing discrimination and personal risk. She acknowledged that young people today are confronting new forms of exclusion, including online misinformation and organised campaigns that seek to roll back rights that many believed had already been secured.

She expressed confidence that younger generations have the determination and creativity to continue expanding the struggle for equality and ensure that future progress reaches more people.

South Africa's Commitment to Equality

The department said the recognition also highlights South Africa's constitutional commitment to protecting people from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender and other personal characteristics. While these legal protections remain an important achievement, it noted that many LGBTIQ+ people continue to experience violence, discrimination, hate crimes and economic exclusion.

Officials said the award should be viewed as recognition of the broader efforts taking place across South Africa and Africa to advance human dignity and equal rights. They added that it also challenges the perception that LGBTIQ+ equality is not part of Africa's own history, pointing instead to the continent's traditions of diversity, solidarity and resistance.

The department congratulated Letsike and all recipients of the 2026 International Pride Awards, expressing hope that the recognition will encourage continued efforts to build societies where everyone can live with dignity, safety and equal opportunity.