by Anele Lozo Sibamba

I took a nerve-wracking trip on March 30, 2015 from where I stay in Mpumalanga (Ermelo), destined to Johannesburg (Parktown). The arrangement was made to allow me to collect my copy of the Faces and Phases 2006-14 book, in which I am one of the participants (pages 266,  294).

2015 April 1. Anele on a special visit in Parktown

I usually see Joburg city when I go to Park Station to catch a bus to Cape Town to visit my family. It was my first time to visit anyone in Johannesburg and I was excited about the visit because I haven’t seen Zanele Muholi in a while. I arrived in Joburg after 3 hours on the road, and then took a cab to the flat where Muholi lives.

When I arrived I found Muholi and Thembela “Terra” Dick who is also a participant in the book. They welcomed me and I joined them chatting while we waited for Lerato Dumse to arrive from Cape Town. Lerato arrived later on and it was the four of us in the house. I must say they are very interesting people.

The following day Lerato Dumse interviewed me, I told her about my self, who I am and my dreams as well. It has always been my wish to see Hillbrow and on that Tuesday evening the wish came true when Terra and I went to buy mealies in Hillbrow. I saw a very fast life being lived there; it was really the Hillbrow as I usually hear about.

When Faces Meet (all featuring in Faces and Phases series)
From Left to Right: Noluntu Makalima, Lerato Dumse, Terra Dick, Anele Sibamba and Muholi (31/03/2015)

On Wednesday the 1 April 2015 Muholi advised that I apply for a passport so  that I get an opportunity to travel abroad with other Faces and Phases participants. I was so happy and excited. I would love to travel the world, so Terra and I went to Alexandra home affairs to apply for my passport. When Terra and I got back home Muholi took follow up pictures of Terra and me.

Later that evening Noluntu Makalima who is also a participant featured in the book (from Cape Town but stays in Joburg now) arrived with a friend called Keletso to spend the night. We had very interesting conversation about life, careers and relationships as young black lesbians.

On Thursday morning on the 2 April 2015, Keletso and Noluntu got up and went to work leaving us packing and getting ready to go our different paths. Terra was going back to Cape Town, I was returning back to Ermelo while Muholi and Lerato were going to a church in Durban so we all went our ways.

Featuring in Faces and Phases, Anele Sibamba, Gugulethu, Cape Town, 2008