By Lerato Dumse

It was on April 7 2017 when I first met Mpolokeng Phahlane. We were in Daveyton for the first day of PhotoXP training. Zanele Muholi who is the founder of PhotoXP had decided to give Collen Mfazwe and I the role of being facilitators of this new group of trainees. First day involved introductions and when it was Mpolokeng’s turn she was soft spoken yet articulate in talking about herself and interest in art. After Muholi gave the aspiring photographers cameras, we spent the next couple of months having meetings, going on shoots together and holding crit sessions to review the captured images. 

Later that year we formed a new connection when she became a member of Faces and Phases, a project that I am a participant of and was also a coordinator. I was saddened when I saw posts on social media with messages of condolence and RIP accompanying an image of her. It had been a while since we had been in touch but seeing those posts brought back the memories of the time spent with her. With every new information that came through it became clearer what a loss it was to the LGBTQIA+ community and art fraternity in South Africa. To have someone born on 28 January 1988 pass away on February 7^th, less than two weeks after their 35^th birthday, says we have been robbed of a South African youth who was talented and surely still had lots to offer.      

So, on a cloudy Wednesday morning February 15 2023, I left my home in Kwa-Thema to St. Albam Anglican church in Sgodi section in Daveyton to join family, friends, the community and church members to bid farewell to Mpolokeng. As I’ve come to learn when a LGBTQIA+ member is not killed in a hate crime, there is usually no commotion at the funeral. No opportunistic politicians taking over the program and handing out party T-shirts as we witnessed during Dudu Zozo’s funeral or NGO organisations falsely claiming the victim as a member and comrade. After the church service we then made our way to Crystal Park Cemetery to lay Mpolokeng to her final resting place. The sun had come out as it was already around noon. The emotional short service of scripture reading and lowering of the coffin took place with loved ones shedding tears and comforting each other. There was much singing while men and lesbian friends began covering the grave with soil. The LGBTQIA+ community also got the opportunity to pay tribute and say farewell to Mpolokeng by singing songs that we usually sing whenever we are gathered. After the tombstone was erected and final prayer said we all made our way back to Mpolokeng’s home. 

I spoke to a few people who knew Mpolokeng asking how they will remember her and below are their responses. 

Her partner Charmaine “Shasha” Matlhole said: “I remember Mpolokeng by having a soft spot for elders and always willing to help them with anything. She was forever smiling and protective of those she loved. She was an introvert who was shy and always smiling with lots of care.          

PhotoXP facilitator Collen Mfazwe added: “What I will remember her by is her personality and willingness to learn. When we started thew PhotoXP training she was not a photographer but was willing to learn. Mpolokeng was always passionate about new opportunities of empowering herself. She was down to earth and loved people, whenever I was with her, she never presented a rude side.  I remember our excursion to Durban as part of photoxp she had such a good experience and continued taking images independently after that trip. 

Faces and Phases participant Thembela “Terra” Dick: “I first met Mpolokeng in Daveyton via Prof Muholi. My first impression of her was that she is a kind person based on her manner of approach. After that we established a working relationship as photographers. One of the first things I picked up was her love for style and fashion. As someone who is also into fashion that brought us close. What I will miss most about Mpolokeng is her kindness and softness and. I can add that I’ve never heard anyone say something negative about her.  

Sicka Staban: “I met Mpolokeng in 2014 when her and her then partner had planned a picnic and asked me to perform. Years later we remained in contact. We were not very close but had no tensions and I’ve never heard anything negative bout her. She was humble and kind and loved looking good.