Nomalizwi Mlongo is a transgender woman from Empangeni ,KwaZulu Natal who uses her social media and humour to educate society about her sexuality. "I think I am following my name Nomalizwi as a voice to the voiceless. I started my transitioning journey and decided to go public with it so I can educate people about diversity and sexuality as much as it is concerned. I believe in living my life openly so that the next person can learn from me and to know that they are not alone in any circumstances they face.'

The transitioning journey

Mhlongo who was born in Umlazi township says she noticed that she was different from other children from an early age, from the way she walked and spoke, she recalls that she was teased at school and from there she lived her life as a gay until she decided to start the journey of transitioning. "I am still transitioning taking hormones and injections. It is a very exciting journey. I can't wait for my reassignment surgery soon.Medical aid is currently covering my services for pills and injections. Then my operation and reassignment surgery will come from my savings roll cover up costs. All I can say you need to be fit financially to undertake this journey.'

My family- My biggest support structure

She says her family is her support structure and she normally jokes about how her uncle would joke about her transition and introduce her to people as someone who was once a man but now is a woman and her social media followers have fallen in love with the uncle who expresses his love is the weirdest ways. "My family is my support structure. With them on my side I know I can conquer the world. Nothing can bring me down because I know at home I am loved unconditionally. They support me and they pray for me. My uncle is my number 1 support structure and to think he is a hard-core Zulu man means a lot. My family is grounded on love from the word go.' 

Mhlongo opens up after traumatic experience with partner

Mhlongo recently poured her heart about her abusive partner and how she nearly lost her life by a man she loved and trusted. She tells Zimoja that abuse isn't something that should be taken lightly, " I recently experienced the most traumatic experience that I had to endure at the hands of a man I loved and trusted with my life. My partner hardly bottled things up inside him  but we found ourselves in that scene of him strangling me and wanting to pull a trigger on both of us. When I asked him why...he said he was too tired of trying to push in life. This took me back to my rape incident. I even told him that even my rapists never raised a gun on me.'                                       She says it is important for people to speak out if they are going trough the most.  "The lesson I took out is that families are distorted and men find it hard to deal with everything. We need to speak out. Solutions may not be found instantly but killing your self is not a solution. It is just a short cut. I had to seek help since of this was traumatic to me. I am at a space where my life matters. I decided to end the relationship. I choose life.'

The Good Samaritan

Many people have found a home in Nomalizwi and they reach out to her asking for advice, assistant with employment or food which she tries to assist where she can with her Facebook family. "I also opened my page for people to vent out. Others feel free to speak to a stranger and I happen to be that stranger. I listen without judging. We find solutions and give advice where needed. If it is too much, I have my sources  who are always willing to assist. I won't lie, some stories hurt, some are  exhausting and draining. Sometimes I would sleep with headaches, but I soldier on because no one must end their lives without exhausting all the options to find help.'

Flying High

Nomalizwi sees herself working on TV or radio where she wants to reach the multitudes and inspire even that one in the rural areas. "No one to be left outside.'           The bubbly MC and LGBTQI ambassador, is also a professional teacher and teaches English at a high school in Empangeni. "My students are my second family. I have given birth to many kids as I call them. I try to have an open policy with them. I want them to trust me and be able to talk to me about anything. I think that how we kept our relationship with them amazing. I  treat them with the same courtesy.' Living in a stereotyped society Mhlongo says, "people are gradually coming to terms with us with acceptance and unlearning all the bad things they were taught about us.'