FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Johannesburg – 31 January 2024

Iranti Board of Directors Announces New Executive Director, Dr Lenstu Nchabeleng

The Iranti Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr Lentsu Nchabeleng (she/They) as the incoming Executive Director of Iranti.

Lentsu brings extensive experience in providing strategic leadership, and in-depth technical understanding of human rights to advance and protect trans, intersex and LBQ individuals. With a profound understanding of and experience leading LGBTQI, human rights, and feminist-based programming, coupled with her extensive background in social justice, and lived experience as a Queer woman, Lentsu is well placed to join the Iranti team in advancing the organisation’s goals.

Lentsu will officially join the organization on 1 March 2024.

She assumes the role previously held by Iranti’s founding director, Jabu Pereira, who dedicated 10 years to building the organization. Following Pereira’s departure in April 2022, Nolwazi Tusini, Iranti’s Communications and Media Manager, and Jade Jacobs, Iranti’s Knowledge and Research Manager, ably served as the organization’s interim Co-Executive Directors from May 2022 to June 2023. The Board extends its heartfelt gratitude to Jabu, Nolwazi, and Jade for their unwavering dedication and service to the organization.

Over the past 12 years, Iranti has evolved from its foundational phase with a few volunteers into a well-established organization, earning regional and international respect for its advocacy, media, research, and movement-building work. With a robust body of LBTQI Rights, Transgender Rights, and Intersex Rights advocacy work, coupled with its creative use of media and research, Iranti is poised to continue making a significant impact on LBQTI human rights in its next life stage.

According to Tashwill Esterhuizen, Iranti’s Board Chairperson, “We are confident that Lentsu’s leadership will guide Iranti into a new era of impact and effectiveness.”

As Iranti enters the final phase of its leadership transition Lentsu, in collaboration with the Board of Directors, Iranti’s dedicated 15-member team, and partners, will continue to envision and advocate for a just world free of homophobia, transphobia, and intersexphobia.

In anticipation of this exciting new chapter, Lentsu shared, “I am honoured to take on his role and look forward to contributing my passion for advocacy, transformative leadership approach, and experience to the organisation. I am excited to work alongside such a dedicated team – together, we will strive for a world that embraces diversity and equality. I hope my hope my tenure at Iranti is characterized by inclusion, diversity and empathy. “

**ENDS**

For media inquiries, please contact:

Tashwill Esterhuizen 

Iranti Board Chairperson 

board@iranti.org.za