​Lerato Mailoane
Gauteng government is stepping up its efforts to deal with the exclusion and discrimination of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) persons.
The Office of the Premier has established a new directorate that acts as a government oversight for programmatic implementation and service delivery for LGBTIQI+ community. 
Among others, the unit aims to mainstream and integrate LGBTIQI+ programmes into Gauteng Departmental indicators in line with priorities outlined in the Growing Gauteng Together 2030 Plan.
The Medium-Term Strategic Framework and the Gauteng seven priorities guide provincial departments to ensure that LGBTIQI+ persons enjoy equal opportunities and participate fully in all programmes and projects in Gauteng Province. 
Many LGBTQI+ persons are still subjected to stigma and abuse, facing unemployment, homelessness, estrangement from their families, violence, and human rights abuses.
Speaking to My Gauteng, Director of the LGBTIQA+ and others unit, Rochel Kester said her office seeks to develop a coherent, integrated system to translate legislation to policies and commitment into measurable indicators and targets. 
This will reinforce LGBTIQI+ community mainstreaming, impact planning; and implementation of policies, programmes, and projects targeting this sector of the community.
"Whilst many government departments have integrated LGBTIQI+ programming into their annual plans, certain gaps remain," she said. 
In bridging these gaps Kester said her office aims to: 
Establish the LGBTQI+ and others MEC Advisory Panel 
Establish the LGBTIQI+ Intergovernmental and Civil Society Forum 
Develop an LGBTIQI+ and others Provincial Strategy 
Provide sensitisation Training for LGBTIQI+ and others to all GPG departments 
Collaborate with all department to mainstream LGBTIQI+ and others in the planning/implementation and budgets
Support LGBTIQI+ and others Pride events within the province 
Support different war rooms in terms of sensitisation and inclusion in the Gauteng Province
Influence the research agenda of the province and produce one research report addressing the needs of LGBTIQI+ and others.
Stakeholder management that includes inputs from civil society organisations, academic institutions, and chapter 9 institutions that drive the LGBTIQA+ agenda.