“Please Don’t Call Me Tish” – Thishiwe Ziqubu

One of the winners and standout alum to have come out of the SABC 1 2010s hit acting talent competition Class Act is actor Thishiwe Ziqubu. They were one of the then-assumed female actors to have launched a successful career from doing the competition.

Read more: Thishiwe Ziqubu: Brave and fearless

Class Act as a show gave rise to stellar actors including the likes of Pallance Dladla, Sdumo Mtshali, and Abdul Khoza. 

At the time, they were believed to be married to a man. However, as they continued to find their voice and sense of self within the entertainment industry the actor, writer, and producer slowly came out of their shell. Specifically, during their relationship with fellow queer creative Mandisa ‘Zulu Mecca” Nduna.

While Thishiwe might not be as active as an actor, they did recently take to social media to make their pronouns and stance of their name clear. 

Taking to Twitter recently, it seemed that there was an interaction or not that seemingly rubbed Thishiwe the wrong way. This is as the thespian took to the timeline to make a few matters clear as to their naming and gender pronouns.
 

Firstly, she made it clear that they do not appreciate pet names which seem to make “others” more comfortable with pronouncing their name. Moreover, they reiterated their gender pronouns are either he/him/they and them.

Please don’t call me Tish. That is not my name. My name is Thishiwe. Please don’t call me girl or actress. I’m trans and I’m an actor. Thanks.

— Thishiwe Ziqubu (He/Him/They/Them) (@thishiweziqubu) May 30, 2023

I get misgengered a lot and I need to correct it.

— Thishiwe Ziqubu (He/Him/They/Them) (@thishiweziqubu) May 30, 2023

Seemingly, even the misspelling of their name is an offense which might have a follower and fan blocked and cancelled by the creative. This comes as a follower took to Twitter to support her sentiments and show them love.

However, their mistake was misspelling Thishiwe’s name. A fact that had them in arms, even with other followers highlighting that it was a mistake which was not meant to be held in contempt.

Did you mispell my name on purpose? It’s right there on my handle. Ke mang Tishiwe

— Thishiwe Ziqubu (He/Him/They/Them) (@thishiweziqubu) May 30, 2023

Names hold power. Don’t misspell people’s names. It’s not a mistake when you can see my handle. She was nice and I was nice to her, onenkinga uwe

— Thishiwe Ziqubu (He/Him/They/Them) (@thishiweziqubu) May 30, 2023

But Thishiwe made it clear that names bear importance. Therefore, they suggestively made it clear that if you cannot get it right rather not try at all…

Currently, their relationship status is unknown following their breakup with the Zulu Mecca over three years ago. At the time, their breakup was reported as: 

Mandisa replied to her post and wrote, “Thankful for it all. Sisonke nja yam( We are together buddy)

Image credit: Supplied