Alex’s mothering role continues to nurture leaders who ascend the political plains of power contestation.
Great leaders have been unleashed to the world by this township leaving behind tales of nobility of award-winning icons, epitomes of humility and orators par excellence. Globally acclaimed late state president Nelson Mandela cut his political teeth from a tiny Alex room and not far from him oratory and vibrant late Mozambican president Samora Machel left the township to lead his country’s independence from colonial Portugal. Also, unassuming goatee-beaded Kgalema Motlanthe grew up in Alex’s dust bowls to transition the country flawlessly between two administrations.
The township hasn’t ceased in this onerous role with among the many, one Mzwonke Mayekiso who has thrown his name in the fray albeit at the provincial tier as the nation edges closer to the 8 May provincial and national general election. Mayekiso is the premier prospect and face of fledging political entrant African Democratic Change’s (Adec) whose baby steps may be testing the water to higher stakes. His Alex background is to be noted together with other youthful leaders of another aspirant, the African Born Freedom Fighter party (ABFF) which was launched last year and is still to pronounce its election thrust.
In a statement, Adec said Mayekiso started his activism by mobilising youth through the SRC in the 1980s followed by roles in the ANC’s military wing Umkhonto we Siswe. “He was arrested for stockpiling weapons and released as a political prisoner on a pardon in 1995.”
The statement said he severed ties with the ANC to be involved in community-based activism fighting for service delivery and improved lives.
“Most recently, he’s been involved in the broader movements fighting corruption under dethroned, former president Jacob Zuma. This by mobilising community structures for protests and marches which contributed to Zuma’s demise.”
The statement lauds him as a proven and dedicated activist with the ability to bringing real change and transformation to Gauteng. “In the office of premier, a governing coalition member or a member of the opposition, he will fight tirelessly for the people of the province.”
Adec’s members in the legislature will be expected to campaign for greater community representation through regular constituency meetings, ensure transparency and feedback to communities on governance challenges. “They will also be a platform for residents to voice their concerns to the provincial power base directly, incite activism and stop residents watching in disgust from the sidelines when their representatives shunt them aside.”
The full Adec delegation will also represent citizens beyond Gauteng to ensure grassroots transformation, highlight governance failures and, introduce community designed solutions to crises.
Adec’s other focal areas will be:
- Issuing of township title deeds to particular to Alexandrians
- Stop fraudulent over-evaluation of properties in an attempt to tax the middle class into poverty
- Reform school governing bodies to end corruption in the education system
- Transform the police’s role in fighting corruption and malpractice
- Policy implementation
- Formalise legalisation on cannabis
- Ensure transparency in government processes.
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