HIGHVELD – Mr James Masango has made a comeback and is ready to take on his new political role as the DA’s federal council deputy chairman.
Born in 1957 as one of 10 siblings and raised on a farm near Middelburg, Mr Masango began schooling at Botshabelo Combined School.
“I can still remember walking barefoot on the long and tiring road to get to school,” said Mr Masango.
“Politics began for me when I was in school; it was then when I began to understand what politics was about in our student movement.”
When Mr Masango left school his life journey saw him steer into the teaching field, but later a career change saw him working for Sasol for 23 years.
It was in 1994 when Mr Masango had made his first voting mark and had looked for a party he could relate to with regards to his principles and values.
In 2000 Mr Masango became a DA Ward 5 councillor and was indirectly elected as district councillor.
In 2004 he served in Parliament and the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislator for 15 years.
Here he also obtained his leadership certificate from Rhodes University.
“What made me go back to politics is that I have served on many structures of the party and my expertise is still needed here. I am going back to assist the DA.”
Not only does Mr Masango have the backing of his political family, but also the support of his wife, Christinah.
He told of how much she had sacrificed in her lifetime by raising their two children mostly on her own while he pursued his career in politics.
“My wife is my number one supporter,” said a laughing Mr Masango.
He values the long-standing support and backing of his DA family.
“We need a successful country, a country that grows economically, a country that will be seen as non-racial, a country representing all people, a country with opportunities for everybody and freedom for all.
“A country that is based on one’s ability and not on favouritisms and nepotism, we should be a country that acknowledges diversity as its strength.”
Mr Masango is not going to sit back with arms folded in his new role.
“I am doing this for those who can’t speak for themselves.
“My wish is to see all municipalities working under DA leadership as the DA has a clean governance record. We should see ourselves being able to walk at night without any fear.”
His wish and dream for South Africa is an end to gender-based violence and farm murders.
“Let us live together as one South Africa irrespective of where we come from, what colour or gender we are. At the end of the day we are all South Africans,” ended Mr Masango.
