Thembisile Angel Khanyile, fondly referred to as Angel is a true pillar of light in the community. She is a member of parliament and an active member of the DA.
Angel was born in Standerton and given the name Themibisle, which means ‘the promised one’. Growing up, Angel did not have the same privilege most enjoy.
“I was born to a mother who is mute and hard of hearing,” said Angel.
Angel admitted that much of her youth was spent living on disability grants and the meagre income her mother could manage to gather as a domestic worker.
Because of her mother’s disability, finding work was difficult and earned her living by completing domestic chores for friends and family members who could communicate with her using sign language.
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Angel attended Nyandeni Primary School and matriculated in the year 2000 at Jandrell High School. She has three children. Her son is currently studying overseas. Though her job requires her to spend most of her time on the road, she speaks with her family every day.
“It does not matter where I am, I will always make time to call them,” she said.
Her other children attend school in Standerton and she admittedly maintains a good relationship with their teachers.
“One thing that makes working all over the country easier is that Standerton is a close-knit community. My friends and family help to close the gap when I am on the road,” added Angel.
Angel joined the DA as an activist in 2014 and became a counsellor in the same year. She started her career by handling the division of land planning and technical.
“I was drawn to the DA because I saw what they were fighting for. They were always at the forefront of any political issues,” said Angel.
“You live your life envisioning who you want to be, but your perspective changes as you get older,” expressed Angel.
She started her journey in 2014 and joined Parliament in 2017. According to Angel, her original vision was to spend five years as an activist, five years as a counsellor and then move on to greater things, this process was greatly accelerated. Angel is a deeply spiritual individual.
“Certain things you don’t plan, they just happen according to God’s plan,” she said.
In the face of all her struggles, Angel has learned to have faith that things will always work out for good.
She believes that the challenges you face during your childhood do not define you. Angel was the first person in her family to buy her own vehicle.
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Angel is passionate about people with disabilities and has started her own NPO, The Angel Khanyile Foundation where her mother serves as chairperson.
Her goal in this foundation is to look after people with disabilities. They want a reachable office soon and to be able to support similar organisations.
Angel’s charitable acts do not end with the foundation. She explained how they were involved in restoring hope to families after Covid-19 struck.
“We delivered food parcels to more than 1000 families after Covid,” explained Angel.
The youth of our community holds a deep place in her heart and she is currently working with Spur in Standerton to ensure free sanitary towels are readily available at schools to aid young women.
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“The tragic reality is that a lot of girls miss five to seven days of school a month due to their menstrual cycles. This eventually causes them to drop out,” she said.
As a member of parliament, Angel takes her right to do oversight at schools very seriously and this matter is admittedly on the top of her priorities list.
Angel won the woman of the year award from the organisation I AM A Woman, I Have A Purpose in 2020 and has held the title since.
She has also shared the stage with President Cyril Ramaphosa when she was a speaker on the budget.
Furthermore, Angel continues to raise Lekwa’s issues in parliament, fighting for better water and sanitation, housing and multiple other problems our community might face. She has certainly earned her name, both Angel and ‘the promised one’.
