MMC Mabaso brings a youthful enthusiasm to the Housing portfolio
Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Housing, Mlungisi Mabaso is determined to swiftly tackle the difficulties facing poor residents in the City.
Youth month should be used as an opportunity to remind young people in South Africa of the power they have in addressing the concerns and challenges they’re faced with. To reflect on the youth month in a meaningful way, we have featured a young person who grew up at a hostel in Soweto and still managed to make use of the power that the youth of 1976 fought for. The 30-year-old Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Housing, Mlungisi Mabaso is determined to swiftly tackle the difficulties facing poor residents in the City.
“What happened in 1976, June 16 was a demonstration of what we can achieve when we are united, and the lesson that we needed to take with as young people is that we must come together and rise above our political ideology, identify our own struggles, we have issues that are affecting us such as, unemployment, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), poverty, etc. and we must come together to fight for a good cause,” Mabaso said.
Staying at the Dube Hostel Mabaso started as a dedicated community leader, who rose to prominence when he led protests against the proposed demolition of the Dube Hostel. From a passionate volunteer to being accompanied by blue lights.
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“I volunteered for about 8 years before I became a councilor in 2016 and I believe it’s because I do community work with love and not just for money, money is just a bonus, it is just a resource, for us to be able to move around but our main focus is to serve our people.
“We have done it without expecting something in return, so, it’s all about commitment and loving what you do,” he said.
He has played a role as the Executive Committee Member of the Dube Branch of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Youth Brigade and has played on a national stage as IFP Youth Brigade National Secretary.
Affectionately, called ‘MMC Last Born’, Mabaso says that although he has been undermined as the youngest MMC, it is still a privilege.
“I have been undermined at some point but I can guarantee you, that after I open my mouth and start speaking, they definitely lend me their ears. I am grateful for this position,” he said.
“Young people are slowly occupying the space in leadership positions, however, the unfortunate part in politics, is something that I refused to do, which is being used to fight political battles, because you will find senior leaders using young leaders to fight their political battles, which is wrong because it destroys you politically.
“Instead of you being a politician and growing within the ranks of your organisation, you turn to be a bullet, so I refuse to be a ‘political weapon’ as I refer to them, that’s what kills young people in politics,” said Mabaso.
Mabaso says that staying at a hostel made him realise that not all of us enjoy the fruits of freedom and a lot needs to be done to restore the dignity of our people.
“I come from a very disadvantaged background and I know that people are expecting a lot from the government, each and every department has its own budget and it’s not ours, our job is just to channel it and give it a direction.
“Growing up at a hostel in Soweto, I know that people need houses, thus, we must make sure that we deliver, upgrade informal settlements, issue title deeds and eventually change the living condition because development is a long-term plan,” he said.
“Because I grew up in a hostel, the housing profile is very close to home, I know the struggle of not having a house and how important it is to have one,” he added.
It is evident that MMC Mabaso is a humble person as he still visits and ‘chills’ at the Dube Hostel, so the ‘blue lights’ life hasn’t changed him. We hope you were inspired by his story!
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