Southern Africa’s longest-serving sergeant-at-arms, Thembekile Mzantsi, has led the Bhisho legislature’s processions under four different governments.
Mzantsi joined the legislature as “watchman” of the speaker in 1999 and has ushered in five speakers including Gugile Nkwinti, Mkhangeli Matomela and Fikile Xasa, and has served under the current speaker, Noxolo Kiviet, for two terms of office.
Speaking to the Dispatch about his long career, Mzantsi described the responsibility as an honour and a privilege.
Mzantsi, an ANC activist, was deployed by the party to serve as in the VIP security service in 1994.
He was later appointed as a committee coordinator of the safety portfolio committee, before taking over as a sergeant-in-arms in 1999.
“My role is multifaceted. Even though I may be known for my ceremonial role, my role also extends to coordinating a number of services for the legislature,” Mzantsi said.
The highlight of his career, he said, was when he was one of only three South Africans who attended an Association of Sergeants-at-Arms professional development conference in London in July last year.
The week-long trip saw him rubbing shoulders with sergeants-at-arms from 53 Commonwealth member countries and even with the UK’s Queen Elizabeth II.
“Besides the trip being an eye opener for me personally, attending the conference assisted me in learning about best practices on how to maintain law and order in our legislature – to prevent the disorder which is rife in other legislative houses.”
On Friday, he celebrated his birthday in style – although he wasn’t saying what birthday it was.
For the past five years, Mzantsi has been dedicating his special day by doing something good for the needy, and this year the Mthatha-born administrator crisscrossed Buffalo City in search of pupils who needed new school shoes.
He bumped into the first group of children at Ngxingxolo Primary School in Mooiplaas.
Ngxingxolo principal Nomfuneko Nkwenkwezi said Mzantsi’s visit came as a surprise and left her pupils overwhelmed.
The school is a farm school and Nkwenkwezi said one of their yearly challenges were children who continue missing school every winter because most parents cannot afford to buy them shoes.
“Farm schools are mostly neglected but this has proved to us that we are loved and we matter to the community,” said Nkwenkwezi.
Mzantsi said he decided five years ago that instead of spoiling himself every year on March 11, he would rather buy surprise gifts for those less fortunate.
He said his inspiration is his upbringing at Ncambedlana village in Mthatha where his parents taught him and his siblings the importance of sharing.
“That was the true culture of giving – ubuntu.”
Sergeant-at-arms speaks of career and ubuntu
Mzantsi joined the legislature as “watchman” of the speaker in 1999 and has ushered in five speakers including Gugile Nkwinti, Mkhangeli Matomela and Fikile Xasa, and has served under the current speaker, Noxolo Kiviet, for two terms of office.
Speaking to the Dispatch about his long career, Mzantsi described the responsibility as an honour and a privilege.
Mzantsi, an ANC activist, was deployed by the party to serve as in the VIP security service in 1994.
He was later appointed as a committee coordinator of the safety portfolio committee, before taking over as a sergeant-in-arms in 1999.
“My role is multifaceted. Even though I may be known for my ceremonial role, my role also extends to coordinating a number of services for the legislature,” Mzantsi said.
The highlight of his career, he said, was when he was one of only three South Africans who attended an Association of Sergeants-at-Arms professional development conference in London in July last year.
The week-long trip saw him rubbing shoulders with sergeants-at-arms from 53 Commonwealth member countries and even with the UK’s Queen Elizabeth II.
“Besides the trip being an eye opener for me personally, attending the conference assisted me in learning about best practices on how to maintain law and order in our legislature – to prevent the disorder which is rife in other legislative houses.”
On Friday, he celebrated his birthday in style – although he wasn’t saying what birthday it was.
For the past five years, Mzantsi has been dedicating his special day by doing something good for the needy, and this year the Mthatha-born administrator crisscrossed Buffalo City in search of pupils who needed new school shoes.
He bumped into the first group of children at Ngxingxolo Primary School in Mooiplaas.
Ngxingxolo principal Nomfuneko Nkwenkwezi said Mzantsi’s visit came as a surprise and left her pupils overwhelmed.
The school is a farm school and Nkwenkwezi said one of their yearly challenges were children who continue missing school every winter because most parents cannot afford to buy them shoes.
“Farm schools are mostly neglected but this has proved to us that we are loved and we matter to the community,” said Nkwenkwezi.
Mzantsi said he decided five years ago that instead of spoiling himself every year on March 11, he would rather buy surprise gifts for those less fortunate.
He said his inspiration is his upbringing at Ncambedlana village in Mthatha where his parents taught him and his siblings the importance of sharing.
“That was the true culture of giving – ubuntu.”
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