By ZINE GEORGE
A Grade 9 Lusikisiki pupil has made history as the youngest registered candidate to contest a South African ward.
Another record-breaker is 90-year-old Mthuthuzeli Spelman from Mbizana, who is the oldest 2016 councillor candidate.
Both are members of Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and will be contesting wards at Ingquza Hill local municipality.
Sisonke Jaca, 18, is from Bhukazi village. He has even decided to undergo circumcision school this winter to show Ward 5 voters he is “man” enough to lead his community.
Electoral Commission spokeswoman Kate Bapela said the average age of candidates in this election was 44.
His mother, Sisonke Jaca, 49, said yesterday that while her son, who joined the EFF when he was 16, was young she supported him in his political career.
“I was shocked at first when he told me about it, saying he is still very young. But when his comrades confirmed that his registration as a candidate was successful, I realised they meant business,” she said.
Sisiso Nomazombelane, an EFF leader in the area, confirmed yesterday that Jaca went to circumcision school two weeks ago.
“We are preparing him to lead, that is why we felt he should go to circumcision school.
“Everyone in our village knows that this fighter (referring to Sisonke) is not your average child. He is a leader and is more than ready to lead Ward 5,” said Nomazombela, the EFF’s Ward 4 candidate in the same region of Ingquza Hill.
The venerable Spelman is a well-known community leader who took part in the Ngquza Hill revolt of 1960.
Spelman tops the EFF’s proportional representatives (PR) list for Mbizana municipality.
The former ANC veteran said he had decided to leave “the movement” and join “the fighters” in 2013, after he realised that the ruling party was not committed to addressing the land question and was silent about a plan to ensure that political freedom led to economic freedom.
“Remember, we were part of the Ngquza Hill revolt because we wanted our land back. But when we attained freedom in 1994, the ANC chooses to become silent about the land question.
“And there comes EFF and talks to all the issues we wanted addressed for so many years in the struggle.
“I was left with no choice but to join EFF. The ANC pushed us out, literally, by refusing to address the land question,” said Spelman.
The father of 10, grandfather of 15 and great grandfather of four has launched 31 EFF branches in Alfred Nzo. “I don’t have a car. But I walk to all these villages and service all 31 branches. I’m sure I’ll still be this strong after elections and able to serve on the council,” said Spelman.
He said his main task would be to ensure everyone had access to clean water, electricity and a house.
“I am not saying the ANC has not delivered, but not to all, as the Freedom Charter says. You know why? Because the ANC has been destroyed by corruption, and we are going to that council to root out this evil.”
EFF’s central command team (CCT) member Sam Matiase, who is deployed in Alfred Nzo region, confirmed Spelman’s nomination, saying “we would have failed our people if we did not field fighter Spelman as our number one candidate.
“He is one of many who are in the EFF to dismiss the myth that EFF is for young people. The land question is not an issue to the young only.”
IEC provincial chairman Thami Mraji confirmed yesterday that the two were both registered candidates.
One EFF nominee is 18, another 90
A Grade 9 Lusikisiki pupil has made history as the youngest registered candidate to contest a South African ward.
Another record-breaker is 90-year-old Mthuthuzeli Spelman from Mbizana, who is the oldest 2016 councillor candidate.
Both are members of Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and will be contesting wards at Ingquza Hill local municipality.
Sisonke Jaca, 18, is from Bhukazi village. He has even decided to undergo circumcision school this winter to show Ward 5 voters he is “man” enough to lead his community.
Electoral Commission spokeswoman Kate Bapela said the average age of candidates in this election was 44.
His mother, Sisonke Jaca, 49, said yesterday that while her son, who joined the EFF when he was 16, was young she supported him in his political career.
“I was shocked at first when he told me about it, saying he is still very young. But when his comrades confirmed that his registration as a candidate was successful, I realised they meant business,” she said.
Sisiso Nomazombelane, an EFF leader in the area, confirmed yesterday that Jaca went to circumcision school two weeks ago.
“We are preparing him to lead, that is why we felt he should go to circumcision school.
“Everyone in our village knows that this fighter (referring to Sisonke) is not your average child. He is a leader and is more than ready to lead Ward 5,” said Nomazombela, the EFF’s Ward 4 candidate in the same region of Ingquza Hill.
The venerable Spelman is a well-known community leader who took part in the Ngquza Hill revolt of 1960.
Spelman tops the EFF’s proportional representatives (PR) list for Mbizana municipality.
The former ANC veteran said he had decided to leave “the movement” and join “the fighters” in 2013, after he realised that the ruling party was not committed to addressing the land question and was silent about a plan to ensure that political freedom led to economic freedom.
“Remember, we were part of the Ngquza Hill revolt because we wanted our land back. But when we attained freedom in 1994, the ANC chooses to become silent about the land question.
“And there comes EFF and talks to all the issues we wanted addressed for so many years in the struggle.
“I was left with no choice but to join EFF. The ANC pushed us out, literally, by refusing to address the land question,” said Spelman.
The father of 10, grandfather of 15 and great grandfather of four has launched 31 EFF branches in Alfred Nzo. “I don’t have a car. But I walk to all these villages and service all 31 branches. I’m sure I’ll still be this strong after elections and able to serve on the council,” said Spelman.
He said his main task would be to ensure everyone had access to clean water, electricity and a house.
“I am not saying the ANC has not delivered, but not to all, as the Freedom Charter says. You know why? Because the ANC has been destroyed by corruption, and we are going to that council to root out this evil.”
EFF’s central command team (CCT) member Sam Matiase, who is deployed in Alfred Nzo region, confirmed Spelman’s nomination, saying “we would have failed our people if we did not field fighter Spelman as our number one candidate.
“He is one of many who are in the EFF to dismiss the myth that EFF is for young people. The land question is not an issue to the young only.”
IEC provincial chairman Thami Mraji confirmed yesterday that the two were both registered candidates.
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