Mthatha lawyer Zincedile Tiya has been nominated alongside EFF spokesperson Dr Mbuyi-seni Ndlozi in the 100 most influential South Africans, by Avance Media.
Tiya, originally from Zandukwana in Libode, graduated with an LLB degree from Walter Sisulu University in 2011.
The 35-year-old lawyer, who said he was surprised by the nomination, has been nominated in the law and governance category.
“To me, the nomination means a lot.
“I never knew that I would one day be nominated with the likes of Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi,” said Tiya, who is the national youth co-ordinator for the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (Nadel).
“To me, it means the things I do are appreciated by other people even though I do not necessarily see them as important.
“I am humbled. I am happy and overwhelmed because I am just a rural boy from Mpondoland.
“To be nominated amongst 100 influential young people in the country is something I never expected and will never forget,” he said.
“Even if I do not win, I see this as an achievement on its own.
“There are many young South Africans whom I think are better than me in our country, in our province, our region, sub-region and town. I am really grateful even to the person that nominated me; may God bless him or her,” Tiya said.
Asked what the nomination represented to rural youth, like he once was, Tiya said it meant that people should not look down on themselves because of where they came from
“We must never undermine ourselves because we do not get recognition in our communities,” he said.
Tiya serves in many committees including the Criminal Law Committee in the former Cape Law Society; the Legal Aid Committee; Attorneys Fidelity Fund; Gats Committee, the standing committee on legal education; as well as the Law Society of South Africa’s Criminal Law Committee.
Avance Media managing director Prince Akpah said 2018’s list featured a record number of 50 women and 50 men who had made remarkable contributions in their respective fields, which had impacted other young people across SA and beyond.
In the past, the likes of TV personality Bonang Matheba, actress Nomzamo Mbatha and comedian Trevor Noah made it to the top 100 Influential Young People in SA.
Members of the public can vote for Tiya on the sa.avancemedia.org website.
Online votes will be open for two weeks...