WeeklySA_AdminNEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK:More than 64 000 candidates gear up to woo voters…
By Ali Mphaki
The coming municipal elections’ ballot paper will make for some eye-popping, star-gazing moments – what with celebrities like Kuli Roberts, Kenny Niemach and Pieter de Villiers having thrown their hats for contestation for the poll seats.
Media personality Roberts, former soccer player Niemach, and professional rugby union coach De Villiers, candidate for Patricia de Lille’s Good Party. Roberts appears for the African Transformation Movement (ATM) as their ward 65 councillor in Tshwane, while Niemach stands for the UIM as their choice candidate in Ekurhuleni.
De Villiers was coach of the South Africa national rugby union team from 2008 to 2011, after successes with the South African U19 and U21 squads, and the first-ever black to be appointed to the position.
The three are but some of the names that have raised eyebrows as various political parties submit their lists of candidates for the local elections pencilled for November 1.
Celebrity status and politics seemingly do mix well in South Africa, that is if crooner Ringo Madlingozi, actor Fana Mokoena of Genrations soapie fame, is anything to go by.
Mokoena served as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa between August 2016 and October 2020. He served as a delegate to the National Council of Provinces from May 2014 until August 2016.
Mokoena is a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters party and serves on the party’s central command.
Madlingozi has also nailed his colours to the EFF mast. With 325 political parties contesting the forthcoming elections, 1 718 independent candidates, 63 409 ward candidates, all is set for a closely contested poll. There are also 36 707 PR candidates.
But it is when going through the list of political parties that it becomes apparent “politicians” can sometimes have a sense of humour. Take, for instance, a party like Us The People Concern. Then you have Devoted Citizens of Msunduzi. There is also God Save Africa.
Whatever you may say about the number of parties contesting the elections, fact is this is seen as democracy is action, even if some of the parties you hear about them for the first time, and other may likely disappear after the contest.
In Tshwane, new-kids-on-the-block include Defenders Of The People, Poelano Conference of Tshwane, and not to be mistaken with the rail service, you find the Shosholoza Progressive Party.
As if it were not enough, there is Gauteng Able Leadership, Arusha Economic Coalition, Spectrum National Party, and the Economic Emancipation Forum, which may likely confuse voters with Julius Malema’s EFF.
Yet, one name that will have the X-wielding voter giggling is the name Iskethi seNgubo Political Party, a new formation determined to take on the likes of ANC, DA, EFF, Action SA, PAC, and so on.
The voter is indeed spoilt for choice, what with blankets and skirts also on offer.
