African National Congress (ANC) member and 1976 student leader, Seth Mazibuko, says he was nominated by Orlando East community members to represent them as an independent candidate in the upcoming local government elections.
Mazibuko says he still loves the ANC, and contesting elections was not his decision.
People of Orlando East have come together as a forum and asked, if we are to fight a Goliath - crime, housing, renaming of Orlando stadium, Eskom prepaid electricity - they requested that as the chair of the OTT, bab' uMazibuko we're nominating you to stand as an independent candidate because we are not a political party.
— Seth Mazibuko, 1976 student activist
And besides, we are saying as people of Orlando East, issues of the community should not have political colour. And parties should not nominate people for the community.
— Seth Mazibuko, 1976 student activist
He says the people who asked him to run as an independent candidate know that he is a member of the ANC.
Mazibuko believes that people want their own people to represent them, not political parties.
I'm discussing this with some of the senior members of the ANC, who sympathetic to the position that I'm in now.
— Seth Mazibuko, 1976 student activist
One of the things that should be reviewed in this country, is this system of electoral system. It really calls for some deep inspection and debate, particularly at local level.
— Seth Mazibuko, 1976 student activist
He says none of the ANC senior members have approached him to discuss why he is running as an independent candidate.
Listen to the interview for more information...
