‘We need more people like Chris Pappas,’ says Rise Mzansi
Newly-formed political party go on the campaign trail ahead of the general elections
Rise Mzansi’s provincial premier candidate has commended the work done by uMngeni Mayor and DA premier candidate Chris Pappas, saying the country needs more people like him.
The newly-formed political party’s provincial candidate Nonkululeko Hlongwane-Mhlongo and national leadership collective member Professor Nick Binedell engaged with a group of residents at the Amber Valley Retirement Village and Hilton Railway Station yesterday.
Hlongwane-Mhlongo (37) said there is no political party that will be able to resolve every issue, but there’s a need for different people with different expertise, experiences, knowledge and connections.
She said all these will be needed to drive positive changes, which is seen to be happening in uMngeni.
“I’m a huge fan of Chris Pappas’ work and how he’s able to enter communities and embody their values, as well as how he contextualises the work that he does because that is what we speak about when we speak of active and accountable leaders in this country.
“What we say as Rise Mzansi is that we need more people like this and we know it’s possible because we’ve seen it,” she said.
Hlongwane-Mhlongo said she is a premier candidate in a highly politicised and violent province.
She said she’s often asked if she was afraid and she would be lying if she said she wasn’t, but there has to be a time where no one will be held captive by their fear in this country.
“The 2024 election is absolutely critical in this country in terms of determining the direction [we go in] but what is more important to Rise Mzansi is how we are able to continue doing the work in between elections so that democracy is not just an event, but a way of life,” said Hlongwane-Mhlongo.
She said Rise Mzansi was not just a name, but a call to action and that their manifesto is a representative of South Africans’ inspirations and the visions they have for the country, co-created by the citizens, which she said the party was particularly proud of.
“Our vision as Rise Mzansi is to build a safe, prosperous, equal and united South Africa [in the space of one] generation.
“One generation is very important for us as we need to give ourselves a set timeframe. In 25 years, we want children to enter safe schools; we want people to access clean drinkable water.
“We cannot walk past people without homes as if they don’t exist in 25 years’ time ... ” said Hlongwane-Mhlongo.
Hlongwane-Mhlongo said she will be delivering the provincial election plan on Thursday, wherein she will speak about the KZN economy, health and education, as well as interventions that address the skills shortages of those who are 35 years old and above.
“My background is in civil society and the advantage I have is that a lot of communities in KZN already know me, not as an individual, but because of the work we’ve done in communities for the longest time,” said Hlongwane-Mhlongo.
She said Rise Mzansi was confident about the upcoming elections, adding that they will be going to the KZN legislature and the national assembly.
Responding to questions raised by residents in Howick about land expropriation and coalition, Hlongwane-Mhlongo said land expropriation was interesting because it was legally accounted for.
She said land expropriation is implemented when a mall or road is earmarked to be built.
“What we say is that the same law that enables businesses to get access to land to build their businesses should be able to be used to get land to build people homes.
“Part of our conflict is that if we are able to implement this [practice], then why not implement it where it’s also needed the most?
“When we build houses for people and the land needs to expropriated and compensation needs to be given, it must be done; but we cannot defend and prevent it from happening because we are speaking about human life, their dignity and where they live,” said Hlongwane-Mhlongo.
Binedell, however, added that the party does not have a policy of expropriation without compensation.
Responding to the questions on coalition, Binedell said they haven’t discussed a constructive way with regards to who they might agree to enter a coalition with.
“Elections need to happen first and the reason we didn’t go [the multiparty route] is that we want to establish our independence before we talk to anybody else.
“I think that’s what democracy is about and, in my view, who we might partner with will be subjected to different type of criteria, if it gets to that point,” said Binedell.