Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Young, female, black, and after Zille’s position
WHEN a controversial FNB ad deemed critical of the ANC government was first flighted in 2013, the teenager delivering a speech over the visuals already knew her future would be in politics.
Five years later and 23-year-old Kelly Baloyi has thrown her hat into the ring to possibly become the DA’s and South Africa’s youngest premier candidate.
Studying for an honours degree in political science at Stellenbosch University, Baloyi wants to succeed Helen Zille as the Western Cape’s next premier.
Born in Tzaneen, in 1995, Baloyi grew up Cape Town and said she had known she wanted to enter politics at age 14 and was motivated when she was chosen as the first black head girl at Monument Park High in Kraaifontein.
Her father, Ntsako Baloyi, is an uMkhonto we Sizwe veteran, and is studying for an MBA, while her mother, Sandra, is a psychiatric nurse.
“From 14 I was engaging in these conversations on how we can improve our communities and get young people involved.
“This is where my campaign, Stand up Youth, was developed. In this campaign we have young people visiting old-age homes and developing the communities,” said Baloyi.
She was elected to the Junior City Council, where she became the sub-council chair of Ward 7, and was tasked with representing the youth of her community at the age of 17.
Baloyi is among those battling it out for the top position in the province, including Fazloodien Abrahams, Bonginkosi Madikizela, David Maynier, Jacobus MacFarlane, Alan Winde and Michael Mack.
Baloyi said she was not intimidated by the big names of her adversaries or her age. She said young people deserved a seat in public office and to be involved in governance.
“I am the only female candidate, which is sad, but I took the opportunity. A young black woman needs to be a candidate.
“The other candidates do have experience, but it is funny that you find some have nothing to show. I believe this is the time for young people to take up public office.”
Baloyi said her political upbringing and involvement in community development work had prepared her to hold official office.
“Community development has weighed heavy on my heart from age 14. I grew up in a community where you’d see a lot of young people into drugs, teenage pregnancies and other social problems.
“I have always seen myself as a leader, I can’t tell you a point in my life where I was not involved in community development.”
Baloyi was featured in an FNB ad which showed children in school uniform reading their hopes for the country. It drew backlash from the opposition party and resulted in FNB apologising.
Baloyi said the ad still sent a relevant message: that government needed to work for its people.
On being a DA member, Baloyi said although her family were ANC members, she identified with the values of the DA.
Asked if she was content with the way the DA had treated embattled Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille, Baloyi said she did not want to be drawn into factional battles.
“I have been working in this party but I don’t know the internal factionalism that is going on right now.
“I don’t want to give comment on factionalism because I am a unifier and right now we believe in unifying the party in preparation for 2019 general elections,” said Baloyi.