1976 ICON GOES SOLO IN POLLS
Mazibuko leaves ANC in the lurch
SETH Mazibuko is to contest the local government elections next month as an independent candidate.
Mazibuko was one of the leaders of the June 1976 student march against the apartheid government and served time on Robben Island.
Yesterday, he told Sowetan that though he remained a member of the ANC, the people of Orlando East in Soweto have asked him to contest the elections as an independent candidate. He is contesting two wards.
“I love the ANC but I would have refused even if they offered me to be their candidate,” Mazibuko said.
“But on local government issues I am being pushed by the people. I will be serving them, not any political party.”
But according to ANC policy, members cannot stand as independent candidates. Mazibuko could be expelled from the ANC.
He recently requested protection from the police after he alleged that ANC councillors in the area had threatened him after he held a meeting with community members.
He explained that the Orlando East community formed the Orlando Task Team (OTT) in 2014 aimed at focusing on local government issues.
Orlando East falls under the City of Johannesburg and Mazibuko said the community was angry at how the city was making decisions without consulting them.
He said OTT was formed to deal with water and electricity problems as well as evictions and the renaming of Orlando Stadium.
He said another problem was that some parts of Orlando East now fall under Diepkloof and Noordgesig, following the demarcation process.
He claimed that the grounds that they grew up playing tennis and soccer at now belonged to Diepkloof following the demarcation.
“This is sad for us. Our township is old. It is the mother of Soweto, therefore we expect the municipality to treat it with sensitivity.
“For instance, the elders in our township cannot afford to pay for water and electricity. We need a flat rate for older people,” he said.
Mazibuko said he had accepted to contest the elections so that he can fight for their issues. He said Orlando East homes now have so many shacks in their yards because the elderly cannot afford to pay their rates and so rent out some spaces to earn an income.
“We want a municipality that will listen to our problems, and if there is a project to be implemented they must discuss it with us.
“We are not about filling the stadium to show support but we want bread and butter issues addressed.”
Mazibuko emphasised that they were not a political party but a community-based organisation that intends to fight for its rights at local government.
ANC Gauteng did not want to comment.