Can the ANC January 2026 statement address event be inclusive this year going forward... Vul' isekele Khongolose

 

On my way to Mama Winnie's funeral in 2018

Happy New Year, everybody and welcome to 2026.

Yes, if you are residing in South Africa regardless of which political party you belong to.

The ANC January 8 statement is something that we all look forward to.

The ANC and DA beads that the Gogos and I made

Hate them or not, but the governing party and its president who is automatically the president of the country must give us some direction on what to expect this year…. A local government election year.

So, with those in mind.

 I   thought let me start with an issue that has been bugging me for years since I have returned to Johannesburg.

MK Youth hard at work in Alexandra Township

The party’s exclusivity to the community and the people on the ground. Now. I am not talking about those that left the party but the ordinary citizens who are still loyal to the party till this day but are not included to big events such as these.

We all know that the year start when the ruling party give us the people of the country its vision for the year.

 Or it used to start then before 1994 and the early years after.

The EFF was amongst the first customers of our business and they bought beads in bulk

But since my return to the city of Gold which is close to 13 years now, I hear nothing about this event. Trying to get to the party itself has been a mission. Let alone the Women's League and the local foot soldiers.

Free advertisement for Bossa 

There is absolutely nothing you hear about this annual event or any other works of the party so that you can participate also.

                                                                                The mining town of Klerkdorp

No noise or buses carrying people over to the venue like in the old days. 

OR Tambo and Nelson Mandela were the president of the organisation

 Even  the event is not effectively communicated so that everyone can be or feel part of it. Or maybe reject being part of it yet having being informed about it.

                                                        Stillfonteing Gold Mines

In these days, what I have observed is that you are merely excluded and not informed. Maybe gass talked as some may say now.

Chief Albert Luthuli was the president of the ANC

Before we go further, let me tell you readers about  the history of this event with Google's help and some of the books I have read in the past.

                                                            Election Day 2019... National

The origins of the event sterms from the organisation, the South African National Natives Congress(SANNC), now known as the African National Congress (ANC) having being formed on January 8, 1912. 

The original founders of the ANC in 1912

The founders, John Dube, Sol Plaatje and Pixley ka Isaka Seme wanted to unite Africans against the discriminatory law like the Land Law Act of 1913 which gave blacks 13% of land and 87% was distributed to the whites at the time.

                                                    Star Fm, a community radio station in the North West

The practice of releasing majory statement were made popular by the then president, Oliver Tambo in 1972 during his exile years in Lusaka Zambia where he detailed strategies, themes and call for actions against the then racist regime.

Winnie Madikizela Mandela kept the organisation alive when it was banned in SA

But even before O.R. Tambo took over the leadership role. In the 1950s when Chief Albert Luthuli was in leadership.

People dropped everything to hear what the chief had to say at Freedom Square, this despite of government harassing him with banning orders that would forced him back to Natal even before he could speak to the people.

Over three decades of democracy and I  would be lying if I said I knew where and what the event was about over the past few years since I left the newsroom.

A week ago, I went pass the Chief Albert Luthuli House, the headquatters of the ANC to get information.

I get it, people were on leave it was the late days of December2025. The security knew nothing about the event and only a flyer advertising accommodation for the event in North West that I got a glimps of where they will be this year.

Over the past few years, there's absolutely nothing you hear from the organisation itself. Especially when you have restricted means of communication like me.

I think, I last listened and heard from the president, Cyril Ramaphosa when he was crying for people to send, that was way back in 2018 if I am not mistaken.

I think, the conference was held in East London then.  

After, the bullies of the organization did their thing so much that all my businesses came to a halt.

 My property was destroyed, I was stalked, I received death threats, I was humiliated and all sorts of lies were spread to a point that everything I had built and done for myself without the help of anyone will take years to rebuild.

But I am grateful for the social grant that I am currently on even though had my business not being destroyed, I would have been far even with my law studies.

Thank God NSFAS agreed to fund me last year, but writing the Unisa exams were made difficult and some subject impossible to even seat for. 

So my promised ten years free and compulsary education from the 150 page of the Reconstruction Development Programme of the party was also somehow disturbed.

 I pray that they let me continue with my law studies this year as Iam really keen on the modules local government, land and housing, education, family law etc.

Anyway, don't read this and think I am all made at the ANC. 

Just after Covid19, I’ve been trying so hard to get involve in the community work with the ANC or the women’s league but the party seems to be very far of.

Even when you go to councilor’s offices and introduce yourself, your intentions and what you are about.

Still you are treated like a hungry outsider and the people that I have been in contact with have made it clear that the organization is now for the black elite.

If you have no money, you have no business in the ANC nor would your talent, skills, knowledge or resources can be used in this mighty organization.

The attitude is so disturbing because some of the Pioneers and Jevuniles of the early 80s and 90s came from these communities with no money but strong spirit of   brother hood and looking out for each other regardless of background.

The education about the South African black history before the 1994 election seems to have been a wasteful exercise now.

 Especially when the black English men and women in power don’t know and can’t relate to the struggles of the same black community in which they grew up in.

 Some of the contributors to this little change come from those that are hired to provide service in the township but ignore their duties and run after bribery.

 Money that further halt the slow progress in these areas or do unfinished work yet they claimed to be capable of doing the complete job.

Worse, the millions received for numerous tenders through connections not even a cent will go to even buying a child in that community  school shoes.

What monied black men did not have before 1994  was covered by the contribution he made to the community then.

  The community also helped support his businesses.

There was a servicing of each other not the exercise of Lordship over the other due to the money, the car they drive and where they stay.

 There were no orphans due to the struggle as the church and the ANC women’s league automatically became an eye of those families.

Hence many like me, ended up with many fathers and mothers. While my mother was inprisoned and the other exiled for their political roles in the ANC.

 I gained parents who  were not my  biological parents but the respect I had to give to some of these men and women was equal to that of both absent parents of mine.

Yes, there was status and we all prided ourselves when a black men or children of the township had done well as if we all made some contribution to their achievement.

 

 But there was not much of showing it off, undermining and I’m better than you kind of vibe which is quite common now.

Back to the January statement, I hear this year it will be in the North West.

A two hours drive from Johannesburg and where the gold, a resource that God bless South Africans with but became a curse at the same time as visitors became too greedy to share.

It would be so nice to have buses available to everyone who want to go from all areas of Johannesburg Township.

There are children who don't even know what a mine looks like let alone a mining town and what those people are about.

  When I was in Port Elizabeth, I attended one conference that was held in East London.

 Though, I was in the media.

 I opted to drive to East London with the masses from Kwa Zakhele township.

The bus atmosphere is the best, to and fro, the endless debates about what was said and what could have been touched on and informal planning on how to exercute some of the plans to go with the vision of the party.

The sightseeing is also beautiful especially when everyone is looking forward to the place or I was looking forward to the East London beaches and we ate kotas and full meals after the event.

So my humble request to the party is to at least make the address available to everyone. 

Even those with no internet, radios and tvs. 

The news of what needs to be done must reach even the low class citizen of this country.

 

EFF, the new hope for black consciousness

HAPPY!!!! .... As Ndabeni Kunene Creatives together with the Gogos from Mpumalanga we created beads for the EFF. Party leaders wore them in the 5th anniversary of the party.

Today, I write this article beaming with pride.  One of my biggest customer, the EFF has done exceptionally well in the sixth general elections. It garnered 10.79% with a growth of 6% from the last elections.

EFF.... The production line of the EFF beads made by the Gogo's and me in 2019

   

 If you have been following the South African politics, you will know that this six year old kid made a dramatic entry in Parliament. Often clad in red overalls and maids uniforms. It offers South Africans ideologies that encourage black people to celebrate black culture and embrace their African heritage. These red ants sting has been felt by the current governing party.

 Our former president, Jacob Zuma would have probably took the "pay back the money" as a joke if these former young lions of the African National Congress didn't stay consistent with their demands. Who can forget the current land debate that saw the Freedom Front Plus move up the leader of the ballot paper to take the fourth spot on the list. 

Social Media... Our beads were won at the BET awards by entertainment journalist, Gabi Mbele

  These elections painted a very gloomy picture about the African National Congress. The ANC once loved Nelson Mandela party of 1994 was no longer representing the interest of its people, majority being black people.

TRY AGAIN.... The first batch of samples we sent to the party's Braamfontein Office. We had to do them again, again until the Gogo's came up with the Skholwane for EFF branding.

SPREADING THE WORD... Our first PR dependent on word of mouth and people liking our social media pages.

  Corruption, greed and arrogance are amongst other things have seen people loosing faith in it. Leaders such as the secretary general, Ace Magushule have been reported to have ran the Free State Province to the ground, yet he was voted as secretary general. 

I know it was a unity exercise amongst loyal Zuma supporters but the public cannot look beyond the recent published book about how far his dirty fingers had gone to vote for it, hoping businessman and former trade unionist and Nelson Mandela's umbrella man, Cyril Ramaphosa will turn things around.

  How he will do this? We still don't know,  but the division was still felt just after the elections when ANC election campaign head, Fikile Mbalula with Magashule. Anyway the generation of voters are now watching service deliveries in all parties. 

 The EFF headed by the former ANC youth League leader, Julius Malema came with a vibrant energy in parliament. Almost everyday fighters were visible on the streets. In Johannesburg alone, I have seen them help evicted families in court.

They have become a political party that ordinary citizen feel it address their needs. The leader, Malema often commands attention in his speech and everything that comes out of his mouth captures the attention of a black child. 

The party leaders has made education something fashionable to a point that no one remembers Julius Malema was once a a drop out matric student and having failed woodwork at school. In one of the youtube videos he jokes about not being fit enough to run the country having failed woodwork alone. Today he is a farmer, a politician and I'm not sure what else. What is also attractive about the brand is that it speaks to everyone in the black township except for the older generation of men. Maybe it is because the leaders had find it difficult to reason with the elders in the ANC and since others were raised by single mothers, they respect women.

 Infact, they said it in parliament that the first person to become president from the party will be a woman. Parliament member, Makoti Khawula is that aunt of yours who always ask question like any other township aunt. 

Now will have more young people interested in parliament with the addition of the fees must fall protesters. Its supporters are majority black, underprivileged, rejected and now trying to build on what they have by licking on the wounds left by the bad administration of the country over the past 25 years.

 My start up business was also a test if the three South African parties do support small businesses. With them, it was so clear to the point our beads were worn at their 5th anniversary celebration in East London and at the Rand Easter Show recently. 

 I'm not sure what you as a reader think of this brand but you can share your views on my social media account: 

Facebook: Khanyiswa Ndabeni Twitter: @ndabenik 

Instagram: KhanyiswaSA

 You Tube: Khanyi Ndabeni 

Whatsapp: 076 360 7744

Veteran actress Mama Nandi Nyembe on female scars

Imbokodo

Her smile is so welcoming that one immediately feels at home  with her and strike up a conversation.

But do not be mistaken, behind that beautiful smile lies scars of hurt, abuse, disappointment and any other pain that might be experienced by any ordinary female South African today.

If you talk about being raped,bearing and raising a child from that horrible and painful experience, mama Nandi who played Nandi Sibiya on Zone 14 has gone through that. She believes by portraying such characters on either a theatre play or on screen she deliver a message that she hopes will help another women seating at home watching the drama, telenovela.

my groupie moment with mama Nandi

At 68 years, and more than four decade in the South African entertainment industry, Mama Nandi can relate to some of the female characters she has portrayed. She says some have either gone through what she has gone through in her own personal life.

"Through those experiences I am able to suggest and come up with ideas to the director about the elements of what I think we should add in a character. If the director is open to my idea then I add it on to make the character more real. A recent example was that of Dolly in the telenovela Isethembiso airing on weekdays on Mzansi Magic.

Mama Nandi on Sticks and Stones. Screengrab from You tube

Yes Dolly is a mother and takes care of her children and all the house chores. But we forget, mothers also have a life. They go for shopping, outings and some are working and even owning a businesses. I don't feel a women should be box to just a house wife and looking after children. Women do more and should be seen on television to be doing more too.We shouldn't be just box in the house as if she doesn't have a life, said Mama Nandi who is so passionate about her craft that recently on Isithunzi she went bald headed playing a character of  Nolwazi an women who had just returned from her home country South Africa from exile in Zimbabwe.

On Isibaya pic Youtube

Oh, yes, she can change her voice too to a skill she mastered doing a children programme but matured it and gave it a bit of  hoarseness on  season season 6 of the Mzansi drama, Isibaya where she plays Gogo Mkhiti.
She is grateful for all the roles she was able to play both on screen and theatre today as in the past South African Black actors were not allowed leading roles in any production.
"If you get cast at all in any film or drama your role will be that of a maid as a female or a gardener if you are a male. If the role needed a black leading character a white person would take that role and they would paint their face black. We were powerless to act then until 24 years ago but I wont say we are totally free as black people in South Africa."

On Roots

It was through her mother, Violet Nomvuselelo Nyembe's unavailability in a 1970s theatre play that bagged her first role in a theatre production. Since then she has never looked back and did both screen and plays. She has portrayed the character of struggle heroine Lillian Ngoyi in Treason and the grandmother  to Kunta Kinte, Yaisa in the American drama series Roots. The film Yesterday, where she plays a role of a sangoma was nominated for the Oscars.

On Isibaya screengrab from youtube

"I don't think the South African government has paid much interest to the arts and craft industry. I thought maybe by now this sector, government would have made effort to invest in the artist and making sure that we have the basic benefits such as medical aid etc. We really need those things. Times are even harder for artists if they don't get jobs or told they are too old to be used as ambassadors,"
If not rapping with his grandchildren or bonding with her daughter who is a sangoma. She is rehearsing for Isithembiso. She is also working on many personal projects that she would rather reveal when they are at an advance stage not now.

Hope you enjoy our chat with Mama Nandi. Please follow us on twitter @ndabenik, facebook Khanyiswa Ndabeni and Khanyiswa2 on Instagram

Soon you will read about Isidingo's new director Motlatsi Mafatshe as well as GP MaOrange aka Israel Matsekezulu both have confirmed to feature in this blog.

Till then hope you have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year. Drive safe if you travelling anywhere. Till next time
.