Lucas Ledwaba
Andile Mgxitama goes into this election on the back of a controversial decision by the Equality Court to rule that his party’s slogan, land or death, amounts to hate speech.
The court has ordered that the Black First Land First Party withdraw its slogan. Mgxitama and his chums have vowed to challenge the decision which is a good thing because failure to do so will cast doubt on their integrity. After all, this is what they set out to achieve and if at the stroke of a judge’s pen they choose not to stage a further challenge, they will be deemed as weaklings afraid of challenging authority.
Who would want to vote such a leader into power?
Mngxitama burst onto the public space as a fine, articulate proponent of land rights inspired by the doctrine of Black Consciousness. This probably is the inspiration behind the naming of his party which will be contesting the general elections for the first time since its formation after he was bliksemed out of the EFF [those guys don’t take nonsense from on one].
Truth be told Mngxitama had a good thing going until, probably because of belly politics, he decided to pick fights that had very little to do with his agenda.
For a man to vent and threaten like a suicide bomber candidate in defence of the Guptas, central figures to allegations of state capture, did irreparable harm to his reputation.
It appeared he was someone hell bent on being available for hire as a paid protester, regardless of the principle or the issue, so long as someone opened their wallet for his services.
He went further to taint his once promising reputation with reckless public statements that put him on par with his racist nemesis from the right wing movement. He would have to lavishly reward his political gods if he makes it to Parliament.
