Panyaza Lesufi will be sworn in as the new Premier of the richest province and the economic hub of South Africa, if not Africa. Are any of these developments surprising? Not at all. Lesufi's political fortunes have been rising and rising, from his time as spokesperson for Minister of Basic Education Mme Angie Motshekga, who alongside her husband ANC Veteran and former Chief Whip, Mathole Motshekga, are credited for moulding his political career.
USING MEDIA
As he always like to reminds journalists whenever they field questions to him , 'once a communicator, always a communicator'. Lesufi has always found a way to make use the media to his advantage, and this can also be traced back to his days as a communicator, days back in 2012 and 2013. He was even when bestowed with an award for Best Media Liaison of the Year by the National Press Club. The award was proof to confirm that he had found an exceptional way to work with the media, earning their trust and respect, something that most politicians, and communicators alike, always fail to master.
TACKLING RACISM
Clear indications emerged during David Makhura's second stint as Premier when he announced his cabinet, moving Panyaza Lesufi from the Education Portfolio to Finance and e-Government, much to the criticism of Gauteng citizens and residents. This criticism was borne from the fact that Lesufi had revolutionarised the education space in Gauteng, making education accessible and addressing the thorny issue of racism and discrimination in white-dominated schools. Through this move, he earned serious hatred, leaving him always at loggerheads with Afriforum, a bold move that him earned more respect and adoration from his community, especially from his party, ANC, and the opposition parties.
ADVANCING EDUCATION
It is during his tenure as MEC for Education, the position he currently holds, that most schools were equipped with all the necessary technological material needed for their educational success. Matric results have remained competitive, taking position one and two, in competition with the Free State Province. It was his performance as Education MEC, that there were lobby groups that proposed that, he or his Free State counterpart Tate Makgoe should replace Mme Angie Motshekga as Ministers of Basic Education because of their track record and excellent results achieved by their provinces over the years.
A WORTHY OPPONENT
As it's commonly known that excellent performance in government alone does not guarantee one's success in politics. it was Lesufi's triumph against a worthy opponent, who was also anointed by those in politics as the future of Gauteng, Lebogang Maile, to the post of Deputy Chairperson of the ANC four years ago, under Makhura, that it became apparent that his path to the highest office in the Province was bound to become a reality. It also did not come as a shock, when Lesufi also clobbered Maile again to the ultimate position of ANC Gauteng Chairperson recently, though with less than 35 votes. Now the new Sheriff is ready to take office.
TRACK RECORD
But who is Lesufi and what does the history of the country place him in terms of the struggle? According to his website, Lesufi was involved in the mass democratic movement on both student and youth movement. Having started his activism in the Congress of South Africa Students (COSAS), Lesufi was also involved in another organisation -the Tembisa Student Congress, an organisation he joined after the banning of Cosas. It appears, he owes his political activism to his brother Nikisi Lesufi, who according to his website escaped from apartheid prison, after he was arrested by police while a student at the University of North, now Limpopo. The Boitumelong Secondary School graduate, in Tembisa, is no stranger to the field of education, as his profile shows that he was part of National Education Crisis Committee while he was an active member of Cosas. And it was through his participation in that space that he developed the love for the education sector as he also developed the desire to transform the space to make it accommodative for the marginalised. At university, he was active in the South African Student Congress (SASCO) in the then Natal Region. He was elected President of the SRC of the then University of Natal (Durban Campus). He is a recipient of the University of Natal’s Chief Albert Luthuli Award, presented to him by former President Thabo Mbeki. The university also bestowed him the Best SRC President Ever in recognition of his leadership qualities.
DEFENDING THE PEOPLE
An all-round activist, Lesufi was also active in the Self-Defence Units to defend the people from the violence, unleashed by the third force and the apartheid government in the 1980s and early 90s. Lesufi was at the forefront of efforts to rebuild the ANC after it was unbanned. He served for three terms as branch secretary of the then ANC Tembisa Branch, before becoming Deputy Regional Secretary of the then Kyalami Region, a position he held for almost nine years. He was also the founding Deputy Regional Secretary of the ANC Ekurhuleni Region.
AN IMPRESSIVE TRACK RECORD
He has been a member of the Provincial Executive Committee since 2007 and served in the NEC Education Sub-committee. He was recently elected as Deputy Chairperson of the ANC in Gauteng. He also worked within the NGO sector as Outreach Manager of the Tembisa Careers Centre; in community structures, such as the Community Policing Forum and the South African Tertiary Institutions Sports Congress (SATISCO - Durban) and as Chairperson of the Creative ArtsSociety (CASOC).
ON THE FIELD
Lesufi, was before his resignation, the President of Moroka Swallows, one of the oldest and supported local clubs playing its trade in the DStv Premier Soccer League. Lesufi has been the club's longest supporter, and also funder and campaigner. He alongside other soccer fanatics and Swallows supporters helped the club's return to the PSL after it had spent several seasons in the National First Division, before dropping to the lowest level of football, the ABC Motsepe.
