By Celani Sikhakhane
- The ANC wants Dr Ngogi Mahaye to help the party gain ground in KZN ahead of upcoming local government elections.
- Bishop Vusi Dube said the party is returning to its roots by including religious leaders in the provincial leadership team.
The ANC has appointed a top Shembe church leader to its KZN task team. The party wants to win back voters in the province before the local government elections.
Dr Ngogi Mahaye is a popular academic and a leader in the Shembe Baptist Church. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula recently put him on the list for the provincial task team in Durban.
Bishop Vusi Dube is also on the team. He said the ANC is going back to its roots because church leaders helped start the party.
Dube said Mahaye is a respected religious leader. He said having him on the team shows respect for the religious community. Dube said the Shembe church played a big part in the struggle for the country. He said it would be a mistake to leave them out of the leadership.
Mahaye follows the Shembe leader Mduduzi “Unyazilwezulu” Shembe. He also leads an organisation called Isqubetho Senhlalamafini. He focuses on African spirituality.
Dube said the move to bring in Mahaye will help the ANC get more support from church members. They are fighting the IFP for these votes. IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa is also a prominent Shembe member.
The Shembe church is a very important place for political parties. All parties go there to look for votes. The new DA leader in KZN, Sthembiso Ngema, is also trying to get support from the church for the next elections.
Mahaye could not be reached for comment before this story was published.
Pictured above: Dr Ngogi Mahaye of the Shembe Baptist Church.
Image source: Supplied
