Former ANC stalwart in the Umjindi sub-region, Dr Younus Vawda, who has since defected to the EFF, has been nominated as one of the two candidates from Umjindi to go to provincial legislature after the 2014 general elections on May 7.
Another is former Umjindi ANC youth league secretary, Lucky Shongwe, whose name is also on the EFF list to parliament to represent the local constituency.
Vawda’s name is in position number seven and Shongwe’s 15 of the 30 names on the list.
Shongwe is a teacher at Barberton Secondary School.
Former ANC provincial campaigner for deputy president, Collen Sedibe, is the EFF’s premier candidate, according to the party list that was submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission.
Sedibe campaigned for Motlante in the province prior to the ANC Manguang conference in 2012, and he was considered to be a member of the camp that was trying for years to unseat the premier Mr David Mabuza.
Vawda is a well-established local businessman, who tirelessly lobbied for the University of Mpumalanga to be built in Barberton.
He went as far as forming the Umjindi University Forum, which spend a considerable amount of time and money compiling presentations, and generating support that included persuading the Umjindi Municipality to donate 13 hectares of land, and Barberton Mines and Sappi pledging their commitments.
Shongwe’s name is number 198 of the 200 names on the list for National Assembly.
Vusi Gwebu, Umjindi EFF liaison officer said they fully supported the two candidates and also believed they would deliver for the people of Umjindi and the whole province.
“We also want to assure the community that under the EFF leadership, there will be change and development for everyone regardless of race, age, culture, gender and political affiliation.
Our candidates are dedicated soldiers of the revolution and they will see to it that corruption is rooted out, and potholes are a thing of the past. Equal distribution of land and housing will be addressed, social grants will be doubled and education will be free for all as stated by the 1995 resolutions of the Freedom Charter.
Nationalisation and equal redistribution of wealth will create employment and economic opportunities for all,” said Gwebu.
