Young heart: Arnold Mthuthuzeli Specman.
South Africa’s oldest ward councillor candidate, Arnold Mthuthuzeli Specman, aged 90, is heading to the Mbizana municipal council in the Eastern Cape as a proportional representative candidate, after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) came in second to the ANC in the local government elections.
Specman, a veteran ANC organiser and former chairperson of in Bizana’s civic structure, defected to the EFF soon after the party was formed in 2013.
He was motivated by the EFF’s adoption of Freedom Charter policies and believes the party can bring about real change.
The Mbizana municipality is home to the families of struggle royalty such as Oliver Tambo and remains an ANC stronghold. The party received more than 80% of the vote. Specman has campaigned for almost a year and the EFF has scored just over 6% of the vote, making it the official opposition.
“We are very happy the community has given us their full support. Now we are going to prepare to serve in the municipality. I’ll be the oldest person there,” he told the Mail & Guardian this week.
On the campaign trail, Specman promised voters he would “keep the young ones in line”. And now that he’s officially heading to council, he intends to do just that.
“I must address the other EFF councillors about how to work in the municipality and with the community. Most of them have never been there. I must advise them on how to adhere to procedure,” he said.
Specman said he will meet EFF officials in the Eastern Cape next week to assess the party’s performance and ensure that their presence in the council leads to a change in the way things are being done.
“We must stop the wrong officials being appointed and improve our town in Bizana. We need to get our town clean,” he said.
For the country’s youngest ward councillor candidate, 18-year-old Sisonke Jaca, also representing the EFF, the election didn’t go well. The grade 11 pupil hoped the young voters would give him a chance to lead ward 5 in the Lusikisiki region. The result surprised him.
“Eish, things didn’t go the way I thought it was going to be, sir. The votes are few. I think it’s only around 13 or 14 votes at the one school near my house,” he said, adding that he has no plans to give up yet. He vows to continue his politics career.
“I’ll try again next time and continue to work with the EFF. I’ve learnt a lot but I can’t say much now. I’m too disappointed but I still have hope for the future.”