Maiden bursary mayor tipped for political comeback

By Palesa Matlala

• Former uThukela District Mayor Dudu Mazibuko is among three African National Congress nominees for mayor of Alfred Duma Local Municipality.

• Mazibuko made headlines in 2016 for a controversial bursary programme aimed at encouraging schoolgirls to remain virgins and focus on their education.

Former uThukela District Mayor Dudu Mazibuko could be heading back to local government after 10 years on the sidelines.

Mazibuko, who made national headlines with her controversial bursary programme for maidens, is among three African National Congress nominees for mayor of Alfred Duma Local Municipality in Ladysmith.

African National Congress National Executive Committee member Dickson Masemola announced the names during the party’s Josiah Gumede Region Manifesto Community Engagement Programme.

Mazibuko was named alongside Mzwandile Mbhele and Lindiwe Kubheka as the party prepares for the upcoming local government elections.

Masemola said the party’s election manifesto must deal with problems facing communities.

“We must therefore continue taking the Manifesto directly to communities, listening to their concerns and translating our commitments into practical local programmes,” he said.

“The Manifesto belongs to the people, and its implementation must be felt at community level.”

Mazibuko’s possible comeback comes 10 years after she became the centre of a heated national debate.

In 2016, while serving as uThukela District Mayor, she backed a bursary programme for young women who remained virgins.

The programme was meant to encourage girls to avoid teenage pregnancy and HIV and remain focused on their education.

But it sparked fierce criticism.

Activist Nomboniso Gasa challenged the use of taxpayers’ money for the programme. She argued that its requirements unfairly excluded young women who were not virgins.

The programme also received support from some communities and the Zulu monarch.

But following the controversy, the programme ended after assisting its first group of beneficiaries.

Mazibuko later told Scrolla.Africa that she did not regret supporting it.

She said participation was voluntary and believed young women who chose to remain virgins should be encouraged to focus on building a brighter future.

Mazibuko also argued that the criticism was unfair because government departments and private companies had supported other programmes aimed specifically at girls.

She believed the bursary received particularly strong criticism because it was linked to Zulu culture.

Now, after a decade outside government, Mazibuko could be given another shot at leading a municipality if she becomes the African National Congress’s final choice for Alfred Duma.

Pictured above: Former uThukela District Mayor Dudu Mazibuko is among three African National Congress nominees for mayor of Alfred Duma Local Municipality.

Image source: uThukela District