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Throughout my life, I have always lived as a brand with constant brand attributes. Uppermost among those attributes were independence of mind and integrity. That is why, apart from a short spell during which I was co-opted to the Azanian Students Organisation (AZASO) branch at the University of Zululand in 1984, I have never belonged to any political organisation or party in my life.

Some of you may recall that, for the first 15 years of my working life, I was a journalist within the Argus Newspapers Group, which later became the Independent Newspapers Group that was owned by Tony O’Reilly. 

During much of that period, I covered, commented on and analysed politics in the country from the release of Nelson Mandela from prison on 11 February 1990, until December 2002 when I exited the profession. Even as a journalist, I was known for my independence of mind and for my non-partisanship, at a time when some of my black colleagues either considered themselves “a guerilla in enemy camp”, in the words of the late Sam Mabe at an international media conference that took place in South Africa, or as ANC, AZAPO or PAC activists. I, on the other hand, covered all those political organisations, including the then governing National Party.

In subsequent years, once I had joined the world of business, I continued to be distinguished for my professionalism, independence of mind and my unimpeachable integrity. 

Naturally, the question that should arise is, if I have prided myself on my strong sense of independence, why am I now making common course with ActionSA? That is a legitimate question to ask. As a liberal arts student at Georgetown University in the USA in the mid-1980s, I majored in English Literature and Philosophy. That means that I have always been aware of the fundamental contribution of Greek philosophers to that discipline and to the early discourse on ethics.

In recent weeks, uppermost in my mind has been the quote by Plato: “One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” 

For more than a decade now, I have been unhappy about the way in which our country is governed. I am now tired of standing by and watching as the people tasked to govern us continue to misgovern our beautiful country, or as they govern for the benefit of the few who are members of their families, their parties or their factions. I am tired of participating only passively, through regular elections, in our democracy. I felt that I should now get into the ring and make my humble contribution felt.

Why have I chosen ActionSA? Well, in search of a vehicle through which to enter active politics, I arranged online meetings with Mr Herman Mashaba and a leader of another party. I asked them to share their organisations’ outlook with me, and I asked them to respond to whatever reservations I had about their organisations. 

Subsequently, I had an hour-long interview with Mr Mashaba, on my Dr Kaizer’s Perspective podcast, during which I asked him anything but sweetheart questions. On the same day, I ordered a copy of Michael Beaumont’s book, The Accidental Mayor, which catalogues Mashaba’s campaign for the 2016 local government elections and his subsequent mayoralty of the City of Johannesburg. 

From my meeting with him, my hour-long interview and my reading of The Accidental Mayor, I was attracted by the fact that, like me, Herman Mashaba is not your typical politician. I liked the fact that, like me, he was moved to the political ring in an effort to rescue our country for our children and our grandchildren. 

In his book, Beaumont mentions what he and his colleagues came to call Herman’s “Mashabaness”, which describes the honesty and innocence with which he approached his job as the Mayor of Johannesburg.

From my online meeting with him, my hour-long interview with him and my reading of The Accidental Mayor, I concluded that, in terms of my principles and values, I have a lot more in common with Mr Mashaba. That is why I am here today, announcing my membership of ActionSA.

This is my considered choice. I respect the fact that others out there may well have different choices. That, after all, is the essence of a democracy.

Issued by ActionSA Member Dr Kaizer M. Nyatsumba