News / Africa
Penny Penny for ANC ward councillor
21 Feb 2011 at 08:57hrs | Views
FADING Shangaan disco king Penny Penny shocked all and sundry when he topped the list of nominees for ANC ward councillor in Giyani last Sunday, beating several long-serving party members.
And, if the ANC provincial list committee endorses the community's decision, Penny Penny - real name Eric Nkovani - will be the first musician to become an ANC candidate councillor in the Limpopo province. Penny Penny was nominated at the July Mawewe
ANC branch's annual general meeting in Mapuve village in Giyani last Sunday.
The results of the poll were sent to the ANC's ward screening committee, which endorsed Penny Penny as a candidate for the upcoming local government elections.
"The ward screening committee recommended to the Mopani regional list committee as to who should be our candidate.
"The regional list committee decided that he should stand as the ward councillor . The provincial list committee will make a final decision on the matter soon,"
says Mopani regional secretary Brickz Manzini.
Manzini did not rule out the possibility that the provincial screening committee might not recommend Penny Penny.
"But they need to advance strong reasons," he says.
ANC insiders say the ward and regional screening committees endorsed Penny Penny as their emissary because he is a powerful political force in the area.
"They fear that if they don't ratify the community's decision Penny Penny might contest the election independently.
"Historically, the ANC has been winning the elections with a slim margin against Ximoko Progressive Party because of Penny Penny.
"Ximoko has been winning a seat in the Greater Giyani municipality because of him. He is a powerful mobiliser and since joining the ANC he has recruited about 800 residents to join the party," says the source.
Penny Penny says he is ready to serve his community.
"There is no water, there's no school or toilets and the unemployment level is high.
"The roads here are so bad that, though we live about 39km from Thohoyandou, we use other roads and end up driving about 100km," he says.
Penny Penny shot to fame in the 1990s with hit songs such as Shaka Bhundu, Amarumours and Ibola.
And, if the ANC provincial list committee endorses the community's decision, Penny Penny - real name Eric Nkovani - will be the first musician to become an ANC candidate councillor in the Limpopo province. Penny Penny was nominated at the July Mawewe
ANC branch's annual general meeting in Mapuve village in Giyani last Sunday.
The results of the poll were sent to the ANC's ward screening committee, which endorsed Penny Penny as a candidate for the upcoming local government elections.
"The ward screening committee recommended to the Mopani regional list committee as to who should be our candidate.
"The regional list committee decided that he should stand as the ward councillor . The provincial list committee will make a final decision on the matter soon,"
says Mopani regional secretary Brickz Manzini.
Manzini did not rule out the possibility that the provincial screening committee might not recommend Penny Penny.
"But they need to advance strong reasons," he says.
ANC insiders say the ward and regional screening committees endorsed Penny Penny as their emissary because he is a powerful political force in the area.
"They fear that if they don't ratify the community's decision Penny Penny might contest the election independently.
"Historically, the ANC has been winning the elections with a slim margin against Ximoko Progressive Party because of Penny Penny.
"Ximoko has been winning a seat in the Greater Giyani municipality because of him. He is a powerful mobiliser and since joining the ANC he has recruited about 800 residents to join the party," says the source.
Penny Penny says he is ready to serve his community.
"There is no water, there's no school or toilets and the unemployment level is high.
"The roads here are so bad that, though we live about 39km from Thohoyandou, we use other roads and end up driving about 100km," he says.
Penny Penny shot to fame in the 1990s with hit songs such as Shaka Bhundu, Amarumours and Ibola.
Source - Byo24News
