Music legend and member of kwaito group Trompies, Eugene Mthethwa, has crossed the political floor.
Mthethwa has dumped the ANC after being a member since 1994 to join the EFF. The singer said he opted for the EFF because the party was sympathetic to the struggles of artists and the creative sector in general. The controversial singer is known for chaining himself to a pole inside the South African Music Rights Organisation (Samro) reception last year demanding to be paid his royalties.
Mthethwa, who claims he was a card-carrying member of the ANC in ward 96 near Fourways, said he has not been active politically in the past four years because he was despondent. He said he stopped attending ANC meetings because the ruling party did not care about the arts and culture sector.
“I have left the party [ANC] that I have been with since I was a student at Wits University because its political vision and ideology were no longer making sense to me. Last week I joined the EFF but I cannot reveal which branch I belong to yet,” he said.
“I cut my ANC membership [card] into pieces when I realised that ANC does not want to be part of the sector. For 28 years they have done nothing for the arts, culture and creative sector. There is so much loud noise that the minister [of arts Nathi Mthethwa] must go.”
Mthethwa once led an artists' campaign in 2007 lobbying for support for former president Jacob Zuma. As a result of his support, Mthethwa landed a position as the head of President Jacob Zuma's hotline, a job he dumped later. He was further appointed as a deputy director for public liaison and stakeholder management. In 2016, Mthethwa turned around saying Zuma, the man he had known since 20005 was ignoring his calls, emails and even blocked him.
Asked what attracted him to the EFF, Mthethwa said: “The EFF has been taking care of artists who have been with the party since its inception. Secondly, when I chained myself at Samro, Ringo Madlingozi is the only person who came to support me. The EFF even issued an official statement in support. Recently the party marched, calling for stadiums to be opened ... and for me that is consistency.
“Moreover, in its manifesto, the EFF spoke comprehensively about challenges facing artists. Julius Malema is the only person in the opposition parties who said the minister has failed the industry. The plan is to get to parliament and ask difficult questions to the department of sport, arts and culture and open a dialogue.”
Sipho Mbele, a coordinator of the ANC branch in Fourways, said: “Yes, Eugene was once a member of the ANC but he has not been active in the ANC for more than four years. We wish him well in his new journey.”
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