Goodhope Dlangamandla | goodhope@radioislam.co.za
30 November 2022 | 13:15 PM CAT
2 min read

Photo Credit: Rivonia Circle

After the Rivonia Circle Think Tank announced that it is launching a political movement to run in the 2024 elections, another player will be in the national polls.

According to the former editor and chairman of Rivonia Circle, Songezo Zibi, the organisation would not become a political party be instead started a campaign with the hashtag #SAMustRise that would appear on the ballot in the upcoming elections.

“A political movement needs to be concerned with local issues. Whether there is a vote or not, we constantly implement, develop, and think of solutions at the community level.”

Zibi stated in an interview with Radio Islam International that the movement aims to include leaders with a proven track record of offering solutions rather than making promises.

According to Zibi, some movement’s objectives include creating a new political culture in which elected officials answer to the people rather than to political parties and creating an economy that works for everyone, not just a select few.

To facilitate a Mobilising People’s Power to Rise workshop, the Rivonia Circle gathered approximately 500 patriotic South Africans Saturday at locations in Johannesburg, East London, Mthatha, Mahikeng, and Durban; according to Zibi, this is how the concept was born.

He said that attendees agreed to mobilise a million people for the Rivonia Circle’s rise campaign, which is set to exist as early as next year.

“It is simple to declare that we want to create a political movement, but 600 people do not move. When many South Africans adopt our ideology, we have a movement.”

The president of the UDM, Bantu Holomisa, Reverend Frank Chikane, the organiser of Defend our Democracy, Faeeza Lok, the creator of Voice of the People, and Neeshan Balton, the executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, were among the speakers and attendees.

Listen to the podcast with host Ml. Sulaimaan Ravat and his guest, former editor and chairman of Rivonia Circle, Songezo Zibi, on Sabahul Muslim.