Legendary South African songbird Thandiswa Mazwai has rubbed salt to injury commending kwaZulu-Natal supporters for voting the ANC out of power.
Mazwai was completing her Sankofa album at Durban Playhouse when she made the remarks, giving the middle finger to the 112-year-old liberation movement.
“Angithi besithe siyawakhipha amasela nenze njalo,” Mazwai said to a loud applause from her fans, who had packed the venue to a full capacity.
Removing the thieves
The message, loosely translated in English, means: “We had said we are removing the thieves and that what you did.”
The former Bongo Maffin lead vocalist also threw jabs at Gauteng voters saying: “Manje sebenzani eGauteng? ( what are they doing in Gauteng?).
For the first time under the democratic dispensation, the ANC lost its majority in kwaZulu-Natal. It was reduced to a third party in the province. After close to 100% of votes counted, the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party was in pole position with 1,585 429 votes of the total 3,495 793.
ANC concedes KZN loss, vows to self-reflect
ANC KZN spokesperson Mafika Mndebele conceded the outcome. He admitted that the party had not expected that it support will dwindle by such a big margin.
“We do not regard this as a defeat, but a protest vote from our people. [They] were dissatisfied with issues such as water shortages and electricity. For us, this is the time to self-reflect,” said Mndebele.
Mazwai was in Durban to promote his album after a long time not releasing any new music. According to Mazwai Sankofa in a Ghanian language, Twi. It means: “Go back and fetch what’s been left behind and what needs healing.”
The album is also a way of celebrating 20 years since releasing her debut album Zabalaza. The album was recorded in three cities. In New York, Dakar (Senegal) and Johannesburg. It combines the rich sounds of Xhosa music, West African rhythms and jazz.
