Thulasizwe Mbuyane did not enter politics to chase clout, secure a paycheck, or simply stay busy. Instead, he joined to serve as a voice for the voiceless and to drive meaningful change, especially in his community of Mamelodi.
Mbuyane was recently featured on a campaign poster, running for councillor of Ward 67 in the Tshwane Metro. Representing the Economic Liberators Forum South Africa (ELF-SA), he is campaigning ahead of the local elections this November.
The former Orlando Pirates league champion is determined to bring change to his hometown of Mamelodi, Pretoria, emphasising that his entry into politics goes beyond mere hype. It is a field he has been personally invested in for some time.
“When I was a footballer, I was somewhat involved with people in politics,” Mbuyane exclusively told IOL Sport on Wednesday. “But due to my schedule, I was limited in how much I could campaign. I mostly supported others by speaking at their community events.”
“Because I am deeply rooted in township life, I would always help with community projects. Having done that before, I began to ask myself ‘why I couldn’t do it again to drive real change’. I started to believe that people would take us seriously.”
Mbuyane has not had to look far for inspiration. He points to several former and current entertainers who have successfully transitioned from sports or music to public office, including former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, who became the president of Liberia after his sucessful playing career.
“That is what we want to achieve,” Mbuyane said. “If you are in a position where you want to interact more with the community and you can see that you can contribute through your expertise, those are your inspirations. If George Weah can do it, so can I.”
“At one point, we had musicians like Ringo (Madlingozi) in Parliament with the EFF, so why can’t former soccer players do the same? I don’t see anything stopping us.”
Involvement in politics does not mean Mbuyane is abandoning the game. In fact, he hopes to balance both roles, following in the footsteps of figures like SAFA president Danny Jordaan.
“Danny Jordaan is an ANC member,” Mbuyane noted. “He runs Safa; there are many examples like this. Politicians have their own interests, but ultimately, it is about doing the job for all citizens – regardless of whether they follow football, rugby, or cricket. The common goal is to deliver for the people.”
Mbuyane has never shied away from exploring new avenues, both before and after his professional football career. He started as a referee before becoming a player, and he recently launched a career in podcasting. He currently co-hosts the football podcast Onside: Back 2 Kasi alongside Steve Lekolea and host PD Jokes.
“I am still doing the podcast,” Mbuyane stated. “That doesn’t stop me from speaking about football, both in South Africa and abroad. I will continue to be vocal about what I believe football deserves. That won’t change, but I will push myself to learn as much as I can about the political space.”
