Former Orlando Pirates striker Mbuyane to stand in Tshwane local elections

Former Orlando Pirates striker Thulasizwe Mbuyane is entering politics and will contest the local government elections in November as a councillor candidate in Tshwane.

Mbuyane, who was part of Orlando Pirates’ treble-winning side, is standing for Ward 67 in the Tshwane Metro on behalf of the Economic Liberators Forum South Africa (ELF-SA).

The former league champion says his decision is driven by a desire to serve his community in Mamelodi, Pretoria, rather than by personal publicity, financial gain or a need to remain occupied.

His campaign has already featured on a political poster as he seeks to win a seat in the local elections.

“I did not enter politicsto 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 said his interest in politics developed during his playing career, although the demands of football restricted the amount of campaigning he could do.

“When I was a footballer, I was somewhat involved with people in politics,” Mbuyane exclusively toldIOL Sporton 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.”

The former Orlando Pirates player said his long-standing involvement in township initiatives eventually prompted him to consider taking on a more direct role in public service.

“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 says he has drawn encouragement from people who have moved successfully from sport and entertainment into politics. Among the examples he cited was former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, who became president of Liberia after ending his 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.”

He also referred to musician Ringo Madlingozi, who served in Parliament with the EFF, as evidence that former footballers could make a similar transition.

“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.”

Football and politics

Mbuyane insists that his political ambitions will not end his involvement in football. Instead, he hopes to continue working in the game while pursuing his political responsibilities, pointing to SAFA president Danny Jordaan as an example.

“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 pursued several different roles during and after his football career. He began as a referee before becoming a player and has since moved into podcasting.

He currently co-hosts the football programme Onside: Back 2 Kasia with Steve Lekolea and presents alongside 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.”