Mmbara Hulisani Kevin

Mmbara Hulisani Kevin (born 1979) is the former President (2007–2009) of PAYCO (the Pan Africanist Youth Congress), a youth wing of PAC (Pan Africanist Congress Of Azania) in South Africa. Hulisani made news headlines when he took a defiant stance against the current president of PAC (Mr. Letlapa Mphahlele), even going to the extent of calling for his resignation.[3]

Hulisani Kevin Mmbara
President of PAYCO
In office Oct 2007 – Nov 2009
Vice President	Sipho Nkala[1]
Preceded by	Xaba Sbusiso
Succeeded by	Ndebele Linda
Secretary General of PAYCO
In office 2005–2007
Preceded by	Xaba Sbusiso
Succeeded by	Ndebele Linda
Chief Editor of Mayihlome News[2]
In office May 2009 – present
Personal details
Born	(1979-06-03) 3 June 1979 Phiphidi, South Africa
Political party	Pan Africanist Congress, Pan Africanist Youth Congress of Azania

Early life

Hulisani was born in the former homeland of Venda, in South Africa, in 1979.

Throughout his early life, there is no record to imply any interest in politics. It was only during high school, when Hulisani became the president of the SRC of Guvhukuvhu High School, in the village of Phiphidi in the former Venda; that it became apparent. His stay at the helm of the SRC was marked by a renewed politicalization of students who before had quietly lead their student lives. Unconfirmed reports places, a number of student marches in that school, during his reign as president of the SRC.

Politics

Background

It is not clear as to when did Hulisani became a member of the PAC and PAYCO in particular.

But before serving as the president of PAYCO, Hulisani held a number of positions within the ranks of the party including its student wing, PASMA and branches. He also served as the Secretary General of PAYCO before becoming the President[4]

Hulisani was also one of the voices that opposed the Floor-Crossing policy, championed and legislated by the ANC government, which allowed party representatives in parliament to move to another party while keeping their seat in parliament.[5]

Hulisani also worked as a Researcher for the Limpopo Legislature in 2003, working with Maxwel Nemadzivhanani.,[6] then Provincial chairman of PAC in Limpopo Province.

PAYCO Presidency

At a PAYCO National Congress held in Durban, under the theme "Mobilizing Youth Power to Build Socialism and African Unity", Hulisani was elected President of PAYCO succeeding its former president Sbusiso Xaba.

On March 2008, he condemned the racist video made by students from the Free State University. Of the acts portrayed in the video he said they "makes a mockery of the struggle against apartheid settler colonialism,"[7]

On 30 May 2009, Hulisani convened the 1st Mayihlome Annual Lecture, which was addressed by the former President of PAYCO, Mashao Matome. The lecture was used as a forum to discuss a new programme adopted by PAYCO called IOTA,[8] which is aimed at repositioning the PAC. On the same occasion an online News publication called "Mayihlome" was launched on WordPress, Hulisani currently serves as its Chief Editor.[9]

At the PAYCO Kimberly National Congress held in November 2009, Hulisani was succeeded by Ndebele Linda as president of PAYCO[10]

African Socialist International (ASI)

Hulisani, in his capacity as an official of PAYCO, has a relationship with the ASI, an international body of socialists who pursue a pan-African agenda. In 2006, he had a meeting with ASI Chairman Omali Yeshitela and others, on his visit to South Africa.[11]

Mayihlome News

On 30 May 2009 Hulisani, as President of the PAYCO launched Mayihlome News, an online Pan-Africanist journal. Initially Mayihlome News was hosted on the free Wordpress platform and in July 2014 it was moved to a self hosted platform. Mayihlome News has attracted Pan-Africanists worldwide giving insight into the Pan-Africanist political landscape in South Africa.

Controversies

A number of controversies has followed the election of Hulisani as president of PAYCO. Some even calling them politically suicidal:[12]

Call for Lethlapa Mphahlele to step down

9 January 2008: Hulisani, in a statement, called for the resignation of PAC president Lethlapa Mphahlele.[13] This position was met with strong objection among the leadership of the PAC, who even mentioned that PAYCOdid not qualify, as a component structure, to call for the resignation of the president of the organisation.[14] Some provincial PAYCOleaders distanced themselves from the decision and the pronouncement made by Hulisani, some even calling it unilateral.[15] However Hulisani insisted that the decision was not taken by his person but by the NEC of PAYCO, including the provincial leaders.

2009 General Elections

30 January 2009: a communication was made by the PAYCO NEC, to the members, on the decision to boycott the 2009 General Elections of South Africa so as to refuse the PAC votes.[16] This position received some opposition from within the Pan Africanist Youth Congress of Azania, and was also against the position of PAC, as it participated in the elections.

Education

Hulisani Holds an LLB(hons) from Unisa where he also completed his BJuris.[6]

References

1. PAYCO NEC List
2. Mayihlome News-About Us
3. "PAC 'facing leadership crisis'". News24 article. 9 January 2008. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
4. Africa Live. "An interview with Nyabinga Dzimbahwe of Uhuru News when Hulisani was Secretary General". Uhurunews.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
5. "A letter to the editor of Dispatch on floor crossing". Dispatch.co.za. 6 September 2005. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
6. http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/hulisani/mmbara Hulisani's profile in LinkedIn
7. http://70.84.171.10/~etools/newsbrief/2008/news0303.txt%5B%5D A newsBrief of the incident
8. IOTA stands for: Idiologize, Organize, for Takeover
9. "Mayihlome News". Mayihlome.wordpress.com. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
10. "History of PAYCO". payco.org.za. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
11. "Hulisani's article after the visit of Chairman Omali in UHURU News". Uhurunews.com. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
12. "A Feveronline report on Payco leaders against Hulisani Mmbara's decision". Feveronline.co.za. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
13. "Mail&Guardian Report on the call for Lethlapa Mphahlele to step down". Mg.co.za. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
14. "Report on Mail&Guardian on Hulisani's statement". Mg.co.za. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
15. "A Feveronline report on Hulisani's statement". Feveronline.co.za. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
16. "A communication on the position of PAYCO". Groups.google.com. Retrieved 6 September 2009.

Preceded by Xaba Sbusiso	President of PAYCO 2007–2009	Succeeded by Ndebele Linda
Preceded by Xaba Sbusiso	Secretary-General of PAYCO 2005–2007	Succeeded by Ndebele Linda