Durban - He may have fallen out of favour with his ANC comrades, but to the people he grew up with, Sihle Zikalala is a hero who brought about change.
This was how some of Zikalala's neighbours in his village of Nkumbanyuswa, in Ndwedwe, outside Tongaat, described him.
Zikalala’s political career took a nose dive last month when he lost the election to keep his position as chairperson of the ANC in KZN.
Added to that, he had to relinquish his position as premier to allow the new leadership to take over. While neighbours said they were not happy about his decision to resign, they were grateful for his contribution.
The rural village of Ndwedwe was among areas that experienced political violence during the transition to democracy and Zikalala played a role to bring about peace, they said.
While he moved out of the area due to the deployment by the ANC, locals said he frequently visited his double-storey house which stood unoccupied.
Nhlanhla Dladla, who referred to Zikalala as a cousin, said his impact on the community was massive as he started his political career while a teenager and pointed out schools, a creche and sports fields, which he said, were built as a result of Zikalala’s intervention.
“We have been with him, we know what is capable of. We are not where we would want to be, but we have come a long way. “This area was deserted and some of the things we see now we never thought they would come to us. So we would be ungrateful if we failed to recognise his contribution.
“I think his resignation was a given because he lost the conference. I was not surprised, I think he made a wise decision to step down and allow the new leaders to take over. He left in good spirits, and I hope he will be ready to take another deployment from the ANC,“ said Dladla.
Muzi Ngidi also believed that Zikalala had made an impact on his community. He made reference to the road under construction that cut across the village to the Ndwedwe town.
He said Zikalala was influential in getting the construction started. He also thanked him for putting their under-developed village on the spot, saying many people had visited the area because of Zikalala.
“We had a fearless man from a young age. Many people lost their lives here, but it comforts us that a leader of his calibre emerged from that situation,” said Ngidi.
Bheki Mfeka said water provision had been their biggest issue for a long time.
Villagers could be seen with buckets waiting for the water tankers which they said come once in a while.
But Mfeka said the main water pipe that would supply water to the whole area has been installed and some people had started getting water. “The timing of his resignation worries me because there are things that I wanted completed before he left. But I am happy for what he did throughout his career in the ANC,” he added.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE