Nkunjana to crack the activist whip

INTENDS DRIVING THE REBUILDING AND RENEWAL OF ANC COMMUNITY SUPPORT

- Brian Sokutu

For Ekurhuleni council whip Pelisa Nkunjana, activism is in her blood – her father was one of the founding members of the Federation of South African Trade Unions, forerunner of SA's largest labour federation, the Congress of SA Trade Unions.

But unlike some who have relied on anti-apartheid struggle family ties to quickly move up the political leadership ladder, Nkunjana has not assumed to be entitled to any senior party or government position.

In the past, Nkunjana has been deployed by the ANC to serve in various capacities, including being on the city of Ekurhuleni's mayoral executive and in the legislature.

She has now been chosen to whip the council and the executive into line – adopting a zero-tolerance approach to poor performance and unaccountability.

Part of her role includes being responsible for maintaining cohesiveness among all political parties represented in the council, facilitating dispute resolution and allocating councillors to legislature committees in consultation with party whips.

She also works with the leader of government business and sits on the programming committee, making allowance for the presentation of diverse political views in council.