Tired of all the same old politicians crowding the scene this election? In our series of interviews with young activists from various parties taking part in the May 7 elections we give you a heads up on some people who may one day be our country's leaders, in our parliament and our legislatures.
Political Profile
Name: Khotso Mofokeng
Age: 24
Joined: Cope
”We don’t play shot put with kaffirs.”
This is what Khotso Mofokeng heard about him, in Afrikaans, from a white boy when his township school competed against another school. He describes this as a defining moment as he had to take control of his anger in the face of disrespect.
“I hated injustice, and I still do” says Khotso, 24, whose name means “peace” in Sotho. When he looked back and saw that he had to rise above the situation, which influenced one of his mantras in Congress of the People (COPE), saying: “We have to use our brains to fight.”
On the 6th floor of the Metropolitan building in Marshalltown, Khotso Mofokeng says the Acting General Secretary is in the same office where he started his career at COPE as a volunteer. He points to the post-it notes on the wall across from him. The notes are obscured by boxes of COPE t-shirts and pamphlets, making the office appear much smaller than it is.
He joined the party on January 10 2010, even though the LLB law student at Unisa says: “Law was boring. I wanted politics” and that “politics is in my veins.”
In April 2011, the region felt that he acted outside of his jurisdiction by checking the membership credentials of COPE members at a meeting.
He was then demoted and suspended for doing something he thought was the right thing to do, and in line with the party’s constitution. He was depressed, but didn’t give up hope. He persevered and was later promoted to his current position.
Khotso grew up in Bethlehem but moved to Johannesburg to work for COPE.
Khotso faced opposition from his parents and from within his party. His taxi driver father and teacher mother were not happy with his decision to join COPE. He tells of how his father banned him from bringing any COPE merchandise into their home.
“When I started Youth COPE they were always supportive but my father said ‘No, I don't want COPE in my house. You were with the ANC now you’re with this COPE that I don’t understand’”.
When they saw his commitment to the party, they grew to support him, and are even supporters and campaigners for the party too.
He refers to himself as a servant of the people. He says: “A servant doesn’t complain or fight. A servant is always ready. Do more and ask less. A soldier does not ask questions, just clarity, meet expectations and deliver. Politicians moan and mope. I don’t do things on behalf of people, I do things with people.”
But if COPE sends him to parliament he would do his best to make it work, because, as he said “Me being in parliament would just be me leaving this.” he said, pointing to his office.
“Those big buildings won’t blind fold me or make me forget where I came from.”
"We have to use our brains to fight": young political activist
Tired of all the same old politicians crowding the scene this election? In our series of interviews with young activists from various parties taking part in the May 7 elections we give you a heads up on some people who may one day be our country's leaders, in our parliament and our legislatures.
Political Profile
Name: Khotso Mofokeng
Age: 24
Joined: Cope
”We don’t play shot put with kaffirs.”
This is what Khotso Mofokeng heard about him, in Afrikaans, from a white boy when his township school competed against another school. He describes this as a defining moment as he had to take control of his anger in the face of disrespect.
“I hated injustice, and I still do” says Khotso, 24, whose name means “peace” in Sotho. When he looked back and saw that he had to rise above the situation, which influenced one of his mantras in Congress of the People (COPE), saying: “We have to use our brains to fight.”
On the 6th floor of the Metropolitan building in Marshalltown, Khotso Mofokeng says the Acting General Secretary is in the same office where he started his career at COPE as a volunteer. He points to the post-it notes on the wall across from him. The notes are obscured by boxes of COPE t-shirts and pamphlets, making the office appear much smaller than it is.
He joined the party on January 10 2010, even though the LLB law student at Unisa says: “Law was boring. I wanted politics” and that “politics is in my veins.”
In April 2011, the region felt that he acted outside of his jurisdiction by checking the membership credentials of COPE members at a meeting.
He was then demoted and suspended for doing something he thought was the right thing to do, and in line with the party’s constitution. He was depressed, but didn’t give up hope. He persevered and was later promoted to his current position.
Khotso grew up in Bethlehem but moved to Johannesburg to work for COPE.
Khotso faced opposition from his parents and from within his party. His taxi driver father and teacher mother were not happy with his decision to join COPE. He tells of how his father banned him from bringing any COPE merchandise into their home.
“When I started Youth COPE they were always supportive but my father said ‘No, I don't want COPE in my house. You were with the ANC now you’re with this COPE that I don’t understand’”.
When they saw his commitment to the party, they grew to support him, and are even supporters and campaigners for the party too.
He refers to himself as a servant of the people. He says: “A servant doesn’t complain or fight. A servant is always ready. Do more and ask less. A soldier does not ask questions, just clarity, meet expectations and deliver. Politicians moan and mope. I don’t do things on behalf of people, I do things with people.”
But if COPE sends him to parliament he would do his best to make it work, because, as he said “Me being in parliament would just be me leaving this.” he said, pointing to his office.
“Those big buildings won’t blind fold me or make me forget where I came from.”
Click here to learn about another young activist
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