'Uzalo' Star Mjimiseni Magubane Joins Politics: "The Community Doesn’t Need an Actor"
- Mjimiseni Magubane, known for his roles in Uzalo and Blood Legacy, has been nominated as an ATM councillor candidate in Durban
- The 49-year-old actor will contest Ward 7 in Ntshongweni in the 4 November local government elections
- Magubane previously held MKP membership before switching to ATM, citing his Christian faith as a key reason for the move
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Source: Instagram
Mjimiseni Magubane is best known for bringing characters to life on South African television screens, but the actor is now chasing a very different kind of role. The 49-year-old, recognised for his work in Uzalo, Blood Legacy and Smoke & Mirrors, has been nominated as an African Transformation Movement (ATM) councillor candidate for Ward 7 in Ntshongweni, Durban, ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
Speaking to Daily Sun, Magubane admitted the nomination came as a surprise, though he welcomed it as a sign of community trust.
"I took it as evidence that I'm being trusted to change the lives of the community. I don't believe a misbehaving person could be trusted to serve in such a position. This means I'm a disciplined resident who has the good interests of the community at heart," he said.
Mjimiseni Magubane on acting after joining politics
Magubane was quick to separate his entertainment profile from his political ambitions, insisting his celebrity status had no bearing on his selection. He argued that residents deserve someone who genuinely understands their daily realities rather than a familiar face from the small screen.
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"Acting is my career. It has nothing to do with community needs. The community doesn't need an actor but someone they can trust to change their embarrassing living conditions," he said.
Having grown up in Ntshongweni, Magubane said his firsthand experience of the area's problems shapes his political agenda. He pointed to crumbling roads, inconsistent water supply, power outages, vandalised schools and rising crime as the issues demanding urgent attention.
Mjimiseni Magubane on why he dumped MKP
Magubane's path to the ATM nomination included a prior membership in the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). He explained that the two parties had collaborated on community projects, which is how he initially ended up as an MKP member. His faith, however, ultimately steered him towards ATM.
The shift became more formal in July, when ATM cut ties with MKP and declared it would contest the November elections on its own.
Beyond his acting work, Magubane has earned industry recognition, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the 12th African Emerging Filmmakers Awards. Whether that discipline translates into political success remains to be seen when Ntshongweni residents head to the polls on 4 November.\
Source: Instagram
Isidingo actor George Nkabinde joins AEF Party
Meanwhile, Briefly News previously reported that George Nkabinde, known for his roles on Isidingo, The Queen and Rhythm City, swapped the screen for the political stage.
The actor, who is also a sangoma and an archbishop, left the ANC after more than two decades to join the African Economic Freedom Party and is running for office.
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Source: Briefly News
