Incoming SRC president from Wits University Nompendulo "Ulo" Mkhatshwa is the cover girl for December edition of Destiny magazine. Mkhatshwa rose to prominence during #FeesMustFall movement which initially started as #WitsFeesMustFall. There is nevertheless, a growing discontent amongst student population that Mkhatshwa shouldn't have been made a cover girl for Destiny magazine.The argument is that this would unfairly idolise her as the face of #FeesMustFall. Mkhatshwa's detractors claim she was not the sole leader of #FeesMustFall movement, that she shouldn't have worn her trade-mark ANC headscarf when she posed for Destiny magazine camera and that she has generally sold out on the students'movement.
Nompendulo Mkhatshwa was one of the four prominent leaders of #FeesMustFall movement who included Mcebo Dlamini, Shaeera Kalla and Fassiha Hassan. There is a myriad of reasons that made Mkhatshwa more conspicuous than her co-leaders and that's probably why she got the nod as Destiny magazine cover girl. 22 year-old Mkhatshwa is the incoming SRC president at Wits University and represents the future of student politics at Wits. She has always been glowing with her trade-mark ANC headscarf which she wore religiously throughout fees protests.
Though a research intern at ANC's headquarters, she didn't kowtow to her ANC masters when she led a protest march to hand over a memorandum. She remained resolute in her demands as she handed a memorandum to ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe. As a black female leader, she invoked nostalgic memories of struggle heroines like Lilian Ngoyi and Winnie Mandela. It also made business sense for Destiny to align its brand with Mkhatshwa after her pictures leading the march went viral.
Personal attacks on Mkhatshwa's persona are unfortunate and warrant no further engagement. She has always been open with her SASCO membership and allegiance to ANC from the onset and nobody had a problem with her preferred political path until she made it to Destiny's cover page. She's called a sell-out for branding herself as the face of #FeesMustFall movement. What her detractors fail to elucidate is that she didn't approach Destiny magazine but, the opposite occurred.
Mkhatshwa was meticulous in marshalling her brigade to Luthuli House without resoting to violence. Suffice it to say, Mkhatshwa is a lioness that resuscitated a feminine touch in the broad mass democratic revolution.
Mngcineni "Mambush" Noki popular as "The man in green blanket", was paraded as the face of Marikana massacre though he wasn't the only one who died on fateful August 16 2012. If people claim that Mkhatshwa is being branded as thee face of #FeesMustFall, I dare say she has earned her stripes. I'm also glad that she remained loyal to her true colours as she posed for Destiny camera in her signature ANC headscarf despite being asked to choose neutral colours.
Every movement at one stage or another is given a face as it gains momentum. Nelson Mandela was universally regarded as the face of 1964 Rivonia trial though he wasn't the only accused who stood trial. My one message for Mkhatshwa's detractors #JealousyMustFall.
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