"Education is power." Makhosini Nkosi

Makhosini Nkosi

Born in Piet Ritief Mpumalanga, African National Congress  Mayoral candidate for Newcastle Local Municipality Makhosini Nkosi was born by Jacob and Jessey Nkosi. He was raised by his grandmother when he moved to Dundonald former Kwa-Ngwane Homeland, and his parents moved to Ermelo due to work purposes.

He is married to Nokuthula Mncube and they have two lovely children, Msizi (boy) and Afika (girl). Nkosi has other three daughters which he had before getting married, namely Lindelwa, Swazi and Ntando.

On a recent interview #Insight had with him he shared his life journey. As he outlined that he grew up like any other naughty boy in Dundonald and he attended the local schools in the area. He attended Esithembisweni Primary School, Ekuphakameni Higher Primary School, Ligugu Secondary and matriculated at Mabande Comprehensive High School in Ogies just outside Witbank.

The reason Nkosi changed from Ligugu Secondary to Mabande Comprehensive High School is that he was refused re-admission because he was involved in political unrest in 1985-1986. They organised marches and debates, and the school did not approve of that and that is why he went to Mabande to do his Matric.

After Mabande High School he went to study an LLB Degree at the University of Zululand. “I wanted to be a lawyer from a very young age, and all I knew was that a lawyer represents people.” Said Nkosi.

He said that at UZ that is when he was introduced to proper politics. “My father gave me an ANC exile newspaper, it had a history of Nelson Mandela. So I wanted to be affiliated with an organisation that speaks about Mandela.” Said Nkosi.

There was SASCO at his campus which was aligned with the ANC so he joined it because it was propagating the release of Mandela and others. He was part of the Students Representative Counsel (SRC) representing the Law Society. At some point he was the chairperson of the Law Society.

After completing his LLB Degree around 1993 he moved to Newcastle and started serving his articles at Mlotshwa and Partners. While serving his articles he became a chairperson of the ANC Central Branch in Newcastle. “I served in that branch for quite a long time, also served at the Regional Executive Committee of the ANC for three consecutive terms.” Said Nkosi.

He said that he did not only focus on politics but he also advance in his career as he was Commissioner in various counsels, acted as a Magistrate. In 1996 he started his own Law Firm Nkosi Attorneys which he ran for 13 years and his cousin brother took over later on. 

After that he was deployed by the ANC to work at the Newcastle Municipality as Head of the Legal Services for five years and thereafter he was deployed to Kwazulu Natal Provincial Parliament to serve there.

He also possesses a Diploma in Human Resource Management; Certificate in Finance Management, Certificate in Leadership and Governance and is currently in a process of completing his Honours in Public Management. He emphasised that education is power.

“I was not expecting to be nominated as Mayoral candidate, I never anticipated that I will be brought back to Newcastle by the ANC.” Said Nkosi. He also added that he knows the local government divisions and the challenges that it faces.

He emphasised that he is confident that his party will win the upcoming elections as they are doing well in most areas. He said he will look at Agri-business at it has potential in Newcastle but very difficult to sell it to the youth because it unattractive to them. “I believe that is one of the sectors we need to explore and also address the issue of land ownership.” Said Nkosi. He was highlighting few of the things he will address if he were to become Mayor, he also added that people who will get tenders are people who will be deserving to get them.

“I will make sure that Counsellors are not involved in the tender processes and I will create an e-mail for the community to report corruption anonymously. I will also appoint an external person who is not part of the Municipality to conduct the investigations.” Said Nkosi.

Sanele Mlotshwa who has been friends with Nkosi since 2006 said “Makhosini is open minded, intelligent and polite.” He added that he can be an intercessor, if students have problems they take them to him and he is able to deal with them accordingly.

Mike Dlomo a colleague he has worked with in the KZN Legislature could not be reached for comment by the time of going to publication.

Nkosi said he would like to see the Municipality having attained a clean audit status in the next five years. “I would also like to see an improved public participation for people to feel like they own the Municipality, an improved organised labor and management and for the town to attract investors that will create decent jobs”. Concluded Nkosi.