ANC regional Secretary in Dr Ruth Mompati region, Gaolatlhwe Kgabo
By KEDIBONE MOALETSI
The ANC in Dr Ruth Mompati region has produced the youngest regional secretary across the country. Gaolatlhwe Kgabo was elected as the regional secretary during ANC regional elective conference held at All Seasons Resort in Christiana recently.
Kgabo, who regard himself as Marxist-Leninist scholar with a scientific approach to life in general, believes that the world is constantly changing and people need to adapt to those changes as ‘agent of transformation’.
“I have conviction that all challenges facing us as the people of South Africa and the world are systematic and structural. I started my political activism at the age of 15 when I joined Congress of South African Students (Cosas) back in 2004.
“I was a learner at Lerona Secondary School at Utlwanang location in Christiana. I decided to join school politics after we encountered unequal skewed curriculum and lack of necessary tools of trade to simplify teaching and learning processes. The Lerona School was the only secondary in our area,” he said.
Kgabo added that overcrowding was a challenge as learners were cooped like sardines in classes. He said the school had no computer laboratory, library, sports facilities and teaches untransformed curriculum.
“I began to be critical about the situation because being quiet will results in reproduction of poverty and inequality. I am a political activist who has received the necessary ideological training from intellectuals like Mphato Morapedi Melamu,” said Kgabo.
A 29 year-old politician joined the YCLSA in 2009 and established the first YCLSA structure in Christiana. He was then elected as YCLSA district secretary in J Nkosi district, known as Dr Ruth Mompati region in 2012.
“I was later elected as the YCLSA provincial chairman in Bokone Bophirima until 2016. I joined the ANCYL and ANC in 2007 where I was later appointed as the ANC Branch task team member in 2009.
“I was also elected as the ANC branch chairman in 2010 until 2014 at Johnny Pitso Branch in Christiana. I was elected as Lekwa-Teemane ANC sub-regional chairman and now I am serving as a councillor in Dr Ruth Mompati District municipality back in 2016,” he said.
Kgabo is serving as a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Engineering and Technical Services. He also elected as the SACP District Executive Committee member in 2016.
“It is not a coincidence that I am the youngest regional secretary. In fact, I believe that this is a sign that shows that the ANC is starting to be younger. I grew up on a farm in Free State province and I could see what our parents were subjected to,” Kgabo said.
“Education broadens your understanding and we need to understand how the world operates to sharpen our approach. I have completed my Matric in 2006 and due to financial constraints, I could not further my studies,” he said.
However, he is now a first year student at the North West University (NWU) studying BA Degree in Public Administration. Kgabo said he wants to complete his Master Degree before turns 35.
The Guardian 