Sihle Lonzi
Sihle Lonzi MP | |
|---|---|
| President of the EFF Students Command | |
| In office 24 July 2022 – 3 February 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Mandla Shikwambana |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Member of the National Assembly of South Africa | |
| Assumed office 14 November 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Busisiwe Mkhwebane |
| Constituency | Mpumalanga |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1997 or 1998 (age 26–27) |
| Education | South African College Schools |
| Alma mater | University of Cape Town (no degree) |
| Profession | Politician |
Shile Lonzi (born 1997 or 1998) is a South African politician who has served as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa since November 2024, representing the Economic Freedom Fighters party, of which he led the party's student wing from 2022 until 2024.
Background and political career
[edit]Lonzi matriculated from the South African College Schools in Cape Town in 2015 where he served as head boy and played for the school's first rugby team.[1] After matriculating, he went on to study economics and philosophy at the University of Cape Town where he became involved with the Rhodes Must Fall movement. He became allied with Sinawo Thambo and the two launched the EFF Students Command at the university.[2] He served two terms on the UCT Student Representative Council and was the provincial spokesperson of the EFF Student Command.[3]
In July 2022, Lonzi was elected president of the EFF Students Command.[4]
Parliamentary career
[edit]Following the resignation of Busisiwe Mkhwebane as an EFF Member of Parliament in October 2024, the party selected Lonzi to fill her seat.[5] He was sworn in on 14 November 2024.[6] Shortly afterwards, he was appointed to serve on the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture.[7]
In January 2025, Lonzi introduced a private member’s bill to Parliament that aims to clear all student debt in South Africa.[8]
On 3 February 2025, EFF leader Julius Malema announced that the EFF Students Command had been dissolved and replaced by a newly formed youth command following a resolution passed at the party’s National Elective Conference in December 2024.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "1stXV Team Stats for Wynberg Fixture". SACS RUGBY. 2015-06-17. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
- ^ "Elections 2024: The Under-45's Club". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
- ^ Lonzi, Sihle (2018-05-08). "Free education aftermath – they are coming for us one by one". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
- ^ "Campus politics: Why is one party winning so many elections?". University World News. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
- ^ Capa, Siyamtanda. "EFF Student Command president Sihle Lonzi to join party caucus in Parliament". News24. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
- ^ @ParliamentofRSA (November 14, 2024). "The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Annelie Lotriet today swore-in Members of the EFFSouthAfrica in the National Assembly, Mr Sihle Lonzi and Ms Tebogo Mokwele. :Phando Jikelo / Parliament of RSA" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Sihle Lonzi". People's Assembly. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
- ^ Selane, Enkosi (2025-01-10). "EFF wants to introduce bill to prevent students choosing either lifelong debt or unemployment". The Citizen. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
- ^ Goba, Thabiso. "EFF officially dissolves student command, replaces it with youth command". EWN. Retrieved 2025-02-03.