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After the ANC offered Criselda Dudumashe the chance to become a ward councillor, she had a tough choice to make when her bosses made it clear she couldn’t be a politician and a talk show host
SABC bosses have challenged Metro FM talk show host Criselda Dudumashe to choose between radio and a career in politics.
This is after she became the preferred ANC candidate for a ward councillorship.
City Press has learnt that Dudumashe was approached to become the councillor of Ward 132 in Midrand – a new ward that includes the posh neighbourhoods of Kyalami Estate, Kyalami Gardens, Kyalami Hills, Waterfall Country Lifestyle Village and Waterfall Equestrian Estate. It also includes the far less glamorous Leeuwkop Prison.
One of Dudumashe’s colleagues and another ANC insider, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity, told City Press that when she went to her SABC bosses to declare her candidacy, she was told that if she chose to be in politics, she would have to resign as a radio host at Metro FM.
This week, Dudumashe confirmed to City Press that she was approached by her branch in Midrand before the ANC councillor candidate nominations’ list came out.
“I had to choose between radio and politics. I would rather grow with a brand that I have established for years – fighting human rights and changing people’s lives,” said Dudumashe, who is also a motivational speaker.
“I don’t have ambitions to become a politician. It appears to me that you don’t have to be a politician to serve, but a mouthpiece of the community.”
Dudumashe said that she had always been politically conscious, but for her it had not been about gaining political status.
However, she said she was honoured that the party recognised her and her contribution.
“I won’t stop serving the country,” she said.
Dudumashe’s colleague told City Press that her bosses told her that if she accepted the offer of a ward councillorship, she would have to go off the air.
One of Dudumashe’s close friends told City Press that when she declared her nomination, she thought there would be no problem because her show was not a political show.
“Criselda deserves to be a councillor; she has been very loyal serving the ANC. But when she had to choose between her radio career and politics, she wasn’t disappointed with the outcome. She has since accepted it and moved on.”
Dudumashe is not the first celebrity to be offered a councillorship.
An ANC insider told City Press that the party had been recruiting a number of celebrities to stand as ward councillors to increase the party’s popularity with voters. But most celebrities have declined the offers because they can’t be celebrities and be in politics at the same time.
The insider declined to name names, however.
Dudumashe has always been an active member of the party, making regular appearances at ANC rallies.
Last week, she was one of the media personalities who appeared at the launch of the upcoming municipal elections hosted at The Market theatre in Newtown, Johannesburg.
So far, musicians and celebrities have been able to participate in various party rallies across the country without the pressure of declaring which political party they personally support or plan to vote for.
