Kwa-Zulu Natal-born DA Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), Mbali Ntuli’s, admiration for Mohammed Ali makes perfect sense as you watch her rise in politics. Read our special interview with the MPL below.

ChangeMaker (CM): Congratulations on scooping a One Young World ‘Politician of the Year’ award for being among five young leaders from around the world who are impressive, impactful, young politicians fighting for the best interests of young people in their communities! 

What does getting an award like this mean to you?

Mbali Ntuli (MN): It is a great honour. I am at a point in my life and career where I am really looking to do more impactful work and so I am hoping this award will give me the opportunity to get into spaces that are more challenging and meet some really inspirational people doing amazing things that I can even hopefully partner with someday.

I am not the type of person to squander any opportunity so I will be definitely looking to see how I can leverage this opportunity into doing some exciting things.

 

CM: This Women’s Month we are reminded of the shocking amount of violence against women and children in South Africa. Is it true that you fought for your life as a young girl after the tragic passing of your father, the founder of the KwaZulu-Natal Taxi Association?

MN: Yes, I fought for my life and continued doing so in many scenarios throughout my life many of them literally in life and death situations. I am very lucky to have had a strong mother like I did, it has made me a fighter, and it has made me care deeply about fairness and standing up to bullies. It is the only reason I have survived this long in politics. 

“I am very lucky to have had a strong mother like I did, it has made me a fighter, and it has made me care deeply about fairness and standing up to bullies.” – Mbali Ntuli, Member of the KZN Provincial Legislature

 

CM: What do you think needs to be done to empower our women?

MN: Where does one start, women are still so horribly oppressed in so many corners of the world that it is almost impossible to know where to start. In the workplace it would have to be fair and equal pay in  comparison to their male counterparts. At home it would be the awareness of their partners, extended families of the need to have true division of work that allows women to strive for and achieve their goals without the extra hindrance of invisible work squarely put on their shoulders. In general women need to be empowered to own their narratives, their bodies, their decisions and their aspirations even if it comes into conflicts with their cultures, religions, families and importantly not punished or killed for it. Lastly restorative justice in addressing how kept out of the economy women have been for millennia needs to be addressed because there is no greater travesty than denying half the population of the world freedom to exercise their rights as women have been.

 

CM: As opposition spokesperson on co-operative governance and traditional affairs in KwaZulu-Natal, what are your hopes for this portfolio?

MN: I am truly hoping to expose and possibly help change the state of municipalities in our beautiful province. I am also looking forward to being in spaces where women have not historically been given an opportunity to lead like some more traditional settings. I can’t wait to engage with Amakhosi and Izinduna in KZN because it is a great personal interest but also its intellectually, constitutionally and culturally such an interesting group of society’s leaders to observe given the parallel structures we have in KZN.

 

CM: What has been your “stay in power” method in politics? 

MN: Say what you believe even if its unpopular. 

Say it to somebody’s face.  

Be kind to people and genuinely try to help but the minute somebody stabs you in the back to never forget that hurt/frustration/anger and to use it firstly as a reminder to not do it to anybody else but also to remind yourself of that person’s true colours. 

Most people aren’t vindictive but there is a special breed in politics that thrives off personal vendettas and pettiness. These individuals must be treated with the contempt they deserve.

 

CM: What would you say is the best advice you have ever been given that you have kept with you throughout your career?

MN: My mom said “invest and treat your money like you won’t have a job tomorrow.” I am an aggressive saver, investor and hopefully wealth-creator. Lol she also did say “spend your money, live a lavish life, do fun things cause you could die tomorrow too”. She was right with both quotes and I think I have a healthy balance of both.

I never met him but basically everything Mohammed Ali has ever said about justice, fairness and the will to win truly keeps me going during the hard times.

CM: What do you want other young people who have similar aspirations to know?

MN: Life is hard but if you know yourself, nobody can make you doubt your worth no matter how hard they try. If politics is what you want to do then develop a thick skin, nerves of steel and no fear of conflict. Lastly know what you want to achieve. For me, it’s the hope of creating a movement or feeling of hope where our society can start to imagine and dream bigger than our individual selves, towards a daring world were we do great things, and pioneer paths never thought of before.

Well that and total world domination!!! Heheehehe