“The ANC represents the aspirations of the people of South Africa and is a political, socio-economical, ideological and theoretical school of thought, with clear revolutionary consciousness,” he says. Being a community builder and activist, a cultural and heritage worker, he understood the need to address challenges facing our people. “I saw the MDM as a vehicle to rise against socio-economic injustice, oppression, and exploitation of man by another man”. His activism included work in the SRC, COSAS, Munsieville Youth Congress, and in civics and arts and cultural formations.
Lessons and values that remain useful to Cde Phido include discipline, patience, and strategy He replies, “Self-discipline, organisational discipline, political and military discipline, having a critical mind, using strategy and tactics, patience, sacrifice, service, high morals, and humility”
His generational mission is freedom
“Freedom in our lifetime (freedom or death) – victory is certain!”
The key roles he has played within the MDM include:
- SRC Chairperson
- Youth Congress Head Art & Culture
- SANCO Branch Chairperson
- ANC Branch Chairperson
- Zone 5 Chairperson
His hope for young South Africans is emancipation “Self-realisation, self-empowerment, self-emancipation economic freedom now”