Naledi Chirwa is a South African politician, actor, self-professed feminist and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament.
Background
Naledi Chirwa was born in Vosloorus and brought up in Mamelodi under the care of her grandmother and mother.
She obtained her BA Drama degree at the University of Pretoria. In 2017 Naledi was among the 200 Mail & Guardian Young South Africans.
Political Career
At the age of 15 Chirwa served as the Deputy President of the then Tshwane North College students representative council.
Naledi was a student activist and led the EFF Students Command. She also worked as the Media and Liaison Officer of the EFF.
She rose to prominence during the Fees Must Fall and Remember Khwezi movements that shook South Africa between 2015 and early 2017.
Criticism For Bushiri Association
In December 2019, Chirwa stoked controversy after a video circulated on social media showing her thanking the religious leader Shepherd Bhushiri for her election into parliament.
'' I wrote on a paper that I want to become a member of Parliament'' ''it was between myself, my mother and god of major one''😂😂not delegates of the EFF who nominated and voted for her !!I mean guerillas this should be an insult to Tshwane and Gauteng comrades who lobbied for Naledi chirwa to become a member of ParliamentI can tell this honourable member is paid for this. But to lie in the name of EFF ground forces and their hard work!!She approached bushiri for funding towards the NPA in December and Bushiri wanted this in return. Now the hard of ground forces is being used so that Naledi can make it to the CCT. Comrades naledi has never been a member of bushiri's Church.The CIC does not play – the person with the highest monetary value makes it to the top 5. Which in this instance it will Marshal Dlamini who paid 5 million for the EFF NPA Nasrec December 12 to become the secretary General of EFF in December.The rest like bo Naledi will have to pay some money to make it to CCT additionals. Its like that.
Posted by Sergio Malatji Tsietsi on Sunday, 29 September 2019
Following an incident where some EFF members knelt before party president Julius Malema at the party’s Elective Congress in December, Malema criticised the behaviour of EFF leaders that kneel before him, religious and traditional leaders saying that they were abdicating their responsibility to lead. The comments were seen as directed at Naledi Chirwa.
It was clear that Julius was not impressed with delegates genuflecting before him. He sure put them in their place. pic.twitter.com/EXrDVN9Dbf
— Thabiso TT Tema (@ThabisoTema) December 15, 2019
Feminist Activism
Chirwa is a supporter of the This is my Vagina movement which is a fight against the sexual abuse of women in South Africa.
Personal Life
Naledi Chirwa has a son. She has said that her mother and grandmother have always been supportive of her activism and political career as “activism has always defined the nature of my family and thus my views.”
Related Links
- Naledi Chirwa on Twitter: @NalediChirwa
Image credit: riseblackgirl.wordpress.com