GIYANI, Limpopo — In a major transition from the music stage to local government, legendary musician Papa Penny Penny has been officially unveiled as the Afrika Mayibuye Movement mayoral candidate for Giyani. The former Member of Parliament is bringing his grassroots leadership to the Greater Giyani municipality, focusing on critical service delivery and community development.
Eric Gezani Kobane, famously known by his stage name Papa Penny Penny, has long blended his music career with community service in the region. After previously serving as a ward councillor for the African National Congress (ANC) and later as a Member of Parliament for the MK Party, he has now aligned with Floyd Shivambu’s Afrika Mayibuye Movement to lead his home municipality.
The Greater Giyani municipality comprises more than 90 villages, each facing distinct local challenges. According to Penny Penny, the most pressing issue is access to water. However, local residents emphasize that economic stagnation is equally critical.
“One of the biggest challenges that you have in municipalities is a lack of work opportunities and a lack of infrastructural development,” a local resident noted. “You need to make sure that the leader who takes over power at this level understands that you need to create industries where our people will not be forced to leave our town to seek opportunities.”
Penny Penny says his primary priorities are service delivery and restoring the dignity of the people. He views his political shift not as a random move, but as a deeply thought-out decision driven by a desire for tangible, ground-level change.
Explaining his departure from the MK Party, Penny Penny stated that he left peacefully and was not fired. He expressed frustration with his role in the national legislature, noting that parliamentarians were often restricted. “When I went to parliament, they put me on the bench. You can’t put me on the bench. I’m a ground force,” he explained, adding that his exit from the MK Party was also driven by frustrations over local municipal corruption.
Despite his national political experience, Penny Penny insists that his qualifications go beyond formal education. “It’s not about school. It’s about talent. It’s about gift. It’s about love,” he stated. “If you love people, you do what people want.” He frequently draws on his background, noting that he was born and raised poor, which fuels his empathy for struggling communities. He also offered sharp criticism of post-1994 educated elites, accusing some of using their education to enrich themselves through corruption while the masses remained impoverished.
For his fans, Penny Penny assures them that his iconic persona remains intact. Known for his colorful, festive-like gold suits—which he says represent the mineral wealth of Africa—and his unique dance style, he promises not to change his authentic self. He also revealed that he has over 10 unreleased songs in his studio. While his current focus is entirely on fighting for his people, he hinted at releasing new music after November to celebrate his political journey.
Political observers note that Penny Penny’s deep-rooted popularity could be a game-changer for his new party. A political analyst pointed out that while his fame might not be massive on a national scale, his immense support in the Giyani and surrounding Mopani areas provides a huge advantage for the Afrika Mayibuye Movement and other smaller political parties. The analyst compared this dynamic to the localized support former President Jacob Zuma enjoyed in KwaZulu-Natal, emphasizing that having prominent local leaders from a specific region significantly influences voter behavior at the municipal level.
With a crowded political field and voters spoiled for choice in the upcoming elections, Penny Penny remains unfazed by his critics. He views negative talk as free promotion. “When people talk about me, that is a present. They’re promoting me,” he said. “People know very well that I’m good. If you do something and you don’t have opposition, it means you are not doing well.”
As the election approaches, all political players are fiercely competing to earn the trust of the voters, leaving the final outcome of the Giyani mayoral race to be decided at the polls.
