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I don't feel like a foreigner in Pretoria - South Africa's Thoko Didiza

South Africa

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress Tshwane mayoral candidate Thoko Didiza on Thursday said she has never been made to feel like a “foreigner” in the capital city.

This after she faced a backlash from residents of the city commonly known as Pretoria, subsequently taking to the streets burning property after she was named as candidate without being nominated by the regional branch for August local elections.

Tshwane residents are unhappy that Didiza is not originally from the city and would know nothing about its running.

This was the first time Didiza publicly spoke since her impromptu candidature.

“I’m actually a resident of Tshwane, I don’t feel foreign and therefore there is no way that I can feel aggrieved. Obviously in public office, when people have got some little issues sometimes they will say things that are out of turn. But one of the functions of leadership, is being able to rise above those,” she said

The number of dead has risen to 5, after police had earlier said they found two bodies.

Reuters

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