Madikizela, originally from the Eastern Cape had been a member of the ANC, and became prominent in 2005 when he led a group of disaffected ANC members in Makhaza, Khayelitsha who had been supportive of former Western Cape Premier, and ANC provincial chairman Ebrahim Rasool in his leadership battle with Mcebisi Skwatsha.
On 8 February 2009, the South African Police allegedly beat and tear-gassed Gugulethu residents who were holding a meeting about housing because the ANC provincial chairperson Mcebisi Skwatsha claimed they were disrupting voters registration.