By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@Dr_MakhosiKhoza.
Former African National Congress (ANC) member Makhosi Khoza has joined Abantu Batho Congress (ABC) where she will serve as the deputy president.
Khoza was unveiled by the party leader Philani Mavundla during the press briefing in Durban on Tuesday.
She started her own party in 2017, African Democratic Change (ADeC), but resigned less than six months later.
In 2022, Khoza — who at the time was serving as ActionSA’s eThekwini councillor — was replaced by the partner in an acrimonious and very public split. She had accused ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba of allowing the DA in eThekwini, which at the time was in a coalition with ActionSA, to “bully” her.
After her stint at ActionSA, Khoza, who is also a former Msunduzi Municipality deputy mayor, ventured into business. However, she said the state in which the country was in made it difficult for her to stay out of politics.
Mavundla also announced the newly-appointed members who would form part of the party’s national executive committee (NEC).
The former National Freedom Party (NFP) Mayor of eDumbe local municipality, Bonginkosi Nxusa, and Jackie Shandu have been appointed into senior positions in the ABC party ahead of the elections.
Shandu is the new deputy secretary-general. Mbuso Mtshali, reverend Nhlanhla Gcwabaza, Princess Nonhlanhla Zulu-Dindi, Nduna Ngcobo, and Raymond Letlaka, were also announced as new members.
The changes come after an internal fallout where a caucus led by former national chairperson Bhungu Gwala allegedly wanted to expel Mavundla.
This happened after the party’s 2023 national general congress (NGC).
There had been speculation that Khoza would join the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, backed by former president Jacob Zuma,, before being roped into the ABC party.
Khoza fell out with the ANC in Parliament after vowing to vote with her conscience when Zuma was facing a vote of no confidence.
She was then removed as a chairperson of the portfolio committee of the Public Service Administration and eventually left the ANC in 2017.