By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) deputy president Nqabayomzi Kwankwa was officially announced as the party’s mayoral candidate for the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality on August 15, 2026.
This is part of UDM’s strategy to strengthen its voter base in key metropolitan areas ahead of the upcoming local government polls.
The African National Congress (ANC) holds the majority of seats in the Buffalo City municipal council, under the mayorship of Princess Faku.
Residents painted a grim picture of broken infrastructure and unfulfilled promises stretching back decades.
UDM president Bantu Holomisa made the official announcement at the Phakamisa Sports Field in the Eastern Cape on Saturday.
Holomisa said, “The parties claim the disregard of the rule of law by municipalities in the province is proof that change is indeed needed.”
The general also welcomed over 1200 members joining the UDM .
UDM has already launched their manifesto in KuGompo City, making their intentions clear about the Metro.
Kwankwa was formerly a member of the ANC, the ANC Youth League, and he participated in South African Student Congress (SASCO) activities although he prioritised his academic work over political activities.
Hemattended the University of the Western Cape, where he obtained a Business Administration Degree.
He left the ANC in 2006 when he joined the United Democratic Movement (UDM) in 2007.
Kwankwa started his career in the UDM as a member of the support staff until he was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2013. He then became the Chief Whip of the party in 2014, and he had been the youngest Member of Parliament during that term and the youngest Chief Whip in the history of the democratic South Africa.
He completed a Post Graduate Degree in Economics from the University of South Africa, and a management executive programme at the University of Pretoria, as well as financial management.
Kwankwa founded the African Parliamentarians Association for Human Rights (AfriPAHR) in 2017, which is a non-partisan network of parliamentarians from the African continent that works to advance democracy, freedom of religion or belief and human rights to build a fairer and inclusive Africa, through diplomacy and fostering strategic alliances between nations. He currently serves as the Chair of the AfriPAHR Steering Committee.
He was re-elected as a Member of Parliament in 2019 when he as the UDM’s Chief Whip in Parliament. He was re-elected as a Member of Parliament in 2024. He currently serves as a full-time member of the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy and the Standing Committee on Appropriations.
Today, in Phakamisa Sports Field – Buffalo City Metro Municipality, we welcomed over 1200 members joining the @UDmRevolution and further announced the UDM Deputy President Hon @N_Kwankwa as the BCMM Mayoral Candidate towards the #LGE2026.
Congratulations Tshawe, simi nawe!… pic.twitter.com/N5xEX0BMQr
— Bantu Holomisa (@BantuHolomisa) August 15, 2026
Holomisa has also formally requested the intervention of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) and the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education over nearly R4 billion in contracts and expenditure involving Khumzi Investments and the Eastern Cape Department of Education.
Holomisa has raised alarm over what he describes as “extraordinary and deeply troubling” spending patterns, particularly the reported R3.4 billion allocated to travel and accommodation over a five-year period.
He insists that Parliament must demand the complete documentary record of the reported R3.95 billion in contracts, reconciling contracted amounts against actual services delivered and measurable benefits to the education system.
With the countdown to the Local Government Elections underway, political parties are stepping up their campaigns and unveiling the leaders they hope will win over voters.