By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The former eThekwini Municipality executive mayor and African National Congress (ANC) veteran Zandile Gumede joined the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.
Gumede was unveiled on Monday during a media briefing held in Durban together with other members who have joined the MK party from other political parties.
She was also joined by former eThekwini head of tourism Phillip Sithole among others.
Gumede will serve as the MK Party’s Deputy Convener in KwaZulu-Natal despite being on trial for fraud and corruption related to a multi-million-rand waste removal tender scandal.
Announcing the appointment, MK Party Secretary-General Sibonele Nomvalo, described her as someone who has “unquestionable credentials in the politics of KwaZulu-Natal and in the politics of South Africa”.
“We know that you are coming with a very positive paradigm shift. You are coming with a very positive contribution in the MK party,” he said.
Gumede is the last elected ANC Ethekwini Chairperson and has represented the party as mayor of the metro and a member of the KZN legislature.
Over the past couple of years, Gumede has maintained a low political profile after being asked to ‘step aside’ by the ANC.
Asked why she decided to join the party, Gumede opted not to respond and instead expressed gratitude for the warm welcome.
She joins the party with a corruption case hanging over her head, as she and 21 co-accused face multiple charges in connection with an irregular Durban Solid Waste tender amounting to over R300 million.
Visibly excited party leader Jacob Zuma also expressed his happiness for getting a ‘big fish’ such as Gumede. Zuma called on all black people to unite and finally take the country back from the white people and others.
“We are happy to welcome you comrades. Now you are home from kwagogo (a term currently used to refer to their former political party, the ANC),” said Zuma.
Gumede’s appointment comes amid the finalisation of the MK Party’s councillor nominations candidates, which was completed at the weekend. The party called on all its structures and supporters to unite behind these candidates as it continues building a capable, people-centred movement.
The party continues its campaign to wrest control of KwaZulu-Natal after falling just short of governing the province after the 2024 general election.
The party emerged as the largest in the province, winning 37 of the 80 seats in the provincial legislature, ahead of the IFP (15), ANC (14), DA (11), EFF (2) and NFP (1).
Although the MK party had hoped for a decisive 50%+1 victory, its dispute over the election results delayed coalition negotiations, allowing the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP to form a governing coalition with a combined 41 seats, leaving the party in opposition.
The party was also reportedly locked out of its Durban headquarters over unpaid rent. Nomvalo dismissed the report as false.
As a party represented in Parliament, the MK Party receives funding from Parliament, provincial legislatures and from the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).
He also condemned the Legal Practice Council’s (LPC) application seeking to have former public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane struck from the roll of advocates.
The LPC recently launched the application at the Gauteng High Court, seeking an order to have Mkhwebane struck from the roll on 18 separate grounds, including allegations of dishonesty, incompetence and bias.
The council’s director Ignatius Briel argued Mkhwebane is not a fit and proper person to remain an advocate based on parliamentary findings.
Nomvalo addressed questions about Zuma’s recent trip to India, which has sparked speculation over the purpose of the visit after images of the former president abroad circulated on social media.
“The trip to India was a personal visit by the president. The fact that he’s the former head of state does not preclude him from visiting any area in the world. Everyone has a freedom to privacy,” he said.