DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal — Former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede has officially joined the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) as its new KwaZulu-Natal deputy convenor, a political shift that ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula says has not shocked the ruling party.
The announcement was made on Monday during a media briefing in Durban. MK Party Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo officially unveiled Gumede’s new role, describing her as a committed and experienced leader. Nomvalo stated that her appointment is expected to significantly strengthen the party’s leadership footprint within the province.
Gumede, who served as the mayor of eThekwini from 2016 to 2019, recently notified the ANC of her departure. According to Mbalula, the party received a letter from Gumede thanking the ANC for the part she played in the movement. However, the ANC leadership firmly disagrees with the reasons she provided for her exit.
Addressing the contents of her resignation letter, Mbalula pushed back against claims that the ruling party has lost its way. “To say that the ANC leadership has veered off the way, it’s incorrect,” Mbalula stated. He emphasized that the ANC leadership remains firmly on track to deal with difficult issues, including graft and corruption, and is actively working to rid the organization of any corrupt image.
While acknowledging that Gumede was once a “ground force” for the movement, Mbalula expressed regret over the trajectory of her political career. He noted that it is unfortunate that during the process of being assigned responsibilities by the movement, she found herself in the clutches of the law.
Mbalula reiterated that she had to be held accountable, noting that she is currently in court and was placed on the ANC’s “step aside” policy due to the party’s strict rules regarding members facing serious legal challenges. Despite her departure to join the MK Party, the ANC maintains that it is focused on its broader mandate and continues to navigate its internal accountability processes without deviation.
