Zandile Gumede says MK Party move gave her more freedom to serve communities

NewsSportLifestyleEntertainmentOpinionZandile Gumede says MK Party move gave her more freedom to serve communitiesNomonde Zondi|Published 32 minutes agoCopy to ClipboardAsk AIFormer chairperson of the ANC in eThekwini Zandile Gumede who is now MKP's deputy convenor in KZN and Jacob Zuma the MKP president and former head of State

Former ANC eThekwini chairperson Zandile Gumede says joining the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has given her the freedom to continue serving communities without the restrictions she faced under the ANC’s step-aside rule.

Gumede, who joined the MKP in July 2026, said she intended to continue the community work she had been involved in before stepping aside from her ANC duties, and would now be able to account for her efforts to improve people’s lives.

The former eThekwini mayor was arrested in May 2019 in connection with allegations of fraud and corruption relating to a R320 million Durban Solid Waste tender. She was affected by the ANC’s step-aside policy, which requires members facing criminal charges in court to step aside from their organisational duties.

Gumede said that, despite being required to step aside, she continued supporting vulnerable communities through a soup kitchen and the Mama Zandile Gumede Foundation.

She said the foundation helped pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds obtain school shoes at the beginning of each academic year. She also assisted Grade 12 learners who had passed matric.

“What was challenging is that I did not know where to report as I was told to step aside. Now that I am with the MKP, I will be able to help the communities freely,” she said.

Describing her role in the MKP, Gumede said she was a volunteer who wanted to do the groundwork.

Former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede outside Durban High Court on Monday. Gumede was attending her fraud and corruption case.

Speaking about the outcome of the local government elections, Gumede, who is the MKP’s provincial deputy convenor, said she was pleased with the party’s performance.

She thanked her comrades for their work, saying the party had won all the wards in Umlazi.

“A lot of people were convinced that we were not going to get Umlazi,” she said.

However, she said she was disappointed by the allocation of council seats through the proportional representation system.

“If it wasn’t for this, we would have an outright full majority of eThekwini, but now we have been backed into a coalition,” she said.

The MKP emerged as the largest party by vote share in KwaZulu-Natal, securing 34.4% of the provincial vote and 599 council seats across the province’s 44 municipalities.

The party won outright control of three municipalities, including Richmond, where it secured 56.27% of the vote. It also emerged as the largest party in 17 councils, but fell short of outright majorities in most municipalities.

In eThekwini, the province’s only metropolitan municipality, the MKP won 86 of the 223 council seats, making it the largest party but leaving it well short of the 112 seats required for an outright majority.

Despite the MKP topping the provincial vote, the IFP emerged as the leading party in more municipalities, leading in 18 and securing outright control of five. This left 34 of KwaZulu-Natal’s 44 councils without outright majorities, setting the stage for coalition negotiations.

Gumede attributed the MKP’s performance to teamwork, saying younger politicians could learn the importance of working collectively rather than taking individual credit for achievements.

She said the party’s focus was to work hard and improve service delivery for communities.

Gumede added that one of the lessons the party wanted to instil in younger members was respect for its structures.

She said members could also learn from MKP president Jacob Zuma, whom she described as a leader who stood with his people during both good and difficult times.