Former ANC heavyweight and ex-eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede has embarked on both a new political and spiritual journey after being unveiled as the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s KwaZulu-Natal deputy convenor and recently being baptised into the Shembe Church.
Gumede, a long-serving ANC leader and former eThekwini regional chairperson, was officially introduced as one of the MK Party’s newest high-profile recruits during a media briefing in Durban on Monday. Her appointment places her among the party’s top provincial leadership ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The announcement was made by MK Party Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo, who welcomed Gumede into the organisation and praised her political credentials.
“We’re giving you a very warm reception because you have unquestionable credentials in the politics of KwaZulu-Natal and in the politics of South Africa,” Nomvalo said.
“We know that you are coming with a very positive paradigm shift and a very positive contribution in the MK Party. Let’s join our hands in building this strong ship of the left.”
He added that the party continues to attract members from across the political spectrum.
“In the MK Party, we are welcoming new members every day. We are welcoming new members because this is the only alternative voice of the left. This is the only remaining voice of the voiceless in South Africa,” he said.
Gumede, who served as eThekwini mayor and was one of the ANC’s most influential leaders in KwaZulu-Natal, declined to explain what prompted her departure from the governing party.
“Please can I be excused from responding to those questions. The only thing I will say is that I am grateful to be welcomed with such warmth in this organisation,” she told reporters.
Her move to the MK Party comes after maintaining a relatively low political profile following the ANC’s step-aside rule, which was implemented while she faces an ongoing corruption trial linked to the Durban Solid Waste tender. Gumede has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case remains before the courts.
Away from politics, Gumede has also publicly embraced a new spiritual path after being baptised into the Shembe Church, formally known as the Nazareth Baptist Church. The baptism marks what supporters have described as a significant new chapter in her personal life, as she joins one of South Africa’s largest African-initiated churches, renowned for blending Christian teachings with Zulu cultural traditions.
Her dual transition, from the ANC to the MK Party and into the Shembe faith, signals a major personal and political shift for one of KwaZulu-Natal’s most recognisable political figures as the province’s political landscape continues to evolve ahead of November’s municipal elections.
