In a seismic political shift that underscores the deepening fractures within South Africa’s ruling party, former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede has formally severed ties with the African National Congress (ANC) and defected to the fledgling uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. The announcement, made at a packed press gathering in Durban on Friday, confirmed that Gumede has already assumed the role of Deputy Convener for KwaZulu-Natal—a position that instantly elevates her to a leading figure in the party’s ambitious plans to challenge the ANC’s dominance in the province.
Gumede’s departure is far from a quiet exit. Once a powerful figure within the ANC’s KZN structures and a staunch ally of former President Jacob Zuma, she has been at the center of political turbulence for years. Her tenure as eThekwiki Mayor ended amid a cloud of controversy following her arrest in 2019 on charges of fraud and corruption related to a municipal solid waste tender—charges she has consistently denied and which remain before the courts. While the legal battles continue, Gumede has repeatedly framed her prosecution as politically motivated, a narrative that has resonated deeply with MK Party supporters who view the ANC as having been captured by hostile forces.
The defection delivers a significant blow to the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, a province that has become a battleground for political loyalties ahead of the 2026 local government elections. Gumede commands a considerable grassroots following, particularly in the eThekwini metro and surrounding townships, where her populist rhetoric and defiance against party leadership have earned her a devoted base. Political analysts warn that her crossover could catalyze a wider exodus of disgruntled ANC members, many of whom feel alienated by the party’s internal purges and its perceived abandonment of radical economic transformation.
For the MK Party, Gumede’s arrival is a major coup. Launched in late 2023, the party has aggressively positioned itself as the true inheritor of the liberation struggle’s militant legacy, directly challenging the ANC’s historical authority. By securing a figure of Gumede’s political weight and name recognition, the MK Party signals its intent to not only erode the ANC’s electoral support but also to establish a credible governance alternative in KZN—a province where the ruling party has already seen its majority shrink in recent polls.
Gumede, in her first address as Deputy Convener, struck a defiant tone, vowing to “liberate KwaZulu-Natal from a government that has forgotten its people.” She accused the ANC of abandoning its founding principles and of using state institutions to silence its internal critics. Her new role places her at the forefront of the MK Party’s provincial campaign, tasked with organizing and mobilizing ahead of what promises to be a fiercely contested electoral season.
The ANC, meanwhile, has moved swiftly to downplay the defection, with provincial officials describing Gumede’s departure as “expected” and insisting that the party remains united and focused on service delivery. Yet behind the official statements, there is palpable concern. Losing a high-profile leader with deep roots in the province’s most populous metro is a symbolic and strategic setback that cannot be easily dismissed. As Gumede takes her place in the MK Party’s ranks, the political fault lines in KwaZulu-Natal grow wider, setting the stage for a volatile and unpredictable battle for the province’s future.
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