Mbalula says he was 'aware for some time' that former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede would join Zuma's party

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, who testified at the TRC Cases Inquiry on Wednesday, has revealed that the party has been aware for some time of the MK Party's intentions to recruit former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede. This week, the MK Party, led by Jacob Zuma, unveiled Gumede as a prominent candidate for the upcoming local government elections, scheduled for November.

Speaking to members of the media after his testimony before the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry, probing allegations of political interference in the investigations of TRC-related matters, Mbalula said Gumede's decision will not take away from the party's preparations for the upcoming local government elections in November.

"At the end of the day, with the upcoming local government elections, we knew that the MK Party would recruit her to be the face of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. It is fine, and the struggle continues. The ANC will continue to work to serve the people of this country and contest in eThekwini," Mbalula stated.

Addressing concerns regarding any potential rift, Mbalula clarified that the ANC holds no ill will towards either Jacob Zuma or the MK Party, stating, "We are not at war with Zandile. She has chosen her path, which is Jacob Zuma. It is fine. Despite anything else, we do not think there were any issues. For us, it is not really a shock."

Gumede was officially introduced as the KwaZulu-Natal deputy convener of the MK Party earlier this week by Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo, who expressed the party's enthusiasm for her appointment.

"Today, we wish to announce to South Africans, to the people of KwaZulu-Natal, to the membership of the MK Party, that we are officially announcing uMama uZandile Gumede as the deputy convener of KZN," Nomvalo declared at a press briefing.

Meanwhile, Mbalula provided updates regarding the ANC's internal processes for selecting mayoral candidates across significant metropolitan areas, including Durban. "It is a rigorous process. We are almost done with the metros. We are finalising them today. By Monday, we will be done with the secondary cities. We are almost done all over the country," he explained.

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