Robert Gumede

Robert Gumede (born 9 August 1963) is a South African businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder of the IT firm Gijima Technologies and its holding company Gijima Group.

Early life Robert Gumede was one of seven children raised by his mother and grandmother in the town of Nelspruit, South Africa. Gumede was employed as secretary by the Ministries of Justice and Public Works in the KaNgwane government, working in David Mkhwanazi's office.

Business career In 1988 Gumede left his job with the Ministry of Justice due to his political activities during apartheid, starting his business career when he founded Gijima Electronic And Security Systems. Gumede's most successful venture was the IT company he set up in 1997 that successfully received government tenders to develop and deploy IT solutions for the Department of Justice and Correctional Services services and the Department of Home Affairs. The IT company was consolidated in 2002 into Gijima Afrika Smart Technologies (GijimaASTP), which went on to win additional tenders from the government owned telecoms monopoly Telkom to produce phonecards. In 2014 the Special Investigating Unit of South Africa concluded that a R360 million tender by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, and the State Information Technology Agency awarded to GijimaAST was irregular. The Daily Maverick alleges that Gumede is part of an economic elite in South Africa that owes its existence to a system of patronage created by the ANC.

In 2018 a Sunday Times article alleged that Gumede provided substantial support to Emmerson Mnangagwa's election campaign during the Zimbabwean general election that year. It is illegal in Zimbabwe for foreigners to fund local elections. Gumede strongly denied the accusation, calling it fake news.

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