Zandile Gumede

Politics

Her career included being a former ward councillor, executive committee member and chairperson of the Community and Emergency Services Committee. Gumede was elected as a proportional representative (PR) councillor for two terms before she became Amaoti councillor. In the eThekwini Municipality, she was also elected as treasurer from 2007 to 2015.

After 1994, Gumede worked in different community development organisations in Inanda, including the Inanda Civic Association, Inanda Development Forum, CPF and also a health organisation.

Her purchases of armoured vehicles has raised concern by some critics.

After nominating Mxolisi Kaunda Opposition parties criticised her appointment, while Duduzane Zuma, son of former president Jacob Zuma, congratulated her.

Alleged involvement in crime In December 2018, the Hawks, a South African criminal investigation unit, included Gumede in forensic investigations related to fraud, money laundering and corruption during her tenure, and personal involvement in alleged illegal tender awards, fake employment creation and various other matters.

On 14 May 2019, Gumede appeared in the Special Commercial Crimes court in Durban for multiple crimes relating to fraud, and was released on R50,000 bail, pending further court appearances. The ANC Youth League called for Gumede to resign as mayor because the bail conditions imposed by the court would not allow her execute her mayoral functions, while the ANC Women's League showed support for her to remain in office. After the arrest of Gumede, the Hawks investigation officer in charge of this case, was ambushed by three gunmen and injured in an alleged assassination attempt. Her term as mayor came to an end when Mxolisi Kaunda was elected as Durban's mayor on 5 September 2019. However, Gumede was not found there and it was discovered that she had only rented the property and vacated it in July, subsequently changing addresses - a direct violation of her bail conditions. The Hawks and the NPA then moved to Gumede's home in Inanda where they served her a court order to carry out the raids in relation to a R280 million tender scam within the Durban Solid Waste department. including a number of luxury vehicles, including Porsches, Lamborghinis and Jaguar. As of 29 March 2022, the case against Gumede and her co-accused continued, as they face more than 2000 charges. On the 18 August 2025 Zandile Gumede and others are back in court for corruption.